Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Boy's high flying ride to school

 
Pilot Todd Dunham and crew member Bill McNeilly land after flying Kiwa, and his brother Kahu and two of Kiwa’s classmates to school this morning.


Papamoa Primary School student Kiwa Ross got a different view of his morning school route today when he was flown in by helicopter.

The chopper ride was Kiwa’s prize for winning the colouring competition at the TrustPower TECT Rescue helicopter Open Day on March 17. 

The seven-year-old submitted his coloring in entry when he attended the open day with his mother Lisa Gardiner, with no knowledge he could be flown to school as the prize.

“I started screaming then I went up and told them I won.”

Today, Kiwa was flown to school in the rescue helicopter by pilot Todd Dunham and crew member Bill McNeilly where he was greeted by a full school audience.

It is the first time Kiwa has been in a helicopter and he says he will definitely go in one again.

“It was great. It was a really great view. I saw mostly everything.”

Kiwa was accompanied by his nine-year-old brother Kahu and two of Kiwa’s classmates who were also allowed to go along for the ride.