Up above the city so high, winners take a ride in the sky

Sixteen-year-old college student Prateek Nima has never been on a plane, so when he got a call saying he had won a free HT chopper ride on No TV Day, he says he went berserk.

Sixteen-year-old college student Prateek Nima has never been on a plane, so when he got a call saying he had won a free HT chopper ride on No TV Day, he says he went berserk.

HT Image

"I just ran around telling everyone," he says, laughing. "I couldn't wait for this day to get onto the helicopter."

Nima was one of 26 lucky winners of the free HT No TV Day helicopter ride.

For some, in fact, the prize turned into a bit of a family 'situation'.

"My wife, children and relatives all 'volunteered' to come with me," says software consultant R Vishwanath, 43, who eventually took his wife. "It was a fantastic experience. We had never seen such a mesmerizing view of the city. And with just four passengers, it was peaceful and magical."

Manali Rane, 28, even skipped a family function in order to enjoy the ride."This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says the Goregaon resident. "I wished I had participated last year too. Then I would have had this opportunity twice."

Rutavi Mehta, meanwhile, got stuck in traffic traveling from her Vashi home to the Juhu aerodome, and was terrified she would be sent home disappointed. "On the contrary, not only did they let me in, I even got to sit right next to the pilot in the cockpit and actually see how he maneuvered the chopper," said the 25-year-old photographer.. "It was simply awesome."