Maui Helicopter Academy

Local
Small aircraft and hangars lined up at an airport with mountain ranges visible in the distance.
Multiple helicopters and small aircraft stored inside a large hangar.

Maui helicopter academy

Conditions couldn't have been better for a photo shoot for the Maui Helicopter Academy. I made my way toward the hangar and was met by Eric, manager of the day-to-day operations at the academy and also one of the Certified Flight Instructors. The hangar is located on the opposite side of the Maui Airport, across the airstrip, off Kuhea St.

Row of modern aircraft hangars with metal roofing under clear blue skies.

The classroom

Inside the hangar you'll find two helicopters, a Schweizer 300CBi and Robison R44 Clipper II. Both helicopters were created for teaching purposes to allow novice students to practice flying.

Close-up view through a helicopter cockpit window showing control panels and instruments.
Maintenance being performed on a small silver helicopter inside a hangar.
Detail shots of helicopter markings and badges showing CB and 300 branding.
Small toy model military helicopters arranged on a wooden surface.
Interior view of helicopter cockpit controls during flight operations.
Side view of a white helicopter's landing skids and fuselage on concrete ground.
Close-up view of a small aircraft's overhead control panel and instruments in a cockpit.
Vintage aircraft instrument panel showing analog gauges and controls in black and white.
Silhouetted aircraft controls and switches against a blurred background in an airplane cockpit.
Maintenance being performed on a small aircraft in a hangar setting.
White and red striped small aircraft with R44 designation parked in hangar.
Small white helicopter with red accents stored inside an aircraft hangar.
Row of aircraft stored in a metal hangar with overhead beams visible.
Side view of white aircraft with red trim parked in indoor hangar space.
Modern aircraft instrument panel with digital displays and controls in dark lighting.
Black aviation headset resting on tan leather aircraft seat.
Close-up detail shots of aviation headsets and communication equipment in cockpit.
Interior view of helicopter cockpit instruments and controls.

the flying lesson

The Maui Helicopter Academy helicopter educators are eager to give the necessary tools for exploring corners of the earth most don't get to see. From magnificent Hawaiian waterfalls to lush rain forests, these are only a few spectacular sights to see when you take lessons. Maui Helicopter Academy believes that aviation is for everyone. At the academy, you are privileged to learn from Eric, who has been flying for about 11 years and teaching for 5 1/2 years.

Multiple small aircraft parked inside an aviation hangar with wooden beams.
Row of light aircraft stored in a large hangar with exposed wooden ceiling beams.
Helicopter parked on tarmac with mountains visible in background.
Helicopter on airfield tarmac against backdrop of desert mountains.
Helicopter and ground crew on desert airfield with mountain range in background.
Wide panoramic view of airfield with mountains and clear blue sky.
Helicopter on desert runway with dramatic mountain landscape behind.
Helicopter stationed on desert airstrip with mountain range visible in distance.
Helicopter pilot inspecting rotor blades against bright blue sky and mountain backdrop.
Person examining helicopter rotor blades during pre-flight inspection.
White helicopter parked on airfield with mountains visible in background.
Close-up view of helicopter maintenance check on main rotor assembly.
Detailed inspection of helicopter rotor system against clear blue sky.
Helicopter maintenance inspection being performed on tarmac with other aircraft visible.
Ground crew member performing detailed rotor blade inspection on parked helicopter.
Small white helicopter parked near airport control tower under clear sky.
Pilot standing next to parked helicopter on desert airfield.

the invitation

After Eric finished showing me the two helicopters he uses for flying lessons, he brought me over to the side of the hangar where this old Cessna, two seater prop plane, rested. Eric informed me that he had just received a call from a local fisherman, requesting him to do a fly over off the north shore of Maui to check for schools of fish. He then turned to me and asked if I wanted to join him, not only for the flight, but to get my photos for the shoot. After fighting through my flying fears and worries, I managed to say, "yes".

