An Angel For Sale

For about $700,000 you can buy your own angel.  Not the wings-and-harp kind, or even the baseball playing kind ($700K probably wouldn't even get you a rookie shortstop), but the flying kind that patrolled the skies of Anaheim with the radio call sign "Angel":

The helicopter has been patrolling above the streets of Anaheim for 22 years and its pilots say it's speedy and nibble – the in-the-air equivalent of a classic Porsche.

But today's police air operations require more radios and surveillance and heavier equipment that make roomier airships more practical – more like Cadillac Escalades of the air.

So the city's oldest helicopter in its fleet of four is up for sale. Actually, it's up for Internet auction.

No, not the typical item you'd see up for sale on eBay. But for the right price, the 1989 MD 500E police helicopter could be yours.

Starting bid: $150,000.

It's unclear what the copter on the block cost when the city bought it new. But city officials estimate the worth at much higher than the opening-bid price. Similar helicopters are listed online for around $700,000. Proceeds will go back into the city's general operating fund.

"You do get nostalgic; it's great to fly," said pilot Butch Melberg, an officer who has spent 17 years as an Anaheim police pilot. "It's just tapped out weight-wise."

Lt. Paul Gallagher, who oversees Anaheim's air operations at the Fullerton Airport, said of the eight Anaheim pilots, "You'll get a 50-50 argument over which type of ship is better to fly."

The Escalade-style Eurocopter AS350 came to the department in 2008, at a cost of $2.4 million. The intent was to replace the MD 500. But it took years to fully outfit the new helicopter.

The department maintains three helicopters so it can always have one ready to fly; they require a lot of routine maintenance.

That could really cut down on your traffic problems, and it will fit in three or four regular parking spaces - not unlike a regular Escalade.