October 3, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Up Close and In the Air: Helicopters of All Shapes and Sizes on Display at Santa Monica Airport

Starting earlier this year, the Santa Monica Airport Association (SMAA) began hosting family friendly aviation events on a monthly basis, aimed at giving people a chance to experience Santa Monica Airport and get up close to aircraft they might not otherwise see out of the sky. Saturday, June 10 was Helicopter Day at Atlantic Aviation. The SMAA brought a number of different kinds of helicopters to the airport, and allowed visitors to check them out, speak to their pilots, and see them from inside of their cockpits.

“These are the aircraft you see flying around the L.A. basin all the time. We wanted to give the public an opportunity to get up close and personal,” said Christian Fry, President of SMAA. “This is the first time we’ve done the helicopter event.”

Among the different kinds of helicopters on display were a Bell Huey 212, which Fry explained many associate with the Vietnam era, but are still used in the military today; an L.A. County Fire Blackhawk, equipped with a large tank to carry fire retardant; a KTLA 5 news helicopter, used to film local news segments; a Robinson R-66, a new helicopter model built at a facility in Torrance; and a Coast Guard Dauphin rescue copter.

“That’s a pretty special machine that I hadn’t even seen up close,” said Fry, about the Dauphin helicopter. “Pretty much every machine out here is pretty unique.”

The event brought out a lot of families, with kids excited to get to go inside of the many different kinds of helicopters, as well as aircraft enthusiasts who took the opportunity to go over the finer points of aviation with some of the pilots present.

The SMAA’s planned initial event, which was rescheduled to a future month, will introduce children to its Young Eagles program, allowing kids from ages 8 to 18 a chance to go on flights inside some of the aircraft at Santa Monica Airport.

For more information about the SMAA and its monthly events, visit santamonicaairport.info.

Related Posts

Film Review: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023

FILM REVIEWMISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONERated PG-13163 MinutesReleased July 11th The story in this “Mission: Impossible” chapter, “Dead...

Film Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

July 5, 2023

July 5, 2023

FILM REVIEWINDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINYRated PG-13154 MinutesReleased June 30th The director of Indiana Jones and the Dial...

Film Review: Past Lives

June 27, 2023

June 27, 2023

FILM REVIEWPAST LIVESRated PG-13105 MinutesLimited Releases June 2nd and June 9th, Full Release June 23rd The Korean concept of “In...

Film Review: Sanctuary

June 8, 2023

June 8, 2023

FILM REVIEWSANCTUARYRated R96 MinutesReleased May 19th In my humble estimation, this is one of the best movies of the year....

Film Review: The Little Mermaid

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

FILM REVIEWTHE LITTLE MERMAIDRated PG135 MinutesReleased May 26th With today’s technological developments, a live-action The Little Mermaid is not only...

A Riveting Revival of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning “A Soldier’s Play” Now Playing At The Ahmanson Theatre

May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

On Stage With… Murder mysteries, whether cinematic or theatrical, are one of the most popular subjects. The list is quite...

Film Review: Chevalier

May 12, 2023

May 12, 2023

By Kathryn Boole  RATED PG-13107 MinutesReleased April 21, 2023 Chevalier is based on the true story of a historical figure...

Ballet at the Broad Stage Memorial Weekend – Meet the Talent!

May 10, 2023

May 10, 2023

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica returns to the Broad Stage with special guest artists kicking off Friday May 26th with...

Elizabeth McGovern Lights Up The Stage in “Ava – The Secret Conversations”

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

Play About Legendary Screen Star Runs Until May 14 At The Geffen Playhouse By Beverly Cohn Ava Gardner, born Ava...

Unconventional Art Festival “The Other Art Fair” Returns to Santa Monica This Weekend

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

140 independent artists, immersive installations, performances, DJs, and a fully stocked bar await visitors at Barker Hangar The Other Art...

Samohi Theatre’s “The Drowsy Chaperone” Takes the Stage in Santa Monica

March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023

Shows will take place at Barnum Hall on March 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and March 5 at 3...

Film Review: “Marlow”

February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

FILM REVIEW“MARLOWE”Rated R109 MinutesReleased February 15th “Marlowe” is a beautifully shot period piece that takes place in the late 1930’s....

Film Review: All Quite on the Western Front

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

I have never been a soldier at war, although I have close friends and relatives who have been. Universally they...

SMC Emeritus Concert Band to Hold Free Concert This Weekend at the Broad Stage

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

Concert February 26 will feature musical selections with an outdoor theme Santa Monica College’s Emeritus Concert Band, under the baton...