Are there authentic crop circles?

[PogoPedant]

Then there is http://www.circlemakers.org/

 

[Dragon]

I would not be surprised if you are absolutely correct. I believe those are called "auto-rotations" and as I recall, helicopter pilots do them to test the engine for certain things. It has been a while though..... I may not have this 100% accurate. That is just what I remember.

"Auto-rotation" is correct. It's the way you can land a helicopter in the event of engine failure (provided you have enough height to react, de-clutch the engine etc) I've seen this done when they're training pilots.

 

[MRC_Hans]

"Auto-rotation" is correct. It's the way you can land a helicopter in the event of engine failure (provided you have enough height to react, de-clutch the engine etc) I've seen this done when they're training pilots.

It is a standard procedure, which is rigoriusly drilled by pilots, exacly because it is the thing to do in case of an engine failure; it is basically the way to glide-land a helicopter. At very low altitude, the procedure is not needed, because the rotor has enough fly-wheel energy to set the craft down.

Hans

 

[Hellbound]

Another example why you shouldnt blindly trust authorities of information presented on TV shows.

Well, this particular NG special id a great job of it. They allowed the cereologists to make their case, and all their claims and so forth, with very little talk against the ideas. Then, they went to the skeptical point of view, and systematically debunked every claim.

I loved it.

They did explain the stalks, basically a combination of bending and the temperature changes from night to day (IIRC).

I'd like to find copies of that whole series (It's called "Is It Real?", and has shows on ghosts, bigfoot, and other things as well...although the guide on our satellitte lists it as "Naked Science". I think "Naked Science" is a broader show, that sometimes runs "Is It Real?" bits and other times runs something else.)

 

[Archangel]

Or he skipped the maintenance bit on the fuel injection system last time he serviced the engine. I got suspicious on the scene where the magnetron wrecked the batteries for the sound/video crewman, if the radiation was that strong it would be irresponsible of whoever was in charge. There are restrictions on the exposure to microwave radiation I hope.

Yeah it seemed a bit nuts with that scene with the Magnetron leaking, however having seen the Junkyard Wars eps with MIT students I wouldnt put it past them to be irresponsible