Why Safari Helicopters?

PRESTON S. MYERS – President 

A Naval Aviator and retired from the Naval Reserves as a Commander (0-5).  Started flying in college at the age of 19 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California and graduated in 1965 with a degree in Aviation Management.  Joined Navy as Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) and earned his wings and commission in April 1967.  After flight school was sent to Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island and attended courses for Squadron Legal Officer.

First duty assignment was with Fleet Composite Squadron Five (VC-5), Naha, Okinawa flying H-34s and S-2.  The primary mission of VC-5 was to provide target and drone services for the United States and foreign navies.  These services included target tows with the S-2 and BQM 34 drone recoveries from White Beach and Naha.  He was also deployed throughout Asia providing target services to SEATO operations and the Japanese Navy.  Occasionally, services were provided to HMS Hermes of the Royal British Navy.  A deployment included NAS Cubi Point, Philippines; Tinan, Taiwan; Thailand; Kanoya, MCAS Iwakuni and NAS Atsugi, Japan and was TAD to COMSEVENTHFLT DET C in Saigon, South Vietnam during the TET Offensive.

As a civilian, he was employed with Air America based in Udorn, Thailand providing quasi-military support for the United States.  He flew in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and South Vietnam.  U.S Contracts included U.S. Airforce, U.S. Embassy, USAID, Central Intelligence Agency and the ICCS, the peacekeeping organization assigned to South Vietnam after all U.S. troops were removed.  He flew the H-34, H-47C Chinook and the Bell 204B and H-1 helicopters.

After Air America, he relocated to Singapore where he flew extensively throughout Indonesia n East Borneo and Irian Jaya (old Dutch New Guinea) on offshore rigs and drilling ships that included ship to ship supply support including cargo, external and internal loads and personnel crew changes supporting oil exploration contracts.  In addition, he participated in Heli-Rig movements slinging oilrigs piece by piece from one drill location to another under his helicopter.  He flew the Sikorsky S-58T and Bell 205 A-1.

After his employment in SE Asia, he was affiliated with the U.S. Naval Reserves in San Diego, California where he was assigned as Executive (XO) and Maintenance Officer for HC-194, a logistical support helicopter squadron based at NAS North Island.  The squadron provided support staff and personnel for HC-9, the only Combat Search and Rescue Squadron in the Navy and he flew the Sikorsky HH-3A helicopter.  Upon relocation to Hawaii, he was assigned to COMUSNAVCENT and participated in “back-fill” operations at Pearl Harbor during the Gulf War.  He was also Commanding Officer (CO) for NR ABFC MMF DELTA providing mobile maintenance service for the P-3 Orion squadrons when deployed on combat missions throughout the world.

He started Safari Aviation, Inc dba Safari Helicopters first on Kauai and after Hurricane Iniki, in Hilo, Hawaii operating the Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopter with air conditioned comfort and flight smoothness no other helicopter in Hawaii can provide.