Editorial: Day that air force dropped in

Could there be anything more exciting than having the Royal New Zealand Air Force land an Iroquois helicopter in your school field?
That was the scene at Eskdale School yesterday, when members of the RNZAF visited, bringing with them a teddy bear they'd taken to fields of conflict overseas, including Afghanistan, Bosnia and East Timor.
I don't like to think I'm old enough to start sentences with "in my day", but in my day, that kind of thing didn't happen at primary school.
The dedicated teachers at Stratford Primary gave me an excellent start to my education, but I think the most memorable visitors we had were people talking about the importance of wearing your bike helmet - certainly, no one arrived in a military aircraft.
And I probably wouldn't have known where Afghanistan was, let alone get the chance to talk to someone who'd been there.
But the kids at Eskdale School have much broader horizons.
Their teddy - officially named Eskie Bear, but within our newsroom nicknamed "Conflict Teddy" - has been carried around the world by air force crew on a 15-year tour of duty, met prime ministers, and even been awarded with air force wings.
During that time air force personnel have sent emails back and forth with the school about his travels and the places he's been.
That must have been a unique part of the education for students at Eskdale, who were given the opportunity to learn about and imagine places far different from the peaceful world of Hawke's Bay.
Eskie, in his quiet retirement at Eskdale School, will be a talking point for pupils for many years to come.
And I imagine those who were there yesterday will never forget his spectacular return.
In my day, they'll recall, the air force came to our school in a helicopter.