Oakland has seen more than its share of helicopters buzzing around. Most common, it seems, are traffic reporting versions used by the local TV channels KRON, KPIX and KTVU. Then, there are the Oakland Police helicopters that pop up whenever someone’s on the loose.
UPDATE: For those visiting on January 9th, 2021, here’s the latest on the helicopter activity, today, from an online message board:
Reminder: Expect hearing helicopters starting early morning tomorrow, Saturday, January 9 – weather permitting. The 2nd Phase to the Cooling Tower units (currently stored in Crane yard (Pleasanton) is scheduled to be transported to the Elihu Harris State Building. This process will transpire through Helicopter lift to roof early in the morning on Saturday, January 9, 2021 (weather permitting). This phase of the project will require building closure the entire day on Saturday, January 9, 2021 for safety of the occupants.
Or, as my friend, real estate agent Maya Hiersoux (Book her now!) once noted on Facebook:
“Ah. To fall asleep to the constant drone of helicopters. That’s Oakland on election night. Sigh.”
But this big ass helicopters has many rushing to social media to ask just what (and there’s no better way to put it) the fuck was going on.
Take these many entries from Nextdoor and Facebook:
“Clay St. Helicopter. Anyone know what this helicopter is doing on Clay between 16th and 14th?”
“It woke us up and bringing folk out to see, setting off car alarms… we’d love to know”
“It just looks like it is slowly taking large cubes off the state building one by one.”
“Looks like it is delivering construction supplies.”
“I just posted about the same thing! Assuming construction supplies as well. But wow is it loud. Hoping this isn’t a regular weekend thing. Was planning to sleep in this am.”
“Yeah, the decibel of the helicopter feels like it is going over the max allowed.”
“No sleep this morning, took this picture on its way in.”
“Lifting big cones onto flatbed trucks. There were 3 on one truck and this was the beginning of the first cube on the second truck.”
“Thanks for the information – I couldn’t see it, though sure could hear it.”
“waking me up too early”
“These are usually used to remove/install heavy HVAC or other equipment on buildings. Usually done on weekends to avoid traffic.”
“Looks like they are lifting new a/c heating units to the top of new buildings”
“Ever see that movie battle Los Angeles?”
“Probably replacing a AC unit on a high rise.”
“Oh, there it is!”
“A drone?”
The Alfred E Neuman Photo
And this update is brought to us by none other than Alfred E Neuman, who posted the photo below on Facebook, and wrote:
Saturday morning took picture from 14th and Clay of a S-64 Skycrane is a twin-engined heavy-lift helicopter It was first flown in May, 1962 It can lift a 25,000 lbs So a little water tower from Elihu harris building is an easy task at $5,000 an hour. Your Tax dollars at work.
So:
Zennie Abraham to
Alfred E Neuman:
May I add this to my blog post?
Alfred E Neuman:
will be proud to have it in your work
Zennie Abraham to
Alfred E Neuman:
Thank you
For the record, it had nothing to do with Battle: Los Angeles, the 2011 alien invasion movie. But, in case you’ve never seen it (I haven’t), here’s the trailer:
Stay tuned, head’s up, and thanks again, Mr. Neuman!
It’s a mad mad, world!