Flying in and around Boston (MA)

[johned0]

Dear All,

My wife and I will be in Boson, MA next week and I was thinking about going up for a spin. I was thinking about renting an R44 with an instructor for a few hours (I don't have time to sort out the JAR -> FAA paperwork). I have booked a rental car so I can travel.

Any suggestions / recommendations regarding suitable organizations would be most helpful.

All the best,

John

[TomR]

Try East Coast Aero Club (http://ecacbed.com/content/fleet) (300/hr)
Or
C-R Helicopters (http://www.crhelicopters.com/)

[johned0]

Thanks Tom,

I will check them out.

All the best,

John

[Flying Lawyer]

John

I highly recommed a flight along Cape Cod, including Provincetown and where the pilgrims landed, if you can arrange it.
Probably best from Plymouth - an easy drive from Boston.
I did it in a fixed-wing so can't recommend helicopter schools.

The Cape is well worth visiting - wonderful scenery (especially the coastline/beaches) - highly recommended.
So is Martha's Vineyard if you've got the time. It's a very interesting island. (If you saw Jaws, you'll recognise 'Amity' and several other key locations. ;) )


I looked into flying a Bell 47 not far from Boston, but ran out of time.
If you're interested, I could look it up and give you the details.

Tudor



Edit
Just remembered. The Bell 47 was at Ryan Rotors at Plymouth airport.
Expensive by American standards, but not by UK.
If you haven't done it already, it's well worth flying a B47 if you get an opportunity.

[TomR]

John, Here are a couple more I thought of:
http://www.neha-usa.net/about/helicopters.html 300cbi at Plymouth, MA (They are at Norwood, MA too, I think).
http://www.bostonhelicopter.com/ ...EC120 :)
At CR-Helicopters (http://www.crhelicopters.com/) I highly recomend Mike Rhodes.
Have a great trip,
Tom

[johned0]

Hi Tudor,

Thank you very much for your suggestions. I had thought about Cape Cod but not Martha's vinyard - sounds like an excellent plan. I will give Ryan Rotors a call.

All the best,

John

[SASless]

Have a Pint in the Crow's Nest at Gloucester north of Boston.....the pub made famous by the film "A Perfect Storm". Nice area to visit.

[johned0]

Thanks SASless,

Will do,

John

[johned0]

Just reviewed the thread and realized my reply to Sassy crossed with Tom's msg.

So - thanks Tom, as well. CR sounds like a great option.

Cheers,

John

[Flying Lawyer]

I agree with SASless that, if you're in Gloucester, the Crow's Nest is worth a visit.
I couldn't find it down by the boats as in the movie, and then discovered it's not. They built a copy of the bar on the waterfront.
It's not the most attractive drinking establishment in the world, and not the sort of place you'd necessarily think of using but for the book/movie, but the regulars are used to 'Perfect Storm' fans and friendly enough. They have interesting information and memorabilia about the history of fishing in the area, disasters etc on the walls and, inevitably, 'Perfect Storm' t-shirts, baseball caps etc etc for sale.

If you like lobster, the Gloucester area is excellent - fresh, delicious and (to a Brit) unbelievably cheap in the local restaurants.

You can do it in an afternoon from Boston but, if it's a choice between there and taking the ferry to Martha's Vineyard when you're on the Cape, I'd say go for MV.

[Flying Lawyer]

BTW, you mentioned you've booked a rental car.
I'm a car enthusiast and drive everywhere, but there's no point in having a car for the days when you're sightseeing in Boston itself. It's a very compact city - most places of interest are within walking distance or a short cab ride and you'll almost certainly have to pay for parking even in your hotel car park.
We drove up from New York so had a car anyway, but didn't use it for three days. If you're flying into Boston, you could save rental and parking by arranging (if it's not too late) to collect it when you want to start travelling.

The Bull and Finch Pub on Beacon Hill is worth a visit if you used to watch the 'Cheers' television series. (My partner did and she wanted to go there.) Inevitably a little touristy, but pleasant atmosphere and good food.

