Mosquitoes swarm over Trenton
I was a little bit nervous when Dwight Junkin, owner of Composite FX—a helicopter manufacturing company in Trenton—asked if I wanted to go for a helicopter ride Sunday afternoon.
“Ever been on one?” he asked.
“Once,” I said. “But it was a windy day, the cockpit was crowded and I got kind of freaked out.”
Junkin smiled. “Want to try it again?”
“Uhh, sure. I guess, umm, yeah,” I said nervously.
“Well come on, let’s go talk to Gary.”
And with that, we were striding across a large grassy field to see Gary Marquis, of Bell, who was giving people rides in his Hughes TH-55—a white helicopter resembling a dragonfly on steroids.
Marquis’ wife, Nancy, was there to assist and got me situated and strapped in aboard the machine. Marquis got in, made some adjustments and started it up. The blades whirred and the whole compartment began to shake. Marquis said something on his radio, and we were airborne, hovering a few yards above the ground.
As the aircraft rose, I saw several of the smaller one-person helicopters that Junkin builds, known as Mosquitoes, taunting each other on the horizon, and the landscape soon morphed into a patchwork quilt of farmland and narrow city streets.
Marquis’ smooth-flying abilities and easy-going nature made me forget about being nervous, and I was able to concentrate on the spectacular view visible through the windows of the cockpit.
As we returned, I could see all the spectators, pilots and helicopter enthusiasts that turned out for the day’s event—a three-day helicopter show—gathering below us. And I had a greater understanding of their attraction to the nimble and precise aircrafts that dotted the field below.
Sunday was the first day of the 3rd annual event, which was hosted by Composite FX, and it drew about 20 pilots, mostly flying Mosquitoes, from all over the world, according to Junkin.
Junkin said he hosts the event, which also provides lessons on how to fly Mosquitoes, to promote the sport and to let people know that flying helicopters is safe and fun.
Although Junkin, a mostly self-taught pilot, admits to having some close calls in the past, he said the safest certified aircraft in the world is a helicopter.
And on top of being safe, Junkin said, many enthusiasts are attracted to the Mosquitoes because they are not strictly regulated.
The ultra light class, which can range from 254 to 314 pounds, doesn’t require registration, a pilot’s license or a pilot medical examination, he said.
That’s one of the reasons Michael Marshall, who came all the way from Hawaii to check out the event and to take some flying lessons, said he’s taken an interest in Mosquitoes.
The other reason, according to Marshall, is affordability.
Marshall said he used to be an avid hang glider until an injury kept him from the sport. To ease his longing for the skies, he bought some radio-controlled planes and helicopters.
“But that’s a lot of money for something I can’t sit in,” he said.
Marshall said the Mosquito he wants, an aircraft that can travel up to 70 mph and go as high as 8,000 feet, would cost him about $35,000.
“This will be my air Harley (Davidson),” he said. But he probably won’t take it to work, he added.
John Herrington, Bell, brought his sons, nine-year-old Tyler and six-year-old Blake, to have a look at the helicopters.
“I think it’s awesome,” he said. “I’m definitely going to come back tomorrow and try to get the kids up. It’s amazing that you can get so close, and the people are so friendly.”