Helicopter Basket

The Helicopter Rescue Basket exhibit was built for the Sikorsky exhibit at New England Air Museum in 2024. This exhibit includes a real helicopter rescue basket, suspended from the ceiling of the museum and hovering just a few inches above a platform. The immersive experience includes a floor that has an ocean-printed rug, a background with a vinyl wrap mural of a stormy sea, and a soundscape of waves, thunder, radio chatter, and helicopter blades. The final effect is a mix of a dramatic playscape, gross motor balancing experience, and totally instagrammable photo op!

The exhibit is carefully designed to provide an exciting experience of the feeling of being rescued from the ocean by a helicopter, without all the inconvenient water and sense of possible doom. The basket is attached to the platform with four high-resistance bungee cords, which allows the visitor to swing and balance, without hitting anything around them. The wooden platform is large enough to catch a falling visitor, and the rug adds some padding to save the knees. This exhibit is recommended for audiences ages 7-adult.