Helicopter Awareness Day began six years ago as a memorial to Hal Haynes, founder of Scenic Helicopter Tours. This year’s event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21 and 22.
As a young boy, Haynes fell ill with polio, and was treated at East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville. For years he made annual personal contributions to Children's Hospital. In his later years he asked that his children not get him gifts for Christmas but to make donations in his name to the hospital.
Upon his death his son, Dan Haynes, conceived and hosted the first Helicopter Awareness Day six years ago. This event’s mission is to raise public awareness of helicopters. Scenic Helicopter Tours now has a sister company, Helicopter Whirl’d Adventures.
This years event will benefit the Children's Hospital in Knoxville and Smoky Mountain Children's Home in Sevierville.
On April 21 at Scenic Helicopter Tours Heliport on Highway 66 in Sevierville there will be helicopter rides plus aircraft on display from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, UT Life Star, Wings Air Medical and Air Evac Life Team. There will also be several privately owned aircraft for the public to look inside and opportunities to talk with pilots and people who fly and operate them. Food will be sold. April 22 activities will be held at Helicopter Whirl’d Adventures.
The Pilot Gala from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Helicopter Whirl’d Adventures in Pigeon Forge will be $65 per person/ $100 per couple. It will feature food, helicopter exhibits, and simulators.
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