Big future in store for 'Charlie'

SANDPOINT — Charlie is on the move.

For almost a year, the inoperable H-34 helicopter has sat in the ARC Quality Collision Repair parking lot, an area visible to drivers on U.S. 2.

However, with ARC owner Richard Oliver moving to North Dakota, Charlie needed a new place to land. Fortunately, the search didn’t take long, and the chopper will be chilling henceforth in a Sandpoint Airport hangar, courtesy Air-1 Sandpoint Helicopters.

If it weren’t for a group of dedicated veterans, Charlie wouldn’t be in Sandpoint in the first place.

Bill Collier, a helicopter pilot and Vietnam War veteran, spearheaded a fundraising drive when he learned a collection of H-34s would be destroyed if not purchased by the end of the month. After galvanizing local groups and winning support from outside the state, the veterans purchased a H-34 — affectionately named Charlie — to serve as a local war memorial.

When Collier discovered that Charlie needed a new home, the search was on for a willing individual with enough free space to house the massive machine. Fortunately, Collier ran into Joel D’Attilio, director of maintenance at Air-1 Sandpoint Helicopters.

“He told me, ‘If you want to keep the helicopter at our hangar, you’re more than welcome to do so,’” Collier said.

For his part, D’Attilio was honored to accommodate Charlie in a proper helicopter hanger.

“We have a Vietnam helicopter that we still operate, so I think what they’re doing (with Charlie) is great,” he said, later adding, “It’s a privilege to be able to help them out.”

Before making the move, the veterans wanted to pay their respects to Oliver, who donated his property to Charlie for about 10 months. The veterans organized a traditional ceremony symbolizing the departure of a U.S. military presence from an area, lowering the American flag and presenting Oliver with a distinguished service award. Afterward, they hitched Charlie to a truck and transported it to the Sandpoint Airport.

Although Charlie will now be housed in an indoor location, the machine will still get plenty of attention. Collier said the veterans plan to bring the H-34 to several events in the coming year, including the Independence Day parade, the veteran stand-down in mid-June, Veterans Day events and even Lost in the ’50s.

“It’s a ’50s helicopter, so why not?” Collier said.

The crew also hopes they’ll get the opportunity to use Charlie as a very special Santa’s sleigh when the holidays approach.

Outside of all the festive planning, however, Charlie’s purpose remains the same — to remember the contributions of American soldiers in the Vietnam War.

“This has been a very good project,” Collier said. “All the veterans have been pulling together to make this Vietnam memorial possible.”

To learn more or contribute to the H-34 project, call Collier at 597-0622.