Today, I took a helicopter tour with of the city of
Chicago with Sun Aero Helicopters. I have to say, seeing the tallest buildings
in Chicago up close out the side of a helicopter is awe-inspiring. I wrote this
review about the Sun Aero tours and about helicopter rides in general.
Before Going: 10/10
Reason for Score: I thought it would be cool to take a helicopter
tour
Note: This review does not put the Sun Aero Helicopter
Tour on scale with other 10/10s, like the Pyramids. The helicopter tour of
Chicago receives a 10/10 for Chicago, where there is not really an abundance of
world shattering historical sites. Still, riding a helicopter is pretty cool,
and is certainly worth a review on my site.
What is it?
My review of the Sun Aero (don’t ask me about the name,
it seems weird to me too) Helicopter Tour is really broken up into three
distinct parts; the marshes, the lakefront, and the inner city. The tour begins
in a small airport/heliport outside of Chicago, from which you first visit the
marshes. The marshes, a name that I made up for this review, are a small area
outside of Chicago crisscrossed (yeah, that's a word) by canals and swamps. It is actually kind of fun
to see the tiny barges and shipping vessels meandering through the small locks
and waterways. However, this is far surpassed by the next part of the helicopter
tour, the lakefront. Imagine the view of Chicago that you always see on T.V.,
but outside the window of the helicopter! The lakefront tour takes you over
some of Chicago’s most famous landmarks, such as Soldier Field, the Museum of
Science and Industry, and the Shedd Aquarium. Still, my favorite part of the
whole helicopter tour is the inner city of Chicago. When I say Inner City, I
mean weaving in between buildings! The pilot of the helicopter took us right
around the skyscrapers that Chicago is famous for. We could even see the people
inside the Sears Tower! Lastly, we circled back around Chicago and returned to
the airport.
Why you should go:
I would recommend a helicopter tour to three sets of
people; people who like thrills, people who like views, and people who like
Batman. People who like thrills would enjoy flying through the air in one of
the most unique machines on Earth, the helicopter. It isn’t exactly a roller
coaster ride, but I still found it exciting. Next, the helicopter is a great
vehicle to take in the views of Chicago. You can see every building and
monument in a way that you just couldn’t match from the ground. Not to mention that
you can take great pictures out the windows of the helicopter. Finally people
who like Batman are rewarded by the views of Gotham City, most of which was
constructed from Chicago. Christopher Nolan filmed most of the panoramic shots
of Gotham here, out the doors of helicopters, for his Dark Knight trilogy. I’ll
talk a little bit more about Batman in my next post. So, in summary, fans of adrenaline,
panoramas, and Gotham should go. Conveniently for me, I fall into all three of
those categories.
How:
I don’t really have too much advice for this one. Make
sure to bring a coat, because it sometimes gets cold up there in flying
helicopters, and sunglasses, for the glare from buildings. The tour length
depends on how long you have scheduled for. Nevertheless, if you have the
option to, I recommend scheduling your tour in the morning. In my opinion, the
lighting is best at that time for helicopter riding. If you decide to take a
helicopter tour with Sun Aero, be aware that they are a little hard to make
plans with. Don’t forget to confirm your tour before making any definite
assumptions. Also, don’t forget to check the weather frequently before your
tour. The tour may be rescheduled if there is any sign of rain. Finally, don’t
get angry if the company tells you that their helicopter is broken. That
happened to me, but I figured that it was a lot better for it to break before
my tour than during it. You can find Sun Aero Helicopters at www.sunaerohelicopters.com.
After Going: 10/10
Reason for Score: I could see the people in the Sears
Tower!
Email me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com with anything; questions, comments, concerns, you name it.
Have you ever been in a helicopter? Or been to Chicago? Tell us about it in the comments section and you may be recognized in my next post.
I apologize for the quality of the photos, my Dad only took ones where you can see me :)
I am not at all affiliated with Sun Aero Helicopters, I actually don't care about them whatsoever.
I apologize for the quality of the photos, my Dad only took ones where you can see me :)
I am not at all affiliated with Sun Aero Helicopters, I actually don't care about them whatsoever.
On the tarmac
Flying out over houses
Flying up the lakeshore towards the city
The buildings of Chic- ahem, Gotham
Preparing to buzz the Sears Tower
Back on the pad