By Paul Bonnette
There is a reason that Panama City Beach is known to have the “World’s Most Beautiful Beaches.” The backdrop of turquoise waters splashing against twenty-four miles of sugar-white sands draws tourists and locals alike. However, if you are truly looking for the best views of the beach, you just need to go a little higher…about a thousand feet up to be exact. For over fifteen years, Panhandle Helicopter has been offering residents and visitors the best seat in the house, meandering down the coast on the lookout for local marine life and picturesque scenery. Well known for providing million-dollar views soaring over the Emerald Coast, Panhandle Helicopter is one of the top tourism sightseeing businesses on Panama City Beach. They provide a wide range of tours ranging from 3-minute Intro Flights to thirty-six-mile journeys over Hathaway Bridge, North Lagoon and Shell Island. Tour prices range from $30 per person to $190 per person depending on the “lap” or the distance. If you want to see another area besides Panama City Beach, Panhandle Helicopter also offers 30A tours as well. The tours are narrated by engaging pilots who are happy to interact with fun facts about the landscape and the sea life below. (I highly recommend Mike, who was not only extremely knowledgeable but genuinely enjoys flying).
Panhandle Helicopter is owned and operated by JR Hott who, despite a long-term love of flying, had a military career that took him on some deeper dives. Hott joined the Navy to be a Navy Diver and joined the mobile diving and salvage unit. He would eventually be transferred back to the Navy Dive School in Panama City Beach as an instructor. After retiring from the Navy, his career really “took off” when Hott and his siblings purchased the Panhandle Helicopter business in 2008. The sightseeing tour company started out small with only a 14×14 shack, a fabric-covered hanger and one helicopter. Today, Panhandle Helicopter has six helicopters, multiple pilots, and a brand-new building on the west end of Panama City Beach. This new location allows the business to offer more than just sightseeing opportunities, including flight training and commercial services.
For JR Hott, who has seen businesses come and go on Panama City Beach, being able to offer unique experiences to guests is what makes everything worth it.
“I really do enjoy what we do here,” says Hott. When [people] come and take a flight with us, they get to see everything from the Sky Wheel to the marine life and the beautiful water we have here. Just to be able to offer this experience to people is a cool experience. Helicopters are cool.”
The friendly and engaging pilots of Panhandle Helicopter really do help to create a unique viewing experience for guests to see “the world’s most beautiful beaches” like never before.
So, if you are ready to see the beach from a whole new perspective, visit www.panhandlehelicopter.com.
