HELICOPTER DESTROYED; MOTORIST CHARGED

Dec. 17th 2019:

Celebrate Freedom Foundation is currently grounded after a weekend collision destroyed one of our helicopters that was on display in the parking lot in front of the office building at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

CFF uses helicopters for a one-of-a-kind program that promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in schools across South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. CFF’s “$10 million field trip” has visited 150 schools and engaged over 100,000 students since 2014. 

According to South Carolina Highway Patrol, CFF’s Cobra Attack Helicopter “Annie” was struck by a vehicle in the pre-dawn hours on Saturday, December fourteenth. 37-year old Thomas Andrew Anderson of Harrisburg, North Carolina was arrested for DUI. Anderson told police that he “consumed way too much alcohol” and that he was trying to get to Interstate-77. There were no injuries.

 “Annie” survived combat tours with U.S. Forces in Vietnam and Desert Storm.  

CFF executive director Steve Seymour said the incident points out the dangers of drinking and driving. “I cried when I heard about it,” said Seymour, a two-time Purple Heart recipient. “Annie means so much to the students that she has inspired and the veterans that maintain her.” 

South Carolina’s aviation-aerospace community has responded rapidly to the tragedy, Seymour added, saying CFF will press on with the recently launched South Carolina Loves Freedom campaign to expand its programs.