US Coast Guard Helicopter Spotted In Duluth’s St. Louis Bay

Yesterday I was heading over the Blatnik Bridge on my way home to Superior on Wednesday when I saw something bizarre in the corner of my eye. I looked over towards Lake Superior, and I saw what looked like helicopter blades BELOW the Blatnik Bridge over St. Louis Bay. What's going on?

Read More: Chinook Helicopter Flying Over Park Point

The laker James R. Barker was coming under the Blatnik Bridge and I wondered if that had something to do with it. Once I got a better look I noticed it was a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. I don't recall seeing one of those in Duluth before.

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It was similar to that time when I saw a Chinook Helicopter from the Minnesota National Guard at Sky Harbor Airport last summer when I was fishing. It was something out of the ordinary that you don't see every day.

My curiosity got the best of me, and I noticed the flight path of the chopper was heading south along the Superior Bay. I figured if it kept going, my best chance to get a view would be from Barker's Island. The helicopter was flying sideways and at times had a basket it was lowering. It was probably 20-30 feet above the water.

It became clear that it was a training exercise, as the helicopter was following a Coast Guard Boat, and another boat was following it.

The helicopter the Coast Guard uses for rescues is the MH-60 Jayhawk. That's the helicopter you'll see rescue swimmers jump out of into the water, and then they use the basket to carry up people. It was pretty cool to see one up close and in action.