Rotors Over Mentone is Saturday

Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 1:07 PM

By Wes Dehne

Helicopter rides will be offered by American Huey 369 and Cleveland Helicopter Services.

The Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum and Mentone Historical Museum host the 15th annual Rotors Over Mentone Saturday.

The event is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and will include a guest speaker, food and helicopter rides.

This year's guest speaker is Brad Stockwell from Phoenix, Arizona. He will speak about his helicopter flying experiences in the Bell TH-13T and UH-1 Huey helicopters while in flight school and in Vietnam. He will also discuss his travels around the world and a memorable Christmas in Long Binh.

Helicopter rides will be offered by American Huey 369, with $125 membership, and by Cleveland Helicopter Services.

Cleveland Helicopter Services plan to offer rides in their Robinson R44, with up to three individual passenger seats. Helicopter rides offered by Cleveland Helicopter Services can be paid on site with either cash or by credit card, which is $5 extra. Tentative price for a ride in the Robinson R44 is $60 per person (cash) but requires a second paying passenger.

Weather permitting, organizers hope to have helicopter crews of Lutheran Air and Parkview Samaritan hospital helicopters fly in for the event, as well as the museum's friends from Sweet Helicopters.

Admission and parking are free.

Schedule of events:

9:30 a.m. – Helicopters arrive
10-11 a.m. – Morning helicopter rides with Cleveland Helicopter Service
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Food Tent
11 a.m. – Program with introductions, Placing of Colors by Warsaw American Legion Post 49 Color Guard, National Anthem by band members of Tippecanoe Valley High School, recognition of veterans in the audience, and event speaker Brad Stockwell
Noon-4 p.m. – Helicopter rides resume with American Huey 369, Cleveland Helicopter Service.

The food tent will have items including hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, chips, ice cream, coffee and other drinks.

For additional information, contact Marsha at marshscott49@gmail.com or at 574-328-2034. You can also find more info on the event at the museum's website, bellaircraftmuseum.org.