Contact Information
HeliStorm, Inc.
Michael Kranitz, CEO
720.838.0700
michael@helistorm.org
Release Date
04-15-2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HeliStorm™ 2025 Collaborates with National Museum of the United States
Air Force to Bring Unique Recruiting Concept to the Helicopter Industry
Scale radio-controlled helicopters fly at center stage to attract and engage
students, educators and helicopter industry professionals
Littleton, CO, 15 April 2025 — HeliStorm, Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the Denver metro area, is pleased to announce HeliStorm™ 2025, a first-of-its-kind helicopter industry recruiting event that takes place from May 30-31, 2025 on the front grounds of the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
With the support of helicopter and aerospace giants, Airbus, Leonardo Helicopters, Bell Textron and GE Aerospace, all of which will be exhibiting at the event, HeliStorm™ will introduce STEM, private, and public school students and educators to the helicopter industry at a gathering that revolves around more than 150 scale radio-controlled helicopters that will fly and compete on the front grounds of the historic museum. According to HeliStorm’s founder and CEO, Michael Kranitz, quite a few of the models flying at the event will be among the world’s finest museum-quality replicas with turbine propulsion systems, realistic flight controls, and lengths exceeding 8 feet. “This lifelong hobby provides students with a platform to develop problem-solving skills while learning about aerodynamics, propulsion, electronics, flight controls, fuel systems and more. When you combine this captivating discipline with students, educators, and professionals from the helicopter industry, all at a historic venue, you have an enduring recipe to grow the industry’s workforce.” said Kranitz. The event occurs at a critical time in our nation’s history given the persistent shortage of skilled professionals in all segments of the aviation industry.
To encourage and reward participation, STEM schools in Ohio can earn their share of a $5,000 cash scholarship pool simply by sending the most students and educators to the free event. Both students and educators will have the opportunity to meet with industry professionals to understand how they can work together to advance interest in, and career paths toward, the helicopter industry at large.
The approach has excited the biggest players in the industry. “HeliStorm™ aligns with our goal to spread scientific culture in schools and to inspire the next generation of A&P’s, techs and pilots,” said Michael Bucari, Head of Marketing of Americas for Leonardo Helicopters.
William Girard, Director of Engineering Talent for Bell Textron noted that Bell “believes the effort begins in schools. HeliStorm™ will help us and other members of the vertical lift industry to engage and inspire these students.”
National Aeronautic Association president, Amy Spowart, believes that “HeliStorm™ aligns perfectly with our mission to grow the aviation industry from the ground up. We are excited to support HeliStorm™ and view it as a potential game-changer in terms of its ability to grow interest in both the RC hobby as well as aviation at large.”
Attendance at the event is free and Kranitz expects to see more than 10,000 spectators over the two-day public portion of the event. For more information, visit https://HeliStorm.org.
ABOUT HELISTORM™
HeliStorm™ was founded by Michael Kranitz, a bankruptcy litigation lawyer turned entrepreneur. Kranitz, an Ohio native, has built and sold more than half a dozen companies to the likes of Microsoft, Ford, Hearst, MediaNews Group, Internet Brands, and HotelPlanner. He is also a published author and guest lecturer at the University of Florida and Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Business. Kranitz also founded Eventsquid, the company which powers the event’s registration software. Kranitz also designed and developed proprietary auction, scoring and mobile voting software for HeliStorm™ 2025. Kranitz has been flying model aircraft for more than 50 years and large scale model helicopters for two decades.
