Helicopter Headquarters, home of the Halson Helicopter Museum, opened its doors to the public for the first time over Labor Day weekend, to appreciative crowds in Pigeon Forge. "We heard a lot of good things from the folks who came in here over the weekend," Marketing Director Rich Benjamin said. "Everyone really loves it."
Construction setbacks and problems getting materials for the museum have delayed the 25,000 square-foot facility's opening. Most of the construction is now done, though the museum is still not quite ready for the public. That has led Scenic Helicopters, which owns and operates the headquarters, to offer discounted admission rates until all work is completed.
"It's just a matter of getting some displays printed and hung in the museum," Benjamin said. "The printer has them, so it's just a matter of getting them in. I hope we can be done with it by the end of this month."
When it's completed, the museum will include a timeline depicting the history of helicopter innovation, displays and videos from American wars that helicopters played a part in, hands-on exhibits of the internal workings of helicopters, and several life-sized helicopter models. Those models will allow one visitors to sit and try out the steering, recreations of several early helicopters including Leonardo's da Vinci Air Screw, and a mock-up of the Air Wolf helicopter that has been nicknamed "The Phoenix." There's also a helicopter frame that was used in the movie Terminator 3.
Also part of the display is the original Bell helicopter Hal Haynes started Scenic and pioneered local "flightseeing" expeditions with. The museum was a dream of Haynes' which his son, Dan Haynes, has seen to fruition. He dedicated the museum to his father's memory.
"I'm excited about this opening," Dan Haynes said. "I've been working on this - from planning to now - for about four years, but it started long ago as my father's dream. What we wanted from the beginning is Smithsonian-quality, and I think we've achieved that. There's still a lot of work to do, but it's going to be awesome when it's done."
The facility will be home to the only helicopter-specific simulators in the world, Benjamin said. The three machines, which are open to the public now, allow visitors to roll, bank and dive just like a real helicopter. There are also options that allow participants to take on fighter jets or turn off the motion if they prefer a still experience.
The building's roof will also be accessible and may be rented to host special events. Also part of the headquarters are a gift shop, snack bar and sales for Scenic's expeditions, which take off and land from their helipad on Hwy. 66.
"Anything for your aviation enthusiast can be found here," Benjamin said.
Information provided by The Mountain Press