2011 HELIFEST

We all had a great time at HELIFEST 2011 with perfect weather!

A SPECIAL THANKS to Hiller Museum’s Willie Turner and John Wilke for their great assistance in providing us the Hall of Fame theater for our “WHIRLYBIRDS” and B47ha presentation!

It was GREAT to See 5 beautifully-restored Bell 47 Helicopters from some our members. There were 2 – BELL 47G2’s, A BELL 47 SUPER G, A BELL 47 G2A1, AND A BELL 47J2A. It was great to speak with members Bill Cox, Bob Suess and wife Kathy, Al Sze, Doug Kerr, and Carol Simpson. Other’s included Mark, the pilot of a G2, and David Hixon. David flew his pristine J2A all the way from Palm Springs CA to San Carlos, just outside of San Francisco.

I particularly enjoyed speaking with Mark K. and ROGER!

GREAT TIME! with GREAT B47 people!

Hope to see you next year.

Danny Rodriguez

Vice President and Co-Star of The New Whirlybirds

BREAKING NEWS!

PRESIDENT RHODES HAS JUST CONCLUDED TALKS WITH THE HILLER AVIATION MUSEUM AND IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE:

JUNE 18, 2011 AT SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA’S SUPER ROTORCRAFT VENUE “VERTICAL CHALLENGE” – THE WHIRLYBIRDS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO APPEAR IN THE MAIN THEATRE AND ALSO ON THE FLIGHT LINE WITH ASSOCIATED MEMBER’S BELL 47s.

“WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS CALLS ASKING THE ASSOCIATION TO PRESENT A WEST COAST ACTIVITY. HAVING WORKED IN THE PAST WITH THE HILLER MUSEUM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF V.P. WILLIE TURNER – I CAN STATE THAT VERTICAL CHALLENGE IS – TOP NOTCH HELICOPTER ENTERTAINMENT! DANNY AND I ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR MEMBERS FLYING THEIR PRISTINE 47s IN. I AM ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT – THE HILLER MUSEUM IS ADDING A DONATED BELL 47 TO THEIR COLLECTION. YES! A BELL 47D.” RHODES WILL PROVIDE MORE UPDATES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

THERE YOU WILL FIND PICS OF THEIR HOSPITAL VISIT TO UCLA AND THE VERTICAL CHALLENGE SHOW PRESENTATION THAT WAS SOLD OUT.