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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!"
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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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  • Home
    • Weather >
      • Hurricane Readiness
  • Cruise News
    • Cruise Reviews and Stories
    • Cruise Compete
  • Gigi in the 561
    • Gigi in the 561 Interviews
    • Cora
    • My Father's Tales >
      • My Father's Tales - Photo Album
  • Blogs
    • Gerry Pronounced Gary
    • Rock and Roll Rewind
    • Susan Goldfein -- Blog >
      • Susan Goldfein
  • Video
  • Travel
    • Snaps >
      • Snaps - Page 2
    • Island Destinations
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
      • Panama Canal
      • Antigua, Guatemala
      • Cabo San Lucas
      • Birds and Bees Speakeasy in Los Angeles
      • We Love LA
      • Coast Starlight
      • Napa Wine Tour
      • California Zephyr
      • California Zephyr Part Two
      • Chicago
      • Amtrak Capitol Limited
      • Washington DC
    • Pam - Traveling in Style
    • 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
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Traveling With Joe >
      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
  • Contact
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search