You know that old saying "words just don't do it justice?" Well, words can't describe how awesome it is to see the beautiful Outer Banks by helicopter.
Two friends and I were lucky enough to have Larry from Coastal Helicopters, LLC take us from the Dare County Regional Airport, across Roanoke Island and up the coast to just north of Kill Devil Hills. We saw everything from shipwrecks and schools of fish just offshore to people hang gliding on Jockey's Ridge. The views were sweeping, breathtaking and just plain cool.
I felt completely safe the entire time. Larry and Steph are friendly and fun, but it's obvious that safety is their top priority. Larry's been an FAA certified pilot since 1981 and he's lived on the Outer Banks since 1982. He provides you with clear, yet detailed, safety instructions from start to finish. Ladies, be prepared: Everyone must step on the scales prior to heading out to the pad (but don't worry, the scale is in a private office). Larry and Steph do this to make sure all weight and balance requirements are met. Because they take safety so seriously, I was able to really relax and concentrate on having fun.
Families who've been vacationing on the Outer Banks for years probably think they've seen and done it all. I guarantee you haven't done anything quite like this. Just check out pics from our flight...
Let me go ahead and give you Larry and Steph's contact info because you're gonna want to book a helicopter tour for your next trip to the OBX. :)
Coastal Helicopters, LLC - (252) 475-HELI (4354) or www.obxhelicopters.com
| Coastal Helicopter, LLC is located in the main building at Dare County Regional Airport on Roanoke Island. |
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| Here's our helicopter. It's a Robinson R-44 that seats 3 passengers (and the pilot, of course). Although the view is amazing for everyone, the passenger in the front seat has a totally unobstructed, rockin' view. |
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| I had that funny "roller coastery" feeling in my stomach as we took off simply because the experience is so different from being in a plane. Within about 5 seconds, I said, "this is sooo cool" and I was hooked. |
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| We were so fortunate to go up on a Gorgeous day (yes, that's Gorgeous with a capital G). It was sunny, clear and the water was an incredible shade of blue. |
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| This is one of my favorite pics - the new Jennette's Pier in Nags Head. What an amazing structure. I can't wait until it opens in May 2011. |
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| This looks like a postcard - waves breaking on the beach and the sound sparkling in the background. |
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| You've probably been to Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head, but have you ever seen it from this perspective? |
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| Yep, that's the Bypass! It was actually pretty easy to spot landmarks from the air. We saw Avalon Pier, the Sun Realty office in Kill Devil Hills, the Wright Brothers Memorial, Nags Head Woods, Colington Harbour, Pirate's Cove and much more. (Larry even pointed out Andy Griffith's house on Roanoke Island!) |
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| My one and only regret is that we didn't go all the way north to Corolla or south to Hatteras Island. Next time... |
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