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A ride in a black hawk

Getting up close and personal with a legendary helicopter

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life


ORLANDO _ One of the most iconic military aircraft in the world is the Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter, made famous in Ridley Scott's 2001 move, Black Hawk Down.

When we got an invitation to take a ride in one, game on!

The setting was the National Business Aviation Association's expo, and our host was Russ Dise, president of JetLease, the world's largest private aviation leasing company based in Palm Beach (you can read more about Russ and JetLease in our earlier profile, here). Dise, in partnership with Arista Aviation, is selling refitted Black Hawks, and is here to showcase the aircraft for expo attendees.

Sitting on the tarmac, she is sleek, black and beautiful. After a brief get-acquainted session, we get strapped in and fitted with ear plugs -- a must-have accessory in an open-door helicopter.

All passengers secure, the pilots start revving up, and the four blades begin rotating faster and faster. You think you're ready, but when it suddenly lifts off and banks sharply left, you reach for something to hold onto (like your spouse) as your stomach does a dipsy-do. 

Even with ear plugs, the noise is jarring. The wind swirls like a mini-tornado through the open doors on our left and right as we fly over familiar Orlando landmarks. But the bottom-line feeling is one of pure exhilaration.

After we landed, I couldn't help but recall what Will Smith said about the alien spaceship in Independence Day: "I've got to get me one of these!"
Picture
Ready for liftoff!
Picture
Russ Dise and the Black Hawk
Picture
Flying over Orlando
Picture
The Black Hawk's cockpit and control center

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NORTH PALM BEACH LIFE

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  • Home
    • People >
      • Joanie Helgesen
    • Eats >
      • Oliv Pit Athenian Grille
      • Cupcakes >
        • Lady Bug Cupcakes
      • Juno Beach, Jupiter >
        • Cabo Flats
        • Cathy's Beach Connection
        • Juno Beach Cafe >
          • Scoobie Interview
          • Let's Motor with Scoobie
        • Juno Beach Fish House
        • Square Grouper
      • North Palm Beach >
        • Frigates
        • The French Gourmand >
          • Gourmand Interview
        • Hog Snappers
        • Jupiter Donuts
        • La Bamba
        • La Fontana
        • Sandpiper's Cove
      • Palm Beach Gardens >
        • Cafe Chardonnay
        • Coola'A Fish Bar
        • P.F. Chang
      • Singer Island >
        • Coconuts on the Beach
        • Marriott Singer Island >
          • J's Perfect Lemon Drop Martini
        • Sailfish Marina
    • News >
      • 2018 Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade
      • Brightline >
        • Breezin' on Brickell
        • Brightline Day Trips: Frost Science Museum
        • A Trip on Brightline
        • Brightline Select Service
        • Brightline Tasting Train
        • Brightline Train Unveiling
        • Brightline Topping Out
        • The Polar Express Train Ride
      • David Drebin
      • Downton Abbey Exhibit
      • History >
        • 25th Anniversary
        • 50th Anniversary
    • Weather
  • Cruise News
    • History of Cunard
    • Peter Knego
  • Pamme's Chitchat
  • Blogs
    • Gerry Pronounced Gary
  • Podcasts
    • Video
    • WPAMM in Palm Beach
  • Travel
    • Snaps >
      • Snaps - Page 2
    • Fun >
      • Events >
        • La Bella Macchina 2017
      • AtmosFX Digital Decorations
      • Calypso Cruise
      • Pumpkin Patch 2017
      • Reindeer Games
      • River Paddle Event
    • Amtrak Trip to New York
    • Carnival Victory
    • Fairchild Chocolate Festival
    • Wings Of the Tropics at Fairchild Garden
    • Joe Cartwright - Travel Writer
    • North Cascades National Park
    • Ocean Pines Motel
    • Perez Art Museum Miami
    • Road Trip! >
      • Road Trip! -- Tucumcari, New Mexico
      • Road Trip! -- The Painted Desert
      • Road Trip! - Sedona, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - Sedona Wineries
      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
      • Road Trip! - Verde Canyon Railroad
      • Road Trip! - Jerome, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
    • Symphony of the Seas - Miami Inaugural Voyage >
      • Symphony of the Seas - Ultimate Family Suite
      • Symphony of the Seas - Showtime
      • Symphony of the Seas - Perfect Day at Coco Cay
      • Symphony of the Seas - Photo Gallery
    • Texas to Arizona
    • Twisted at Mounts Botanical Garden
    • Tulum
  • Contact
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • Panama Palmer - Audio Book
    • The Story of StarText
    • Morakami Museum - Sayaka Ganz Exhibit
  • Search