Amazing Marriage Proposal Illuminates the Sky

January 20, 2012 by Kyle Benham, co-founder | Bootcamp Lights

Baltimore, MD -- Since launching Bootcamp Lights, we have helped a wide range of customers, from a radio personality looking for a creative way to say, “Hire Me,” to a police department recruiting 300 new officers.

Our goal has always been to offer an innovative platform, where anyone can effectively display their message.

Now, add a memorable marriage proposal to the list!

Dave contacted us with an original idea. He wanted to use our helicopter, which is outfitted with a 36-foot digital billboard, to propose his girlfriend, Kelly.

The Plan:

Dave’s concept was clear; he would tell Kelly that his family was having a little get-together with “family photos” at his sister’s house.

As with most proposals, timing is everything. We worked with Dave to calculate the logistics: designing a flight plan that would put our helicopter directly above the driveway as they arrived.

Dave’s sister, Katherine, was set to play an integral role as our backup spotter. If Dave’s arrival was off -- Katherine would contact Andrew Hu, our ground spotter, who would then radio our chief pilot, Robert Schapiro.

Day of Proposal Checklist:

Chief pilot, Robert Schapiro, files the flight plans.

"Filed."

Program proposal message to display: “KELLY” for 12 seconds on a still frame. After 12 seconds the billboard clears and will began to scroll: “WILL YOU MARRY ME?”

"Programmed."

Katherine will be on the lookout for Dave’s car as he approaches the house.

"Watching."

Dave has the ring.

"Got it!"

The Proposal:

“I departed the airport so that I would be in the vicinity of the target location 10 minutes early,” says Schapiro. Once on location and hovering above a nearby field, Katherine sees Dave’s car approaching. She quickly calls our ground spotter, Andrew.

After informing our pilot, Andrew asks if she will look outside to make sure the helicopter is targeting the driveway from the correct angle.

Once we receive confirmation, Andrew gives the “clear for proposal.”

“We had just pulled into the driveway,” said Dave. "As we got out of the car, I saw the helicopter circling around. I asked Kelly if I could speak with her outside for a moment just as the helicopter headed for the house.”

Chief pilot, Schapiro states, “Once I received the ‘clear for proposal,’ I lit up the sign, and held a hover above the driveway.”

“As Kelly stared at it -- her mouth dropped in awe,” said Dave. “Then, I got down on one knee and proposed.”

Well, what did she say?