Police plane

[Virginian]

Big pursuit or something went by my neighborhood last night. I stepped outside to count the lights going by, and saw the local police Cessna or whatever it is flying circles with its spotlight pointing down into an area of nearby woods. So weird to see a plane rather than a helicopter, but it seemed to work really well. I'll have to call some of my academy buddies and see what was up.

[MisterK]

Do they have their own plane or do they get the local pilots to chip in for fun? My dad (private pilot, private little beechcraft plane) and his buddies are asked fairly regularly to check stuff out or search in the desert.

Fugitives and dead bodies mostly..

[Virginian]

I'm pretty sure it's the department's plane, it's in built up suburbs and the county has a good deal of money. I guess it's cheaper to fly a cessna than a helo?

[StanSwitek]

I'm pretty sure it's the department's plane, it's in built up suburbs and the county has a good deal of money. I guess it's cheaper to fly a cessna than a helo?

A single engine piston engine plane costs about 1/3 of what piston engine helicopter woudld cost to operate.

[Virginian]

Thanks, I figured that must be the case.