#1 JOEY RHODES 2004 HALL OF FAME HONOREE

This year the award was presented by V.P. Danny Rodriguez. Danny’s remarks were received in agreement by the audience. “B47HA would not be where we are today without this man. He had made a difference and has devoted his time to our cause.” 

JOEY RHODES IS THE LEADING BELL 47 SALES BROKERAGE IN THE WORLD. HIS ATTENTION TO THE 47 HAS CHANGED AVIATION HISTORY BY HIS RE-EVALUATION OF THE BELL 47 IN A WAY SIMILAR TO HOW HARLEY DAVIDSON RESCUED THEIR PRODUCT. HIS TECHNIQUE FOR ESTABLISHING THE VALUE AND APPRAISAL OF THE BELL 47 IS BEING ADOPTED BY PILOTS, MECHANICS, AND BANKS ACROSS THE GLOBE. FURTHERMORE, IT HAS BEEN JOEY WHO HAS LED THE FIGHT TO GET THE BELL 47 BACK INTO PRODUCTION. THIS HAS EARNED HIM HIS NICK NAME FROM ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY OF “MR. BELL 47.”

JOEY HAS SEVERAL THOUSAND ACCIDENT FREE FLIGHT HOURS LOGGED IN BELL 47s SINCE HE STARTED FLYING IN 1968. HIS EXPERIENCES AS A PIONEER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BELL 47 OPERATIONS AND HIS CORPORATE OPERATIONS USING THE AUTHENTIC WHIRLYBIRD FORMAT (G & J MODELS) HAVE EARNED HIM ACCLAIM AMONG HIS FELLOW MEMBERS AT THE GREATER ST. LOUIS HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION MIDWEST SAFETY SEMINARS.

JOEY ALSO HAS SERVED AS MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR AND HAS BEEN THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF B47HA FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. JOEY HAS PILOTED THE ASSOCIATION FROM 16 MEMBERS TO OVER 500. HE HAS UNSELFISHLY DEDICATED HIS EFFORTS TO THE BELL 47 AND THE B47HA MEGA WEBSITE. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED BY THE FAA & FBI THAT JOEY PERSONALLY RECOVERED OVER $$$$$ IN CASH FOR MEMBERS WHO WERE VICTIMS OF BOGUS BELL 47 SCAM ARTISTS. RHODES HAS STOPPED OVER $750,000 IN BOGUS HELICOPTER SALES BY EDUCATING THE CONSUMER. 

ALONG WITH HIS NEW WHIRLYBIRDS PARTNER & VP, DANNY “P.T.” RODRIGUEZ, MANY ADULTS & CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE “BUBBLE CHOPPER” BELL 47. NWB’s APPEARANCES AT AIRSHOWS, SCHOOLS, AND HOSPITAL HAVE EARN THEM THE RESPECT OF MANY IN THE ROTORCRAFT INDUSTRY.

JOEY MAIN ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY IS THAT HE, ALONG WITH KEY BELL OFFICIALS, FORGED A NEW ALLIANCE WHICH CLARIFIED SUPPORT FOR B47HA AND IT’S MISSION TO SUPPORT THE BELL 47.

WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK OF JOEY RHODES YOU WILL QUICKLY NOTICE THAT HE IS RESPECTED BY PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE 47 AND FEARED BY THOSE WHO ABUSE IT.