Coming Saturday, Sep 10th - Rotors Over Mentone 2022!

This year's "Rotors Over Mentone" Fly-In event will feature local celebrity and helicopter pilot Flyin' Brian Walsh from Radio Station WIOE, Oldies 101.1 FM. Brian plans to bring the station's latest helicopter, a Bell 47J Ranger he calls "Lucy." He will tell us about the history of this aircraft and why he named it Lucy.

Helicopter rides will be offered by American Huey 369 (with membership) and by Cleveland Helicopter Services. Helicopter rides offerd by Cleveland Helicopter Services will be $50 cash and $55 with credit card.

Weather permitting, we are expecting Lutheran Air and Parkview Samaritan hospital helicopters to fly in for the event as well as other helicopters. The Indiana State helicopter has been invited. In addition, Radio Station WIOE, Oldies 101.1 FM plans to be at the museum and will be broadcasting Live.

Guest Speaker for this event is Brian Walsh, a long time Indiana resident. Brian was originally born in Giessen, West Germany in May 1968 where both his father and mother served in the United States Army. In 1969, young Brian and his parents returned to the United States. Back in Indiana, Brian's father, Larry Walsh returned to farming with his dad (Brian's grandfather). Larry Walsh also at that time worked in sales for Sears, Roebuck company in Warsaw. Brian's mom began working for then Manchester College. Already a pilot, Larry Walsh continued his flying experience in Indiana at Servia, Wabash and Warsaw airports. Brian recalled when he was very young bouncing in an airplane with his dad on the grass runways over at the Servia airport. His dad’s plane would eventually be kept at the Wabash airport, Hanger 3. Brian decided at age 5 that he wanted to become a pilot. At age 13, that dream was shelved when he discovered radio and was hired at WAYT-AM in Wabash, Indiana. Brian later found that he was fortunate enough to land a radio job in Fort Wayne his sophomore year in high school. He worked full time in that market until 1995. Following graduation from high school in 1987, he began to take helicopter flight lessons at then Baer Field. His lessons included flying a Bell 206 JetRanger turbine helicopter. Over the years, Brian has flown many helicopters, but prefers Bell helicopters. Today, he is a proud father of five daughters. Brian says he has been blessed to have built a broadcast corporation in 1995, where today he operates stations in Warsaw and Fort Wayne. He continues his love for flying helicopters along with 40 years in the radio business. To that he says, "God Is Good".

This event will be held on Saturday, Sep 10th at the Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum, 210 S. Oak St, Mentone IN.
Admission and parking are free.

Schedule of Events (as of 8 Sep 2022):
09:30 Begin arrival of helicopters
10:00 Morning Helicopter Rides (Cleveland Helicopter Service) until 11 am, Food Tent opens until event closes
11:00 Program
- Welcome - Tim Croy, Museum President
- Invocation - Dave Meredith
- Placing of Colors - Warsaw American Legion Post 49 Color Guard
- National Anthem - Band Members of Tippecanoe Valley High School
- Recognition of our Veterans in the Audience
- Introduction of Guest Speaker - Tim Croy
- Event Speaker - Brian Walsh, Oldies 101.1
- Closing Remarks - Tim Croy
12:00 - Helicopter rides resume until close (American Huey 369, Cleveland Helicopter Service)

Fly-In Note:
For helicopter pilots that fly in for the event, call sign is: "Bell Operations". Monitor Frequency is 123.025.

Food Tent Menu will tentatively include:
Hamburger $3.50
Cheeseburger $3.75
Brat $3.00
Hot Dog $1.75
Cup of Grilled Peppers & Onions $.50
Chips $.75
Potato Salad $.50
Igloo Ice Cream $4.00
Coffee or Drinks $1.00

A final list of items and prices will be forth coming.

For additional information, please contact Marsha at marshscott49@gmail.com or by phone at 574-328-2034.