Contributed report

High tech sightseeing and touring has come to Powhatan County and the Richmond area in general. Griffin Helicopters of Hanover County has added an interesting wrinkle to tourism in the Richmond area: sightseeing by helicopter. James Griffin, owner of this new enterprise based at Hanover County Airport offers a laundry list of fairly standard aviation services including flight training, commercial flights, search and rescue, news gathering, aerial photography but it is the unique sightseeing service which offers the opportunity for an aerial examination of any area with in a 25 mile radius of Hanover County Airport.

History buffs are offered an aerial perspective of battles, troop movements, the terrain and the natural barriers which greatly influenced when and how engagements during the Civil War were conceived and fought.

Griffin Helicopters flies the Robinson R-22 two seater and has the Robinson R-44 four seater available for larger groups. Griffin offers the only helicopter flight training facility in this area and tour customers are offered a taste of what it is like to pilot a chopper. “Aerial tour customers, if interested, can get a short, in- flight introduction to helicopter operation,” Griffin said.

For more information, contact the company at www.griffinhelos.com or call (804) 922-6232.