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Show 'Chopper' Parks on U P Freight Platform While Pilot Eats Lunch We knew it would happen sometime . . . and of course it had to happen in Milford. We're talking about a helicopter sitting down on the roof (well, almost) of the Hong Kong Cafe so the pilot could enjoy foo young and chow mein before continuing his travels. Tuesday afternoon, New Year's Eve, Jack Elderkin of Butte, Mont., startled railroad employees and local citizens cit-izens when he hovered over the freight unloading dock just off Main Street, then gently eased the craft onto the platform, nonchalantly stepped out of the cockpit and strolled over to the Hong Kong for dinner. Mr. Elderkin is a partner in the E & G Rotorport Flying Service of Butte, Mont. They operate a charter service and sell planes and helicopters. The "choppers" are used mainly for patrolling power lines and in search and rescue work, Mr. Elderkin said, and they us3 both planes and copters in all phases of general charter service. ser-vice. He was en route to Phoenix to deliver the helicopter to a purchaser. The speedy ship cruises at 90 to 100 miles an hour, and consumes 9 gallons of fuel per hour. After eating in Milford, he flew to the airport to gas up, and a thrilled passenger was Steve Williams Jr., who described de-scribed the copter ride as a "riot." Mr. Elderkin was amazed that the F A A is planning to abandon the lights at the Milford airport, especially since this was the first airport air-port south of Salt Lake City at which he had been able to land, because of heavy fog. He spent the night in Milford, Mil-ford, continuing to Phoenix on New Year's Day. ' o : ' Z".'" ' " ' - I i ' y-'.' , J ' '," I ? ' J Jack Elderkin, Pilot, and Steve Williams Jr. I |