The pilot wasn’t happy with my “doors off” for the shoot, meaning handling would take all his skills and it was going to be cold up there. He snickers “I hope you don’t get airsick”, I replied “only on pilots”. He strapped me in tight on the rear seat instead of next to him, payback for the extra work I guess. Up up and away, Off we went.
The clouds filled the cabin of our Magnum P.I. painted helicopter. I was instantly soaked to the skin and shaking. I could not breath or talk through the fear I was experiencing. We were in a total whiteout on a helicopter in Hawaii. It was an “OMG” moment.
The pilots face said it all as my headset lit up, “Hold on tight and shut up….Just Shut Up!” Apparently, I was still talking, it’s a nerve thing. “Don’t talk – Shut up!” He was now officially reporting our location which was deep into Maui’s canyons.
The pilots face said it all as my headset lit up, “Hold on tight and shut up….Just Shut Up!” Apparently, I was still talking, it’s a nerve thing. “Don’t talk – Shut up!” He was now officially reporting our location which was deep into Maui’s canyons.
The sun’s rays returned at the exact moment we were within a few dozen feet of ferns on the canyon walls. The pilot quickly turned us away and up out of danger back over the safety of the warm Pacific Ocean.
Nothing was said, we both knew. We made it back in time for a much-appreciated dry window seat on Mokulele Airlines. As I checked my many photo pockets, checked again and again and still could not find my 4” by 12” accessory wallet. GONE.
