Helicopter sight-seeing

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 15, 9 September 1986, Page 6

Helicopter sight-seeing

The glamour of travel has taken a different turn this decade, with the introduction of helicopter sight-seeing. The Waimarino will have its share of the limelight in the near future as the Army Memorial Museum gets under way with New Zealand Aero Tours. The tour company is a subsidiary branch of Wanganui Aero Works and has been in operation for about a year in Rotorua. There are seven helicopters in operation in Raetihi, Taihape, Rotorua, Hastings, Ruatoria, and two in Wanganui. The helicopter to be used for sight-seeing is stationed

in Taihape and piloted by Simon Green. The helicopter in Raetihi can be called upon for backup if there is sufficient demand. The company has a sixweek trial contract with the Army museum and if the scheme makes good, it will become a permanent fixture, subject to approval by the Memorial Museum Trust. The idea came about through the locality of the museum and the fact that about 80,000 people pass through the Army museum in the course of a year. Because the museum is such a focal point of travel and ideally situated for a rest

stop, it was the perfect spot for such a venture. The helicopter tours operate from the carpark adjacent to the museum, from where tickets are sold. There are several sightseeing flights available to the public, depending on price. The Bell Jet Ranger helicopter used by aero tours is the most suitable for sightseeing as it is quiet and fast, able to take four passengers per flight, and is reputed to be the best turbine-powered helicopter in the world. It is hoped that local people and tourists alike will tak^ advantage of the chance to see the Waimarino from the air.