Blackhawk helicopter surprises kids at Belville Elementary

Kids at Belville Elementary School in Leland had a unique visitor Monday morning.

National Guardsmen landed a black hawk helicopter on the school’s front lawn. More than 800 students took a break from class to tour the helicopter.

The visit was part of the Starbase program that ties hands on learning to science and math through aviation.

Claire Longshore, a student at Belville, said “I’ve never seen a helicopter up close. I’ve always seen them in the air. My dad’s a marine and he’s been to Iraq a couple of times and I always wanted to see them up close.”

“We got on this helicopter in the back and we got to sit in the seats and then after that we took pictures.” said Jathan Deberry, a 4th grader.

The experience from the helicopter will be carried on through lessons in the classroom.