A helicopter swerved through billowing smoke and shot flames over the Newport Beach Country Club Thursday evening, a jaw-dropping spectacle staged for a Navy SEAL charity gala that police had warned residents about in advance. The display lasted about 15 minutes and was tied to the opening of the SEAL Future Foundation's annual fundraiser.
A Gala Spectacle Years in the Making
The SEAL Future Foundation hosted its annual fundraising gala at the Newport Beach Country Club on Thursday, marking the event's return to Newport Beach after two years at the Bel Air Country Club in Los Angeles, according to the SEAL Future Foundation. Attendee Nicole Dishon captured the helicopter spectacle from the grounds and posted footage to Instagram, writing, “the coolest night at Newport Beach Country Club! unbelievable and so amazing. i'm in awe!” as reported by New York Post.
The helicopter performed daring maneuvers around trees while shooting pyrotechnics and swerving through smoke, per the same account. The aircraft belonged to Long Beach-based Hollywoods Astar LLC, whose owners include Fred North, according to registration records cited by the outlet.
The Helicopter and the Police Advisory
The FAA Aircraft Registry lists N831HA as an assigned registration. North is a movie helicopter pilot whose credits include Armageddon, Seven Years in Tibet and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, per the New York Post's reporting. The Fred North Helicopter Safety Mentorship Program notes he has logged more than 22,000 total flight hours across a 30-plus-year career, including over 18,000 hours shooting films and commercials.
North's résumé includes a record few recreational pilots could touch: in March 2002, he set an unmonitored world altitude record for a helicopter flight, piloting an AS350 B2 to 42,500 feet over Cape Town, South Africa, according to SlashGear. Standard commercial helicopters typically cruise near or below 10,000 feet due to atmospheric density limits, the outlet notes.
Federal Aviation Regulations under 14 CFR Part 91.119 include a 1,000-foot rule with a provision for helicopters, according to the FAA.
Police Issued an Advance Advisory
The Newport Beach Police Department announced ahead of time that a private event would include a helicopter flyover, fireworks, loud noises and theatrical smoke effects, scheduled from 5:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. and expected to last approximately 15 minutes. Local police reassured nearby residents that the planned effects were not a cause for concern, the New York Post reported.
Inside the Foundation Behind the Fireworks
The helicopter spectacle appeared to be part of the opening gala for the SEAL Future Foundation, which supports Navy SEALs leaving military service and transitioning to civilian life, providing support for well-being, education and careers, per the New York Post. The foundation provides transition support covering health, education and career development for departing special operators, according to the Behind the Shield Podcast.
A Venue Facing Its Own Changes
The Newport Beach Country Club property covers 128.5 acres.
The gala also lands amid a separate, ongoing conversation about the club's future. In September, the Newport Beach Planning Commission unanimously approved a recommendation for a development agreement to construct 78 residential units on a portion of the Newport Beach Country Club property, as Hoodline reported in its housing coverage. Newport Beach is incorporating housing commitments into its state-mandated regional housing plan, with that proposal now headed from the planning commission to the city council.
