Hi guys (and ladies),

I hope this forum is appropriate for my query?

The other night I was outside (north of Nashville, air-traffic close to Ft Campbell) when I heard what I thought was a low flying Chinook. When it came into view though, it was actually 2 helicopters flying single file, the one in front had zero lights on, the rear had a green and a red nav light but was dark otherwise. Their silhouette was black against the gray, city lit sky so I didn't see any markings. They looked civilian in profile. Big though!

In the 90's I could tell you what kind of chopper was coming by listening to it so it bothers me a little that I don't know what they were. You learn some neat stuff in a cavalry unit. In all the flights I witnessed though I never saw two birds fly so close and in single file.

Anybody know a reason they'd do that?

TreadUpon,

If they looked a bit like a Bell Longranger then they may have bee OH-58's which are essentially the military version of the Jetranger/Longranger family. And given what you described they could be it. It's unlikely that civilian helicopters would be performing the kind of maneuvers you describe but it sounds right up the military's alley.

Spyer550,

It isn't just military aircraft that have collision beacons obscured from the ground. The Bombardier Dash-8 family are well known for their beacons being on the top and rather difficult to see on the ground during handling and movements. I should know, I almost collided with one in a tug, one night a few weeks back!