A Suprise Aircraft

I decided to go home by way of Willow Run.  As I was heading towards the airport, I saw this helicopter fly over head.  So  I decided to stop in order to get some pictures.

 I was able to get pictures because it was doing lazy circles around the airport.  It turns out that this a Bell 47 Helicopter.  It is the one that was made famous by M*A*S*H.

 The Bell 47 first flew on December 8, 1945 and became the first helicopter certified for civilian use in 1946.  It also first entered US military service in that year as the H-13 Sioux by the Army.  Over 5,000 of them were produced from 1946 to 1974 and many of them are still in use.

 I'll have to admit, it was pretty cool to see this.

and one more shot.