There's a wonderful view of Boston and the Charles River from the restaurant on the top floor of a tower block in a large hotel/shopping complex in the middle of the Back Bay area. I can't remember the name of the tower at the moment, but Boston isn't a 'skyscraper' city so you'll find it very easily.

FL

[johned0]

Thanks for the Tips, FL,

If you or Sassy ever tire of your current jobs then you should start writing tourist's guides ;-)

I am really looking forward :ok:

Cheers,

John

[SASless]

One might consider visting Breed's Hill....where the perpetual fuss between the Brits and the Yanks began....here we are all these years later and we still beat up on one another.;)

One last suggestion....about tea time, swing by the USS Constitution....have a coffee cause we never did get the hang of making tea. The grand experiment using saltwater was a distinct failure.

Old Ironsides is the oldest operational man-of-war afloat....and is a wonderful tour. The crew love talking about her....don't be bashful about asking questions.

[Nuada]

Contrary to popular opinion, and regional prejudices...approachable even!

I have flown in the region for better than 29 years now and would be happy to help with your experience, either in this topic or by PM.

Everyone will have specifics which are worthy of note, but consider these small points as well?

Massachusetts is only a bit more than 100 miles in width, so it's not very large. Even though most US citizens regard all of the NorthEast corridor as a sort of megalopolis, when you get much further than 15-20 miles from Boston, you will discover that Massachusetts is a delightful mix of small New England towns and villages with large tracts of rolling hills and green meadows.
There are many lakes and ponds, ample highways which do not overly intrude, and very easy access to all of the other New England destinations as well.
The ocean temperatures at this time of year are still in the upper 60's so well worth the time if you are used to UK and Irish water temps. The food is diverse and reasonable...as all of the natives, (save the students from NY) will tell you, after all this is not NYC.

As a whole, you will find much, from architecture, to place names which will remind you of Britian and Ireland.
I hope you have a wondrous time and that it meets all of your expectations!
Kevin

[SASless]

Kevin dear lad,

If Massachusetts is such a nice place....country settings and the like....how do you explain Kennedy, Kerry, and Frank?:E

[Nuada]

Greetings oh wise and wisened Dinosaur,
Did I forget to mention?
We are, of course all (true Blue-stated!) Democrats in these small Middlesex villages and towns.
It has something very much to do with our mistrust and fear of ALL of that GOP power down in Washington these days. I am sure you heard those horrid tales of what can happen to a democracy when reasonable checks and balances are not in place?
Too much power and too much arrogance has made for a very un-American turn in much of what passes for national politics these days.
But, as I have my feet occasionally, (and I must confess my Passport(s) as well!) in two different nations....you can comfortably disregard my ramblings as that merely of another outside aggitator!
At your fine vintage, you must rmember that they were the root cause of all evil, not so many decades ago!
Best regards, my Fellow Traveler!
K

[johned0]

We managed to fit in most of your suggestions.

I did contact John Ryan at RyanRotors but unfortunately, fitting the duals and taking my Wife along in the Bell 47 wasn't going to work so he suggested an EC120 instead. What a dream machine !
Emergency floats were fitted so from Plymouth we were able to do Martha's Vinyard and Cape Cod. From Provincetown we were able to cut straight across the bay to Plymouth - awesome. If anyone fancies doing an amazing flight in the Boston area then I can thoroughly recommend this. John is a great guy to go flying with.

The non flying highlights included :
Cocktails in the restaurant at the top of the Prudential Tower. Excellent views, food and cocktails.
I can heartily recommend the Sam Adams Brewery tour. Its free and you get to taste some excellent beers at the end.

Cheers,

John

[Nuada]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the time and the local area.
:ok:

[Flying Lawyer]

John

Pleased you had a good time. :ok:

It's always risky making recommendations to other people, but a flight along Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard are fairly safe bets. :)

Pleased you found the restaurant in the sky. I remembered it was part of a large hotel/shopping complex in Back Bay, but couldn't remember the name of the tower - even though it's a famous Boston landmark.

[Nuada]

It's called, the "Top of the Hub".
I do not know if the bar/restaurant still has a 360' rotating feature as it once did, but it was an 'unusual' perspective!
:rolleyes:

[Mungo5]

Lo' all.

