Mids give helicopter pilots a hand aboard ship

Conducting research to make chopper landings on ships safer

By EARL KELLY, Staff Writer

Published 11/24/09

Looking to reduce the risks inherent in landing helicopters aboard ships, a team of six Naval Academy midshipmen is documenting the air currents and atmospheric disturbances that pilots must navigate on a regular basis.

Earl Kelly - The Capital
Midshipmen 1st Class Joshua Shishkoff, left, William Stillman and James Golden discuss their research on the air turbulence helicopters encounter when landing on ships. The pole in the middle is designed to hold sensors to record data.

If successful, the three-year project, funded by a $500,000 Office of Naval Research grant, will take some of the guesswork out of helicopter landings.

"While we don't have grad students at the Naval Academy, we have very bright midshipmen," said Navy Capt. Murray R. Snyder, the military professor who heads the project. "You give a very smart midshipman the football and some ... guidance, and...

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helo landings aboard ship - part II - 2009-11-26 12:18:39

In case anybody thinks I am trying to sell something to the Navy, I am not. The Baham Corporation software I was referring to already belongs to the Navy - It was developed for them in the early 80's under a Navy contract.

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Oren Wolfe - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Mids - 2009-11-25 12:26:55

This was truly a well writtin piece. Kudos

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Robin Stanek - Churchton, MD - Karma: Good

Well Written Article - Thanks to th - 2009-11-25 09:09:58

Just a short note to thank Mr. Earl Kelly, Staff Writer, for this well written article.

I'm growing increasingly tired of the typical hard-copy and internet news article that is little more than a headline, is poorly written, error prone, and doesn't even attempt to answer the basic questions any reader is likely to have about the story.

Perhaps journalism and good composition may not be a thing of the past.

Good job Mr. Kelly - I'll look for your byline in the future.

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jim Turoff - pasadena, md - Karma: Neutral

Nick - 2009-11-24 17:59:58

just this once, could I call Shubbie a name?

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Fay Hall - Severna Park, md - Karma: Excellent

Wolfe, Oren - 2009-11-24 17:17:37

Are you trying to sell something to the Navy ? You are barking up the wrong tree pal. Get in the phone and talk to someone who cares.

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible

helo landings aboard ship - 2009-11-24 16:53:42

In the mid 1980s I was working for a Columbia firm The Baham Corporation owned by Gary Baham. This firm had a rather extensive computer model of the wind currents around a ship superstructure. I can't help but wonder if any of Baham's research would be useful in this enterprise.

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Oren Wolfe - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral