How The Helicopters Flew The Flags

Helicopters and Singapore flag on National Day, August 9th, 2020, Singapore. Photo taken and edited by Trevor Sharot.

When I tried to copy the photo from Facebook this is the blurred result. So I asked Trevor to email me the original.

On the evening of Singapore\s National Day, August 9th, helicopters carried the Singapore flag. My husband Trevor Sharot took a photo from a distance. The original photo showed skyscrapers and the helicopters far away. He edited it by extracting and blowing up just the section showing the helicopters and the flag.

Helicopter Designs
When the picture was blown up, you could see that the helicopter carrying the flag was a different design to the two escorts. All the helicopters had two blades rotating.  You need two blades going in different directions. The one on the tail of the plane may be smaller, simply to counteract the spinning, which would otherwise send the helicopter round and round.

Flying Flags Through The Air
The flag has discs along the lower edge, like the weights hidden in the hems of heavy drape curtains, and up the side. I presume this is to support the flag

If you have ever tried to photograph a flag attached to a flag pole, blowing in the wind, you will know that currents of air drive the flag this way and that. The flag folds into creases, and obscures any distinctive corner design. The movement makes it hard to photograph.

A lot of preparation and planning has to go into flying anything attached to a plane or helicopter. You can't have cords and fabric flying around and getting caught in the helicopter doors or the blades.

I remember hearing that in World War II, for every pilot flying a plane, you needed 9 more people on the ground at the base. For the pilot, plane, and journey, you need somebody providing food, servicing the plane, planning the flying route, and more.

Useful websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Singapore
Fly past and flag towed by helicopters in previous year 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U_0HVj12a8

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, British, with Singapore Resident status. Angela is a member of five Toastmasters clubs.
Toastmasters International has several speakers clubs.