So, apparently when you combine a desert and high speed helicopter blades kicking up lots of sand into the air, you end up with a light show of sparks as the blades tear through the airborne sand.
This effect is also known as St Elmo's Fire and is frequently mistaken for as some kind of static electricity discharge.
If anyone can share links to a video of this effect, or better yet, night-vision camera of this effect... YOU WIN! Even a long-exposure photograph would be very cool.