Looks like I'm being posted to Boston early next year with work. So, as I've just starting PPL(H) in the UK I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a a flight school in or around Boston.

I've found East Coast Aero Club who look like a solid outfit, but am wondering if there are any others?

Any experience welcome?

Thanks in advance.

Mungs.

[hostile]

I found this:

New England Helicopter Academy
Plymouth Airport Box 12
(246 South Meadow Road)
Plymouth MA 02360
Phone: 508.732.9138
Toll Free: 888.522.NEHA (6342)
Fax: 508.732.9139
To inquire about helicopter training: [email protected]
To contact Rick Smith: [email protected]

There was another one in norwood memorial airport, but I do not remember the name...

Keep going,:ok:

Hostile

[NYhelipilot]

Mungs,

Your choice (if any) depends on a number of factors:

1. TSA clearance for training (Alien Flight Student Program - www.flightschoolcandidates.gov (http://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov)). Your work visa may not allow flight training. You'll have to speak to someone at the school(s) for detailed info.

2. Which flavour of helicopter? I think NEHA uses S300s, and East coast Aero uses R22/R44. If you're flush with cash take a flight in the EC120 with Helicopter Services Boston (www.bostonhelicopter.com (http://www.bostonhelicopter.com)), although they don't do primary training in this, but will probably point you to East Coast and their R44.

3. Getting to the training location. East Coast Aero I think is accessible via public transport, but it involves subway & bus I think. Not sure about Plymouth, but in any case a car is your best bet.

4. Further afield there's CR Helicopters in Nashua, NH. Definitely a car ride away.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[DIVINE WIND]

Mungo,
Check your PM's.

[Dynamic Component]

Try Helicopter Services Boston.

Speak to Roger
[email protected]

Not a bad guy, and a bloody good instructor.

Cheers
DC:}

[Mungo5]

That's great all, many thanks, I've got plenty to go on now.

I thinking ECAC might be the way forward as it's up the road from Newton where I'll be based they fly Robinsons. Robinsons are the primary trainer in the UK, rather than S300's, so it'll mean less type ratings back here.

Would love the EC120, but I don't think the budget will go that far - although having said that it's about half the price for rental and training hours in the US as it is here in the UK.

[HillerBee]

New England helicopter Academy is out of business.

Try Blue Hill Helicopters at Norwood, good outfit, run by an English guy (Steve). They use Schweizers (brand new) however.

www.bluehillhelicopters.com

[Emerscape]

Good Morning Gentlemen,

Mungo5 and others, would you mind sharing your findings with me with regards to a helicopter school near Boston. As a busy public accountant for an international firm I hate my job and would like to break into the helicopter industry (i love fixed wing but don't want to live the lifestyle) one my fiance is out of law school and I can venture off on my own career. Unfortunately, I've been traveling non-stop and haven't had time to do a lot of research on schools.

Thanks in advance and good luck wherever your journey may take you.

[EN48]

Here's a change of pace for you. This is fall foliage season in New England, and if you havent seen the leaves in full color, you are missing the eighth wonder of the world. Sharkey's Helicopters in Lebanon, NH, (KLEB) on the NH/Vermont border is the place to go. They dont do Robinson, but you can fly a Bell 206 or piston or turbine Enstroms for an amazing view of the Connecticut River valley. Contact Roger Sharkey at [email protected] for info or see www.sharkeys.com (http://www.sharkeys.com). Roger is a 30,000 hour helo pilot (plus or minus) and is "Mr. Helicopter" in this part of the world. Lebanon, NH is an easy senic drive from the Boston
area.

If it has to be an R44, try CR Helicopters in Nashua, NH (KASH). Steve Kelly is the guy you want to fly with at CR.

RB

[fhvn4d]

Gentlemen, New England Helicopter academy is, as of last time i was there, no longer doing training. Same thing with Ace Helicopter. Blue Hill Helicopters is out of the old NEHA office and i hear VERY good things about them. Im suppose to go finish my PPL H hours there and will give a report when i do.