High in the sky: The “Huey” helicopter offers rides Saturday
Published 4:00 am Wednesday, June 3, 2015
![Messenger photo/Jaine Treadwell Anyone willing will have the opportunity to ride in the “Huey” helicopter Saturday at Camp Butter and Egg Adventures during “A Day to Remember” from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.](https://www.troymessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/06/6-3-HUEY-THREE.web_-300x170.jpg)
Messenger photo/Jaine Treadwell
Anyone willing will have the opportunity to ride in the “Huey” helicopter Saturday at Camp Butter and Egg Adventures during “A Day to Remember” from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
LTC John “Doc” Holladay USA, Retired spoke with conviction.
The “Huey” helicopter that will be the featured attraction at Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Wiregrass Chapter’s “A Day to Remember” Saturday at Butter and Egg Adventures in Troy “is not a Cadillac.”
“But it’s gold; it’s priceless,” Holladay said. “Those who fly with us on Saturday will never forget the experience.”
Butter and Egg Adventures will host the foundation’s “A Day to Remember” from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday.
Activities include Huey helicopter rides and recreation.
To best share the legacy of the military and military aviation with the American public, the members of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation have chosen to take the story to the people through air shows and numerous other small community outreach initiatives.
Holladay, foundation president, said the foundation’s mission is to maintain, restore and preserve authentic legacy Army aircraft used in combat operations and enable the general public the opportunity to ride in and experience the same sights and sounds as those of a combat veteran.
“We want to educate and enlighten the civilian population about the Huey, which is a legacy aircraft, like the B-17s, the B-25s and the B-29s,” he said. “A legacy aircraft is one that is no longer in the military’s inventory.”
The UH-1 Hotel Model “Huey” that the public will have an opportunity to ride at Butter and Egg Adventures on Saturday has logged 14,000 hours and two tours in Vietnam with 12 combat missions.
“The Huey was shot down during its first tour in Vietnam, rebuilt and returned for a second tour,” Holladay said. “Those who ride the Huey on Saturday will get in on a piece of history.”
Holladay said those who take the flights on Saturday will experience what it was like for soldiers who flew on helicopters during Vietnam.
“The object is for the civil population to understand what our soldiers experienced flying into battle zones and also on rescue missions,” he said. “The rides are also open to veterans and many veterans do take this opportunity to relive the experience or to experience it for the first time.”
Holladay said everyone is invited to come out Saturday and experience history.
“Come out for a fun filled day at ‘Butter and Egg Adventures’ and make your own memories and history with the Wiregrass Chapter of Army Aviation Heritage Foundation,” he said.
The entry fee to “A Day to Remember” is $15 per vehicle and includes a Zipline Course with tickets for ages five and over and up to a maximum of 260 pounds.
Aircraft rides on a Huey helicopter are $60 per person. Children under the age of 16 must ride with a guardian. The fee for military personnel is $50 and for veterans, $55.
Rides will also be offered on a Cobra helicopter for $300 per person, ages 16 and over.
The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation is a non-profit public educational foundation. All proceeds from the “A Day to Remember” will support the foundation’s educational endeavors.
Recreational activity options for the day are human foosball, volleyball, GaGa, kickball, mini golf are included, along with Zipline, in the entrance fee. However, Laser combat is $8 per person for ages six and over.
Waivers must be signed by adults or guardians of participating children.