The “Whirlybird” is equipped with stretchers manufactured by Mentone.
Text and photos
By Madison Hart
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MENTONE – Take a helicopter ride at Rotors Over Mentone.
The Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum will host its annual “Rotors Over Mentone” event on Saturday, September 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum, located at 210 S. Oak St., Mentone. Six people can ride in the helicopter at a time, with professionals sitting between them for safety reasons.
The helicopter ride costs $60 in cash or $65 with a card. Children under two fly free. There is no advance ticket sales, so it is a first-come, first-served basis.
At 11 a.m., guest speaker will be Brad Stockwell of Arizona, who flew Bell UH-1 helicopters in Vietnam.
Food, drinks and igloo ice cream are provided.
The Aircraft Museum is a free attraction dedicated to Mentone-born and raised Lawrence Bell, who invented the Huey helicopter. The museum features helicopters that visitors can climb inside, as well as artifacts related to Bell and the Vietnam War.
Museum visitors have the opportunity to board the helicopters.
Museum representative Alice Keirn was proud to announce that the Bell 47 “Whirlybird” helicopter is equipped with a new set of stretchers. Frank’s Manufacturing in Mentone manufactured stretchers that were used on Bell 47 helicopters during the Korean War. When Frank’s Manufacturing closed, the stretchers were donated to the museum.
Attached to the Bell Aircraft Museum is the Mentone Historical Museum, which tells the story of Mentone’s rise to become the “Egg Basket of the Midwest” and displays artifacts from Mentone pharmacies, high school sports, antique kitchens and early portraits of settlers. The museum recently acquired a 1930s Girl Scout uniform that belonged to Iola Tucker Goshert. Goshert also has a 1942 band uniform at the museum, as well as her daughter Faith Goshert’s 1972 band uniform.
The Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum and Mentone Historical Museum are open Sundays from 1pm to 5pm June through September. Contact us (574) 328-2034 to plan a tour.
By participating in events hosted by museums such as Rotors Over Mentone, you help ensure that entry to these museums remains free and open to the public and that Mentone’s history remains alive.
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The historical museum has acquired a Boy Scout uniform from 1942.
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Goshert and her daughter previously donated band uniforms from 1942 and 1972.
