white rabbit heli tours

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Wednesday, June 1, 2016

White rabbit heli tours launches over spokane.

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Helicopter tour company offers new perspective on Spokane

From 500 feet above the ground, Gonzaga University sparkled like a gem, its red-brick buildings bathed in morning light, while the blue-gray ribbon of the Spokane River curved gently behind it.

When you’ve lived in Spokane for many years, it’s easy to become blasé about the city and the natural beauty surrounding it. However, seeing Spokane from a different vantage point fosters a new appreciation for the wonders we often take for granted.

Especially when that new perspective comes courtesy of a Robinson R44 helicopter, as it gently circles the bustling downtown area, offering an eye-popping view of Spokane Falls and cruises above historic South Hill homes. Even I-90 takes on a bit of glamour when seen from above.

“It’s fun, isn’t it?” pilot Alan Bly asked as he flew over St. John’s Cathedral on Tuesday morning. “It’s like a magic carpet ride.”

Bly is the owner/operator of White Rabbit Heli Tours – a new helicopter tour company located at Felts Field.

Bly and fellow pilot Mitch Cooke began offering tours in May, and business is taking off.

“Tonight I have an 86- and 87-year-old booked for a sunset tour to celebrate their birthdays,” Bly said.

The company has received an enthusiastic welcome from the local tourism industry.

“White Rabbit Heli Tours adds to our already dynamic list of visitor experiences,” said Cheryl Kilday, President/CEO of Visit Spokane, in an email. “We love when a new asset opens in our region, as it helps us do our job providing an experience that is truly memorable.”

Memorable experiences along with fun, adventure, and coming home again, is what led Bly, 38, to take to the skies. He attended Freeman High School and in 2001 graduated from Washington State University with a business degree. He spent many years in corporate America, working in human resources, and traveling the world while employed by an international staffing company.

“I slept in my own bed two times a month,” he said.

The glitter of the jet-set corporate lifestyle paled.

“I know the exact moment it happened,” said Bly. “I was on a business trip in Russia, on a tour of Red Square. It was my third trip there, and I looked around and went meh.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “There’s never a time that should not be cool,” he said of standing in Red Square. “That was it. That was when I knew I was done.”

When he returned, he gave his notice, packed up the San Francisco apartment he rarely slept in and moved back to Spokane.

He’d always dreamed of owning his own business, and watching tour helicopters circle while in Denali and Anchorage cemented his idea – he’d learn to fly.

“I reinvented myself at 30,” Bly said. “Early midlife crisis, I guess.”

Bly trained at Inland Helicopters at Felts Field; he worked as an instructor pilot and started the helicopter program at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. Then he took a job with Lockheed Martin in Afghanistan where he worked as an aircraft operator for the unmanned K-Max project in support of the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan.

He’d long fantasized about a job where he’d work 90 days and then have 30 days off.

“In Afghanistan, I realized that wasn’t so great,” he said.

When he came home eager to connect with friends and socialize, he discovered they were still working 9 to 5.

“You get out of sync with the rest of the world,” Bly said.

That’s when he knew it was time to realize his dream of owning a tour company. He’d always had a thing for the White Rabbit in “Alice in Wonderland,” so when it came time to choose a name for the company, it popped into his mind.

In 2014, he opened White Rabbit Aviation, a helicopter leasing and aviation consulting business, and launched the tour company in May.

They currently offer several 15- and 30-minute tour packages, and a custom option is also available. Tours can be scheduled May through September.

Those worried about motion sickness needn’t fear. Aside from occasional wind gusts, the flights are smooth and comfortable. The helicopter can accommodate up to three passengers.

It’s the reactions of those passengers that make the job so enjoyable for pilots Bly and Cooke.

Cooke, an Army-trained helicopter pilot, said, “This is the purest sense of flight you can get as a human.”

He added, “It’s much more fun than flying for the Army. The customers are much happier when you drop them off.”

Bly nodded. “A lot of times people are totally silent during the tour. When I ask them if they’re OK, they say, ‘It’s just so beautiful – it’s the best thing ever!’ ”

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Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue can really come to life in a unique way with a Las Vegas helicopter wedding. The historic, scenic backdrops of Las Vegas can provide the old, the skies will be blue, the idea of a helicopter wedding can be borrowed (from us, right here) – you just have to provide the new! The ring will do, of course.

It’s one of the many unique ways to get married in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Helicopter Wedding Packages

Maverick Helicopters has several wedding-focused packages to choose from. It includes two – Neon Lights and Vegas Reflection – that will have you saying “I do” directly over the iconic lights of Las Vegas. In addition to those rides, packages include a minister, limousine transportation and a celebratory champagne toast. The service also offers weddings that include trips to the picturesque Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Papillon also makes special trips for couples looking for an elevated way to spend their special day. Soar through the skies around Las Vegas and see spectacular sights from high above, such as the iconic Fountains of Bellagio, the High Roller observation wheel and other popular Vegas landmarks.

As you explore everything about saying “I do” in the sky, you’ll notice that these weddings hit every price point and offer so many ways to make your special day exactly as you envision it. You’ll find options that make your day easier to plan, too, with packages including photographers, providing bouquets and boutonnieres, marriage officiants, etc.

More Thrills to Accentuate Your Post-Wedding Experience

Once those rings are on, the destination has all kinds of heart-pumping activities to take in during your post-nuptial stay.

You’ve already soared far above the tallest building in Las Vegas, The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower . Return there to take in some more thrills , as its tower-topping rides are not for the faint of heart.

For more aerial excitement, consider an exhilarating ride down one of Vegas’ zip lines. FLY LINQ at The LINQ Hotel + Experience shoots you down the Strip-side promenade at speeds up to 35 miles per hour from 12 stories high, while SlotZilla allows you to “fly” superman-style across Downtown Las Vegas’ historic Fremont Street.

You also could experience an adrenaline rush closer to the ground at SPEEDVEGAS , where you can race around a track in a top-of-the-line supercar. The FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX is taking place again in Las Vegas this November, making this a perfect add-on for couples walking down the aisle this fall.

Intimate Additions for Your Vegas Helicopter Wedding

Getting married in a helicopter provides an intimate setting, and Vegas has plenty of options to make your wedding a romantic celebration for two.

Once you’ve landed safely close to the Strip, you could head over to The Venetian Resort Las Vegas for a lovely gondola ride . The hotel even offers a special wedding gondola package that includes event planning services, the use of a signature white gondola for the ceremony and more.

Whether you’re eloping or just want something small, The Pinky Ring at Bellagio is a great spot to toast while enjoying cocktails and live music. The space famously doesn’t allow photos, keeping your wedding celebration as private as you’d like it to be.

Of course, you could also head to any of Las Vegas’ many speakeasies for a party on the DL. Should you be downtown, head to The Underground within the Mob Museum a block off the Fremont East Experience. If you’re off-Strip, consider Wax Rabbit inside Mijo Modern Mexican Restaurant at Durango Casino & Resort. It’s the newest hush-hush spot in town and is sure to offer a casual and fabulous vibe.

Too Soon for Nuptials? How About a Helicopter Proposal?

Not every romantic helicopter ride in Las Vegas has to include a ring and wedding vows. Many of the helicopter services in the destination also offer packages catered to proposals. Even beyond those listed, you could just…you know…pop the question before or after any of the many helicopter tour packages offered.

While you’re searching for your ceremony and reception spots, consider all the fantastic options for celebrating afterward – and check out the amazing deals on the destination’s world-class resorts.