Gunshots in BHM (happy newyear)

[movingviolation]

Anybody in Burmingham lastnight? Holly crap it sounded like downtown Baghdad on the ramp. I must have heard 300 rounds go off. Everything from a single shot (sounded like a shotgun) to 30rd magazines gettling let go. Most if it seemed to be coming from right off the departure end of 18, or from the 'classy' neighborhood behind the FBO. I guess that area is well known for drive by shootings. At least tonight they were all shooting up in the air. The line guys were drawing straws to see who had to go out on the ramp to pump fuel into my plane. I've never heard of an FBO that has to do a FOD walk to pick up all the bullets that land on the ramp, but these guys talked like it was normal.

It was great taking off in that crap..... I kept thinking about the movie Air America "please keep your seatbelt fastened untill we are out of gun range and the pilot has turnned off the fasten seat belt sign" "golden BB right up my @ss"

Anybody ever hear of somebody getting shot down or hit by a stray bullet? I remember reading a story in Private Pilot magazine like 10 years ago where a guy had a bullet land on his plane sitting on the ramp and punch a hole in his fuel tank (which he didn't notice untill after takeoff). But I've never heard of that happening otherwise.

I guess that's why we make "the big bucks"

 

[freightdoggie]

Talk to some Airnet guys based there over at Jet Avaition, I beliveve. A buddy of mine caught a bullet in a 310 from that same neighborhood about 9 months ago.

 

[movingviolation]

I fly out of Mercury, I'm there about every night. I knew a guy who used to work there at Airnet... maybe your buddy could look him up for me.

 

[Dangerkitty]

I was hit in BHM in the early 90's flight instructing in a Piper Arrow. I was born and raised in BHM and it is a wonderful city, unfortunantely the worst parts of town lie just next to the airport.

 

[Uncle Sparky]

I was hit in BHM in the early 90's flight instructing in a Piper Arrow. I was born and raised in BHM and it is a wonderful city, unfortunantely the worst parts of town lie just next to the airport.

Tarrant is like Beirut with good B-B-Q! I've lived here for a year now and it seems that you read about a shoot-out in the paper at least a couple of times every week. And I'm coming from South FL! Liberty City and Overtown ain't got nothin' on Tarrant!

 

[FN FAL]

A few years back, in the city of Richmond VA, a homie wanted to be the first murderer of the "new" year. He even bragged about it at the bar. The clock struck 12:00 and in walks homie's cousin. Homie shot that sucker deader than door knob.

I think the Ad Council ought to do a public service announcement similar to the ones they used to do regarding littering and keeping America clean. Except in these advertisements, Martin Luther King is riding in the back of a Cadilac and the car comes to a stop at a point overlooking the city and it's skyline. As the window opens, M. L. K. looks down on the city and sees crack ho's, drug dealers shooting each other, pimps slapping their ho's, muggers and robbers, a tear runs down his face as he wonders what his brothers and sisters are doing to themselves, the fabric of society and the rights they so proudly fought for and earned.

 

[Dangerkitty]

Tarrant is like Beirut with good B-B-Q! I've lived here for a year now and it seems that you read about a shoot-out in the paper at least a couple of times every week. And I'm coming from South FL! Liberty City and Overtown ain't got nothin' on Tarrant!

You live in Tarrant?!?!?!? You are a braver man than I!!!!

 

[T-Gates]

BHM sounds like Detroit City!

 

[TDTURBO]

A few years back, in the city of Richmond VA, a homie wanted to be the first murderer of the "new" year. He even bragged about it at the bar. The clock struck 12:00 and in walks homie's cousin. Homie shot that sucker deader than door knob.

I think the Ad Council ought to do a public service announcement similar to the ones they used to do regarding littering and keeping America clean. Except in these advertisements, Martin Luther King is riding in the back of a Cadilac and the car comes to a stop at a point overlooking the city and it's skyline. As the window opens, M. L. K. looks down on the city and sees crack ho's, drug dealers shooting each other, pimps slapping their ho's, muggers and robbers, a tear runs down his face as he wonders what his brothers and sisters are doing to themselves, the fabric of society and the rights they so proudly fought for and earned.

