'Rotors Over Mentone' at Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum Saturday

MENTONE, Ind. -- The Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum will host its 15th annual "Rotors Over Mentone" on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will include a guest speaker, food for sale, and helicopter rides for a fee.

Coming from Phoenix, the event's guest speaker, Brad Stockwell, will speak about his helicopter flying experiences in the Bell TH-13T and UH-1 Huey helicopters while in flight school and in Vietnam. He will also discuss his travels around the world and a memorable Christmas in Long Binh.

Helicopter rides will be offered by American Huey 369, with $125 membership, and by Cleveland Helicopter Services.

Cleveland Helicopter Services plan to offer rides in their Robinson R44, with up to three individual passenger seats.

Helicopter rides offered by Cleveland will tentatively cost $60 per person and can be paid on site with either cash or by credit card, which is $5 extra. Organizers say a ride on the R44 requires two paying passengers.

Weather permitting, organizers hope to have the helicopter crews of Lutheran Air and Parkview Samaritan hospital helicopters fly in for the event, as well as the museum's friends from Sweet Helicopters.

Sweet Helicopters would bring one or two of their aircraft.

In addition, radio station WIOE, Oldies 101.1 FM, will broadcast live from the museum.

Admission and parking are free.

Event schedule:

• 9:30 a.m. - Helicopters arrive
• 10 - 11 a.m. - Morning helicopter rides with Cleveland Helicopter Service
• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Food Tent  
• 11 a.m. - Program with introductions, Placing of Colors by Warsaw American Legion Post 49 Color Guard, National Anthem by band members of Tippecanoe Valley High School, recognition of veterans in the audience, and event speaker Brad Stockwell
• Noon - 4 p.m. - Helicopter rides resume with American Huey 369, Cleveland Helicopter Service

The food tent will have items including burgers, brats, chips, hot dogs, ice cream, coffee, and pop.

For additional information, you may contact Marsha at [email protected] or at (574) 328-2034. You can also find more info on the event at the museum's website.

The Bell Aircraft Museum is dedicated to preserve the memorabilia of aviation pioneer, Lawrence D. Bell, to share artifacts showing the development of American aviation, and to educate about the influence of Lawrence Bell in the history of aviation.