Whirlybirds

Playing tennis at Lunken today, the court was filled with "Whirlybirds" - at least that's what I called them as a kid. The maple seeds, when dropped, spin like a helicopter's blade.  I remember watching reruns of the Whirlybirds when I was a kid.  The black and white late 50's TV series was about two guys and a helicopter for hire.   Unfortunately no authorized DVD's available for me to revist the show - just still pictures from the internet.

It was comforting to see that NASA has a web-site (Maple Seed "Helicopters") for crafting the different shapes of these seeds - a sort of Oragami Maple Seed Project. 

How ironic that a Military Helicopter began hovering the tennis courts during the break in our game.   Then later while eating at the Sky Galley, the six soldiers/airmen (and women) stopped in for a bite to eat.  A. M. asked if they were indeed flying the helicopter we saw hovering  and if they were awaiting our tennis rematch.  They admitted that they were flying the Whirlybird,  but they were more interested in viewing the golf course than our  tennis rematch. 

The seeds of memory playing out on the tennis court.