A Ride to Remember

While we were at Myrtle Beach, Dad and Mom took us out to go on a helicopter ride! We had never ridden in a helicopter or an airplane before, and we were all very excited and scared at the same time. We pulled into the little airport where Oceanfront Helicopters was located. We walked into the building to sign up for a ride.

We were considering taking the five-minute trip, but the employee working there told us that it was a very short ride. After some discussion, we decided to take the Broadway Tour. This took you up 90 feet above sea level for ten minutes in the air, and you got a beach tour along the coastline with views of local attractions, including the Grand Strand and the boardwalk.

The helicopter could only hold four people total and there were ten of us, so we had to split up into groups. Mom and Dad were together, so were Jayla and Samuel. Halayah, Unique, and Isaac were in a group together. My group included Mamaw and Aunt Sue.

After we were organized into our groups, we headed out to the landing pad where the helicopter was waiting. The first ones to ride were Samuel and Jayla. They climbed into the copter with the help of two employees. When they were in and the door was shut, the helicopter lifted off the ground and was soon out of sight! We stood in our spots, amazed to see them go. When we saw the copter flying back in over the trees, we knew our turn was getting closer. After they had landed, Samuel and Jayla were let out, and Mom and Dad were in for the next ride.

After they were back, it was our turn. Mamaw and Aunt Sue got into the two back seats, and I was able to sit in the front seat beside the pilot. After buckling and putting on our headphones, the door of the copter was shut, and we were off! We started lifting higher and higher into the air and heading toward the ocean. A couple of seconds later, we were hovering over the sea! It was amazing to see the water under us, and to look to my left and see the beach. The pilot told us we were 200 feet in the air and going over one hundred miles per hour! I was surprised, because it felt like we were hardly moving! We flew over the beach, and the people looked very small. We also saw Swamp Fox, one of the oldest roller coasters in the world, and the Sky Wheel in the streets of Myrtle Beach.

Sadly, it was nearing time to return. The pilot banked to the left, as we turned around to head back to the airport. As we got closer, I could see Halayah, Isaac, and Unique waiting in line for their turn to take a flight. They got bigger and bigger was we approached. After a nice smooth landing, we got out and the next riders got in.

It was thrilling to ride in a helicopter! It was fun to fly over the ocean. It was also neat to fly over the tops of the trees and see all the beautiful colored leaves. I hope someday to be able to ride in a helicopter again. It was a ride to remember.

~Jonah