Forget the flashy limo, the horse-drawn carriage or the vintage automobile. Bishop Grimes High School senior Kyle Huff and his date, Amanda Marcely, knew the way to make an entrance at a prom: Touch down in a helicopter. The couple landed about 7:15 p.m. today on the grounds of the LaFayette Country Club as students watched in surprise from...
Bishop Grimes High School senior Kyle Huff arrives with his date, Amanda Marcely, both of Syracuse, on the putting green at LaFayette County Club for the school's senior ball. Huff said the helicopter ended up being less expensive than a limo, so why not do something totally different. "I mean who takes a helicopter to prom?" he said Forget the flashy limo, the horse-drawn carriage or the vintage automobile.
Bishop Grimes High School senior Kyle Huff and his date, Amanda Marcely, knew the way to make an entrance at a prom: Touch down in a helicopter.
The couple landed about 7:15 p.m. today on the grounds of the LaFayette Country Club as students watched in surprise from the picture windows.
“It was unbelieveable. An absolute blast,” Huff said. “It was the absolute best prom entrance ever, and our hearts were pumping the whole time we were in the air.”
The pair enjoyed an hour-long aerial tour of Skaneateles, Cazenovia, Manlius, Jamesville and Syracuse.
Huff, 18, said the idea behind the $390 helicopter ride from Tender Loving Care Medical Services was to do something totally different so he’d always remember his senior dance.
“It wasn’t to try and outdo anybody, or say I’m a rich kid who can do this,” he said. “The idea was to do something out of the norm, something totally cool, and have an absolute blast at my senior prom.”
Huff said he doesn’t like to do anything ordinary. At last year’s prom, he wore his own shirt and trimmed it himself so it looked like a Giorgio Armani tuxedo.
This is his fourth helicopter ride, and he loves aviation and would love to be a pilot. Instead, he’s going to Syracuse University and wants to eventually become the CEO of his own company.
Huff said his first quote on the helicopter was $1,300, but then TLC’s sleek, black helicopter for much less.
The theme of the Grimes prom is City Lights because the country club overlooks the city, so Huff and the rest of the prom committee spent $1,000 for hundreds of decorative balloons with microchips that blink.
“Kyle is the type who usually stands out,” says his date, Amanda, who confesses to a fear or heights.
Elizabeth Doran can be reached at edoran@syracuse.com or 470-3012