I have a better idea, put electric fences around all the gang controlled neighborhoods and give them all automatic weapons and let them kill each other. Then, the last one standing put a bullet in his head. Rinse, lather, repeat.

 

[Brett Hull]

I was born and raised in BHM and it is a wonderful city...

I beg to differ.

And Uncle Sparky doesn't live in T-town. He lives near that cast iron dude on top of the mountain.

 

[Uncle Sparky]

You live in Tarrant?!?!?!? You are a braver man than I!!!!

Nope.....should've been more specific......"here", meaning B-Ham....Southside specifically......Like Brett said.....up by the big Greek bobble-head doll. And while on the subject......what's up with the Vulcan's bare Azz?! Since you're a native, explain the fascination with perfect anatomic detail on the art you see around this place......I went out to the Barber's museum and had to cover my three year old's eyes. Geez! Those statues are hung like elephants!! ......Sacks an' all!!

 

[Slye]

BHM is a nice place, especially Hoover and the Summit areas. Didn't hear the gunshots, but I don't have the pleasure of being near the airport. As for Vulcan's nakedness, a little history, albeit uncalled for, may be in order...

Vulcan was built by steel town Birmingham as an exhibit for the Palace of Mines and Metallurgy at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. He was (and still is) the world's largest cast metal staute and the largest statue ever made in the U.S. His height was originally planned for 50 feet, but when Birmingham learned that a pagan Buddha in Tokyo stood 52 feet tall, they made their pagan Vulcan four feet taller.

Ater the Fair, Vulcan was returned to Birmingham, with the expectation that he would be erected in downtown. No way, said the citizens of Birmingham. We don't mind that he's a pagan god, but he's practically NUDE! Vulcan was placed back in his crate and shipped into exile to the state fair grounds. Once there, pragmatic officials painted a pair of blue overalls on him and used his empty left hand — which had once held a spear — to display a giant Coke bottle.

With time, the passions surrounding Vulcan faded (as did his blue coveralls). He was finally shipped back to Birmingham in 1937 and erected on Red Mountain -- the very mountain from which his iron body had been mined. He currently stands atop a 124 foot pedestal/observation deck, which removes his nakedness to a safe distance and makes good photos nearly impossible.

Birmingham's Jaycees have added a final touch. Vulcan's once-again empty hand has been fitted with a neon "safety torch" — which is normally green, but which turns an angry red whenever there's a traffic fatality in metro Birmingham. A plaque at Vulcan's base once read: "Thousands must work to keep it green! One careless chance could turn it red!"

There won't be a quiz. Happy New Year everyone!

 

[movingviolation]

Yeah, I took a crew car a while back and went to find a waffle house.... I have never been so happy to see my oil stained 310 in my life as I was when I made it back to the airport alive.

Good times....

 

[Uncle Sparky]

.......a little history, albeit uncalled for, may be in order...

Actually......thanks for the history lesson. I may not be fond of
male nudity in my artwork but I'm always interested in a little history.

Yeah, I took a crew car a while back and went to find a waffle house.... I have never been so happy to see my oil stained 310 in my life as I was when I made it back to the airport alive.

.....you keep eating at the Awful House and you'll have more than oil stains on your 310! If you're at Mercury, you should try Logans or The Golden Rule in Irondale or if your on the West side go to the Cedar House or down to Five Points South. If you really have a lot of time, go to the Summit and eat at the Tavern on the Summit(I'm pretty sure Brett'll back me on that one).

 

[PropsForward]

Yeah, I spent the night in OPF (Maimi, FL) and it was the same way. While the going's on was going-on all night, I was glad not to be in the air from about 11:50 to 1:am.


On a side note. I have flew into BHM a couple times and heard that at night ATC advises you to turn off all lights during departures and as long as reasonably possible on arrivals due to a year round problem with the locals. Any truth to this???

 

[HAZ-MAT]

Hks

Jackson Mississippi... now there is a good time. Yes for the past two new years i had the pleasure of flying out of there around 11pm... and it wasn't fireworks I heard. Just like good ole B-Ham. Ahhh yes... the dirty south!
(called it "operation lights off, when I left the airport")

 

[Uncle Sparky]

On a side note. I have flew into BHM a couple times and heard that at night ATC advises you to turn off all lights during departures and as long as reasonably possible on arrivals due to a year round problem with the locals. Any truth to this???

