Raffle leaves Abbie flying high

Abbie Dunn, aged nine, waved at cheering pupils as she touched down in the grounds of St Mark's Primary, in Pensnett, yesterday.

Abbie had been transported to a Birmingham school earlier in the day for the start of the flight in the Twin Squirrel helicopter piloted by Michael Jupp.

She won the prize in a raffle as part of a special helicopter-themed day at the school.

St Mark's headteacher Ian Walker said a company called Heli-Wise had brought the helicopter into school.

He said: "The group tour the country going into schools. They went up in the helicopter and took an aerial shot of the school, and we also made the words St Mark's along with the school logo on the playing fields and a picture was taken of that.

"The pictures will be going up at school and will also be available for pupils to buy. In the afternoon the pupils had a science lesson and found out how helicopters work, as well as a bit about the history of them.

"Abbie Dunn got to have a ride in the helicopter with her mum and the pilot after winning the raffle.

"She said she felt like royalty waving down to all her school chums as she came down to land.

"The youngsters had a great day and we are already looking at getting Heli-Wise back next year."

The news a helicopter would be arriving for the day caused great excitement among pupils, with many pressing their faces against windows and going outside for a glimpse when it landed.

Mr Walker added: "The kids got very excited that the helicopter had arrived, but at first an Air Ambulance helicopter went over which they thought was for them.

"Ours came soon after."

The idea of flying helicopters into schools as a learning experience is the brainchild of Heli-Wise managing director Malcolm Morgan. For further information log onto the website www.heli-wise.co.uk