Small white Cessna aircraft parked on desert airfield tarmac.
Row of small aircraft parked on desert airfield under clear blue sky.
Front view of white Cessna aircraft parked on marked spot at desert airfield.
Close-up view of a small aircraft's white exterior and propeller against a blue sky.
Interior cockpit dashboard of a small aircraft showing various instruments and controls.
Landing gear and undercarriage details of a white and gold private aircraft on ground.
Side view of a small aircraft's fuselage and wing on an airfield.
White private aircraft parked on tarmac showing wing and fuselage details.
Detailed view of aircraft controls and instruments being operated in cockpit.

the flight

On the runaway, prior to takeoff, Eric, my pilot, assured me that everything would be fine and there was no need to worry about flying in this single prop aircraft. He reassured me that I was in good hands. I was on the verge of having a panic attack. I could hear the air traffic control tower give use the ‘all clear’ and soon we were speeding down the runway, lifting off over the ocean.

Aerial view of a coastal runway surrounded by lush vegetation and ocean.
Bird's eye perspective of a tropical coastline with runway visible near water.
Scenic aerial photograph of turquoise ocean waters meeting tropical coastline.
Aerial view of sandy beach and coastline with turquoise waters and vegetation.
Aerial view of a luxury beachfront resort with swimming pool nestled among palm trees on turquoise waters.
Deep blue and turquoise ocean waters meeting with white wave breaks visible from above.
Coastal landscape showing rugged shoreline, farmland, and pristine beaches along turquoise waters.
Aerial view of a sandy beach with crashing waves and rocky outcrops against turquoise ocean waters.
Curved beach cove with turquoise waters and winding coastal road viewed from above.
Aerial view of oceanfront residential properties with lush gardens along Hawaii's coastline.
Bird's eye view of a coastal neighborhood with homes nestled among tropical vegetation.
Aerial view of a residential development bordered by vast green fields and rolling hills.
Mountain range and coastline viewed through aircraft window with dramatic blue skies.
Aerial shot of coastal highway cutting through green fields toward rocky beach and turquoise waters.
Aerial view of a small town nestled in green countryside with roads winding through residential areas.
Panoramic view of a mountainous coastline with blue waters and rugged terrain.

I was fine, I repeatedly told myself. The takeoff wasn’t so bad. I immediately started taking pictures. I had my 105mm and my 50mm with me. Soon the fear of crashing in a small airplane dissolved as my mind was in engaged in photo mode. Taking pics, changing lenses, searching through my viewfinder. That was until after about 15 mins, the pilot took a hard left turn and it felt as if my body were parallel to the ground. He straightened out and soon I was upright, headed in a direct line towards Mauna Kahalawai. Those mountains were big. I felt so small. We were so high up. The only thing keeping me from falling out is a tiny latch on the door next me. Panic began to set in. I put my eye back on the camera viewfinder and started to take pictures. The panic began to dissolve and I was okay again. 15 mins more and we made our way back to the airport. Our wheels soon touched the ground. I was still okay.

the landing

This photo shoot was mainly planned for the aircraft hanger, the airplanes and about the workers. No one said anything about going up. When Eric offered me the opportunity to go up, I just went for it and I’m so glad I did. Thank you Eric for one of the best experiences shooting for an amazing local Maui business!

Interior view of passengers sitting in a small aircraft cabin.
Aerial view of a rural airport runway with parked vehicles visible from above.
Close-up of a hand adjusting controls on an aircraft instrument panel.
View of an airport runway from cockpit perspective on a clear day.
Aircraft approaching runway threshold markings during landing.
Vintage aircraft radio and navigation equipment mounted in cockpit dashboard.
Aerial view of airport runway with clear markings against blue sky.
Aircraft instrument panel showing gauges and controls in cockpit.
Bird's eye view of coastal airport runway with parking area and surrounding landscape.
View through aircraft windshield showing flight instruments and runway ahead.
Detailed view of vintage aircraft control panel with switches and radio equipment.
Hand gripping cream-colored yoke control in aircraft cockpit.
local business, aerial photography, helicopter, airplane

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