Star Helicopters, Hawthorne

The pilots at Star Helicopters discovered their shared passion for aviation at different times in their lives—some as soldiers, some simply as kids dreaming of the clouds. Today, as they all oversee a flock of Robinson R22s and R44s, Astar 350s, and Bell 206B3 Jet Rangers, they lift off over Los Angeles' mountains, beaches, and skyscrapers, patrolling the limitless skies as they shoot aerial photography, assist in movie production, and instruct aspiring aviators in how to take the copter's reins themselves. During tours, passengers fly over the LA Basin, sweeping past landmarks such as the Griffith Observatory, the Santa Monica Mountains, and Hollywood Studios.