In 1951, Okanagan Helicopters of British Columbia started offering mountain flying training to helicopter pilots from its base at Vancouver Airport. In the mid-1950s the school moved to Penticton in the Okanagan Valley (which had better weather) when it won significant pilot training contracts from the RCAF, US Army and French military, followed by many other nations. This is the school's 2,500-square-foot cramped quarters in August 2008. In 2012, Canadian Helicopters reined the school "Topflight" and moved into a new $5 million, state-of-the-art building 20,000 sq ft facility next door.

This photo is copyright © Kenneth I. Swartz, and may not be used or published in any way without permission.

It was added on 23 December 2021, and has since been viewed 62 times.