Helicopters were the next logical step after the propeller beanie cap, worn by Chinese noblemen of the T'ang Dynasty to fly expediently across their enormous empire. Celebrate ancient flying traditions with today's Groupon: for $129, you get a 15-minute city south tour for up to three people (a $212.50 value) from Epic Helicopters at Meacham International Airport.

With a trustworthy fleet of helicopters at its command, Epic offers a variety of rotorcraft-related services to the Fort Worth area. Today’s deal gives airspace tourists a helicopter’s-eye view of land-dwellers during a 15-minute city tour ($197.50 plus a $15 fuel surcharge, a $212.50 total value). While an experienced pilot guides you and two friends through yonder wild blueness, relish your new point of view of Fort Worth’s landmarks. This deal is only valid for the city south tour, which allows southbound sky detectives to check out the zoo, the museum district, and Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum, to name just a few bird's-eye potentialities. As the tour progresses, your pilot will provide commentary that highlights each point of interest along the flight.

Although video recording is not allowed, still photography is fine, and passengers are welcome to bring along their iPods or portable eight-track players for pumping music into the headsets. Alternatively, just sit back and listen to the magical sounds of air traffic controllers as they squash flies on their control-tower windows. As you enjoy the avian life and espy landmarks such as the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, let Epic's helicopters help uplift your heart on the zephyrs, propellers, and sentient thunderbirds of the air.