......haven't heard that one yet. I've been in B-Ham on Jan 1st and Jul 4th and can tell you those are the only times that I would be concerned about being shot at(using audible level of gunshots as a hazard meter).........although(as chance would have it) as I left the hangar tonight, I could hear some genius, a couple blocks away, firing an automatic weapon. I didn't think to look for aircraft though!

 

[movingviolation]

we heard some tonight, not nearly as much. Lastnight I heard rounds landing on top of the hanger....

Havn't heard the thing about the lights out though, somehow it wouldn't suprise me.

I said somthing about the "newyears celebration" to the guy on departure, and he just laughed and said "yeah, they have some pretty good fireworks (with emphasis on fire) around here"

I feel sorry for the guys up in the tower... hope the glass is bulletproof.

 

[VNugget]

We actually got a NOTAM about gunfire. I forgot to take it home and scan t. It made me laugh. And cry.

 

[Sandhawk]

Sounds like a good place for the Army to practice Live Fire exercises with the Apaches and Cobras!

 

[FN FAL]

Sounds like a good place for the Army to practice Live Fire exercises with the Apaches and Cobras!

If you're are going to use death squads against a "certain" segment of American society, at least try to be constitutional about it. Local police should be used to form death squads, not federal law enforcement and definitely not the US military.

 

[AA717driver]

I heard significant gunfire in the Westside of IND the other night. Mostly small stuff(.38's) but I did hear at least one salvo from some bigger iron(.223). But at least it wasn't on anyone's flight path. Hey moron! Didn't anyone tell youn not to do what you see on TV?

A TWA L10 did take a couple of rounds a few years ago on approach to LAX during the South Central celebration of the Rodney King verdict.TC

 

[Swede]

If you're are going to use death squads against a "certain" segment of American society, at least try to be constitutional about it. Local police should be used to form death squads, not federal law enforcement and definitely not the US military.

Haha, a "Constitutional" death squad! You can always form a band of "Judge Dredd" executioners... remember that Stallone movie? "I hereby sentence you to death, etc etc" as gun is raised - BOOM! I could have used an occasional Judge Dredd-type with some annoying passengers this Xmas.

OK I'll also bite on your Avatar. Who is it? Looks like an 1800's cavalry dude.

 

[FN FAL]

Haha, a "Constitutional" death squad! You can always form a band of "Judge Dredd" executioners... remember that Stallone movie? "I hereby sentence you to death, etc etc" as gun is raised - BOOM! I could have used an occasional Judge Dredd-type with some annoying passengers this Xmas.

OK I'll also bite on your Avatar. Who is it? Looks like an 1800's cavalry dude.

Yea..."Judge Dredd"!

As for biting on my avatar......hehehe...you of all people should know this dude, he borowed from Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov's work to produce one of the worlds most readily identifiable fill in the blank

 

[Inconceivable]

assault rifle?

bowl of borscht?

failed economic models of the 20th century?

 

[Dangerkitty]

Nope.....should've been more specific......"here", meaning B-Ham....Southside specifically......Like Brett said.....up by the big Greek bobble-head doll. And while on the subject......what's up with the Vulcan's bare Azz?! Since you're a native, explain the fascination with perfect anatomic detail on the art you see around this place......I went out to the Barber's museum and had to cover my three year old's eyes. Geez! Those statues are hung like elephants!! ......Sacks an' all!!

Ever read Black and White? (Its BHM's "Alternative" newpaper.) There is a column called Naked Birmingham with a picture of Vulcan's bare ass staring you in the face. Good to have ol Vulcan back up. He was down for about 3 years for a renovation.

 

[PropsForward]

We actually got a NOTAM about gunfire. I forgot to take it home and scan t. It made me laugh. And cry.

yes, please share!

 

[EagleRJ]

As for biting on my avatar......hehehe...you of all people should know this dude, he borowed from Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov's work to produce one of the worlds most readily identifiable fill in the blank

Mikhail Kalashnikov?

 

[VNugget]

yes, please share!

Well the only copy I know if is probably in the trash in the terminal building at RHV right now :/