My morning spent upside down with Chuck Aaron and the Red Bull Bölkow aerobatic helicopter at Lakeland’s Sun n’ Fun air show

The things I do for subject material.

Simply put, I am not a risk-taker. Years ago when an ex-girlfriend told me she wanted to jump out of an airplane, I supported her decision… with my two feet planted firmly on the ground.

This week, however, I turned over a new leaf. Before leaving my apartment Tuesday morning to board the world’s only somersaulting helicopter, I left my apartment without even double-checking to see if I had left the coffee pot on. What can I say? I like to live dangerously.

Fortunately, I made my decision to ride the helicopter of doom early in the morning, before I was able to think rationally. I strolled out of bed, donned my pretend Evil Knievel jumpsuit and headed for the Lakeland Regional Airport where pilot extraordinaire Chuck “Malibu” Aaron awaited.

This article appears in Apr 14-20, 2010.