Riding a Wondrous Whirly-bird
Excited, I stand in the pre-board wait line at
Niagara Helicopters Limited
on Victoria Ave. along the Niagara Parkway and across from the Whirlpool Rapids and Spanish Aerocar. In the cerulean sky, I make out two whirling-dervish objects reminding me of the butterflies that I encountered in the Conservatory. These hovering insects are much larger, and as one approaches to land, I am amazed at the force of the blades which create intense turbulence. My baseball cap zooms backwards off my head - 20 metres, and I retreat to retrieve it.
Escorted out onto the pad, because there is a family of four with me, I'm awarded the front seat beside Travis, our young pilot. Neat. I'm buckled in and provided with a headset; we lift off and veer sharply towards the river. Wow! Gazing through clear glass provides an incredible view.
My first copter ride.
Exhilarating!
The instrument panel is replete with an array of impressive dials, which Travis knows backwards. He steers the craft with his left hand on the stick. In front of me - a series of tapes in every major language. Travis switches on the English and French version; the narration begins.
I'm too thrilled to listen - and too busy taking pictures. We begin hovering above the
Sir Adam Beck Generating stations
and the
Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture.
We follow the Niagara River from the Whirlpool area and spot the
Spanish Aero Car
ambling across the gorge like a
Conservatory
caterpillar. We zip over the Whirlpool Rapids and the
Rainbow Bridge.
A
Jet Boat
and automobiles below appear puny.
Queen Victoria Park's
expanse of green grass stretches as we whiz by the
American Falls
and the
Skylon Tower.
Then, la creme de la creme, we follow the curve of the
Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
I feel like an astronaut observing nature's whorls of white and blue. The Falls look miniature, toy-like and surreal. What a view! Our helicopter levels off and continues on a steady route back to base.
A smooth ride, it's been twelve minutes, but seems much longer. I envy Travis who gets to do this all day. He says that we flew at 100 knots (185.2 km per hour) and that our elevation was approximately 762 metres or 2500 feet.
The whirly-bird - truly an impressive way to break free. Flights depart daily from 9 a.m. until sunset, weather permitting.
Mike Keenan
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