FLIGHT
Taking
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hat does "manufacturing" bring to your mind? Machining and welding, bolting and cutting? In Marianna, FL, all those things are happening and more, but the end result is more exciting than most products! At the Marianna Airport, Safari Helicopter is building a two-seat helicopter kit, literally from the ground up. The fuselage is being welded, parts are being machined, rotor blades are being fabricated, transmissions are being assembled, and all the small parts that make up a helicopter are being prepared for shipment. Who would have imagined that something so interesting would be happening in Marianna! Originating in New York state, evolving in northern Canada, and maturing in Marianna, the Safari has been flying since the 1950s. First introduced as a Helicom, then identified as the Commuter, the name was changed to Commuter II with the addition of a second seat. The incorporation of the round "bubble" windshield from the iconic Bell 47 prompted the name Baby Belle. Renamed one last time, the Safari is now known around the world. continued on page 34
by Delane Baker
