Helicopter Convention Blows Roof Off
– Standing in the parking lot of the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, I braced against the downwash of a big Sikorsky as it hovered over a heavy military truck. It became apparent we may be to close; dust and sand enveloped the audience. A cable was dropped to the troops below who were holding on beneath the downwash. They attached a hook to the giant transformer sitting on the flatbed. I had lifted lighter units weighing nearly a ton with a smaller ship… I knew this was going to be a demonstration of raw power.
As the helo slowly lifted to take slack out of the harness closer onlookers began running. Several 55 gal trash drums started rolling, knocking down one lady like a bowling pin. Those of us who had taken cover behind cars were awestruck when the ship neatly snatched the transformer AND the truck off the ground. The crowd gasped … first for the Herculean feat of muscle and then at the horrific view of a storm front hitting the old two-story motel units of the Stardust.
With the helicopter crew facing into the quartering wind, they couldn’t see the rotor wash striking the building laterally, turning upward 90 degrees vertical and peeling the roofs off, one unit after another. It looked like a hurricane hitting a row of playing card shacks in slow motion. The longer the ship hovered, more drapes, shades and bedding were sucked from the topless units in tornadic fashion. In a final curtain call, more power was applied and the crew, ship, transformer and truck departed to base… continuing to litter what must have been the pool and surprised sunbathes on the far side of the hotel.
That was some forty-five years ago, today my hat is off to the great job the Saftey and Operation Committees do at the Annual Helicopter Association International’s Convention. This year they will have 10 times the attendees and ships present with over 650 exhibitors. They accomplish this each year with little fanfare … so those flying ships in for display, don’t grumble at the pilot briefings and fuel requirements … these committees are doing their best to keep us all safe.
Don’t miss this year’s show, again in Vegas – and fly neighborly.