LOOK – up in the sky above Eden Prairie, Minnesota! It’s one of aviation’s greatest marvels! It’s a symbol of absolute freedom! It is also an exciting and lucrative career straight out of high school!
IT IS A HELICOPTER! And you can enjoy an up-close look at one dozen of the fascinating things courtesy of AV8 Flight School on August 22nd, 2026 from 9am to 4pm. It’s the 6th Annual Helicopter Expo at Flying Cloud Airport!
You are cordially invited to:
Observe a diverse lineup of helicopters, including multiple professional aircraft
Meet experienced pilots and instructors, who will happily share everything they know
Learn about rotary-wing flight training, and careers available to pilots as young as 18
And you are invited to do it … FREE OF CHARGE!
“We love our helicopters here at AV8 Flight School,” said George Lichty, general manager and primary helicopter instructor. “We started the Helicopter Expo to share our passion with as many people as possible – the general public, who normally only see helicopters darting around thousands of feet overhead.”
AV8 Flight School’s decades in business and headquarters at Minnesota’s busiest reliever airport have garnered their acquaintances with a broad assortment of helicopter pilots. In addition to multiple personal aircraft, last year’s Helicopter Expo featured a real Bell UH-1 Iroquois: the United States Armed Forces’ first turbine-powered helicopter, which served from 1959 until 2005. Other notable appearances included AV8 Flight School’s own Robinson R44 and R66 training helicopters, one of the Minnesota State Patrol’s Bell 407 helicopters, and Life Link III and North Memorial Health’s medevac helicopters.
“Unfortunately, all three of those emergency response helicopters had to depart early last year,” said George. “But on the plus side, those urgent lift-offs treated everyone on the ground to a real show. Fast-paced helicopter action, up close and personal!
“We hope to welcome all of 2025’s featured guests back again this year. We have invited the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, whose special helicopter dedicated to killing mosquitoes was a popular attraction last year. This year’s Helicopter Expo may also feature a Bell 505 (their newest model), the Minnesota State Patrol’s Bell 429, and Unmanned Aerial Systems: the Eden Prairie Police Department’s very own drone program.
“We welcome anyone interested in becoming a pilot for fun or for profit someday. But to be sure, our Helicopter Expo is not a marketing stunt or a job fair. I’ve been in a love affair with these machines since I was 5 years old. I just want to spread the joy of whirlybirds as far and wide as we’re able, which is why AV8 Flight School also attends the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as well as Stars of the North’s Girls in Aviation Day right here at Flying Cloud Airport.”
The barbed wire fence surrounding Flying Cloud Airport is there to keep out people who aren’t welcome. YOU, on the other hand, will be a treasured guest when you attend the AV8 Flight School Helicopter Expo at 13601 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie on August 22nd, 2026 from 9am to 4pm.