Heliventure- 100 years since first helicopter

[slowrotor]

These guys are set to fly across the north atlantic from France to Oshkosh WI. to celebrate Paul Cornus first helicopter flight in 1907.

Seems like a long flight for a R-44.

http://www.airventure.org/2007/news/070615_heliventure.html

[Uplifter]

Hello to all,

I am new to this site, I have decided to register following a thread I have seen on this web site whilst researching information about the Heliventure event on yahoo.

I am taking this chance to introduce myself. I run a consulting business which specialise in repair and overhaul of engines and helicopter maintenance. I also act as broker for the purchase and sale of helicopters. I am French national and I have been living in the UK for now more than 10 years and I love it.

I would like to bring you further information about Heliventure as one of my business partner is currently participating to the trip and he is most likely the one that people are talking about the most at the moment. This is Mr Pascal Petitgenet from Heli-Technique the French Eurocopter service centre who specialise on Alouette. They left France on Saturday 14th of July with the aim to reach Oshkosh on the 23rd of July. There were five helicopters. One Eurocopter AS355F2, a AS350B2, one Agusta 109 Power, one Robinson R44 and the Alouette II flown by Pascal and his business partner David. The crossing went really well so far, I had news from Pascal who told us that the Alouette was flying superbly well. Unfortunately their comrade with the R44 had a belt failure and had to stop in Iceland and cancel his trip. Yesterday Pascal passed Greenland 10,000.00 feet mountain and landed on the other side to start crossing the last leg oversea to reach the Canadian shores. Just for your information, it looks like that this is the first ever Alouette to fly and land in Greenland!

If you are interested you can look at the videos made by the French TV News channel LCI where you should see four videos about the Heliventure crossing: http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/sciences/transatlantique-helico/ (http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/sciences/transatlantique-helico/)

I received an email today from his team in France telling me that this morning they had to turn back to Greenland due to the bad weather. We all hope that they will reach Canada for Tuesday on route to Oskosh safely.

Pascal is flying the Alouette S/N 1003 (N03) which he has fully rebuild. It has done a beautiful job! This is the eldest Alouette flying on earth as today! You can check Heli-Technique Web Site www.helitechnique.com (http://www.helitechnique.com) to find out more about the travels and information about the Alouette as well.

Pascal is a fantastic engineer and he is totally passionate about what he does. He loves the Alouette helicopters and I would add he is certainely the best shop in the world to support this helicopter model.

Lets all wish Pascal a safe and enjoyable arrival to Oshkosh for this first one off on Alouette.

Thank you all for your time reading, please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information about the trip, heli-technique, helicopters engine repair and overhaul or simply if you wish to chat.

Yours kindly,

Uplifter from Uplifting Aviation Ltd

[slowrotor]

I am heading to Oshkosh tomorrow(Sunday). It will take two days in my air conditioned car, hope to see the helicopters from France. They will park at the Pioneer Airport near the main museum at the center of the show, I think.
slowrotor

[NickLappos]

I am always impressed with those world-hoppers, especially their logos. That heroic male model with the windswept hair is a bit self-aggrandizing, eh?


Why, instead of flying the Atlantic in an R44 doesn't the crew drain the North Sea with a teaspoon? Both are fittingly stunning tasks done with the wrong tool. If they ditch at sea, who is the REAL hero who will have to rescue them?

[Lima Oscar]

I have a friend who is doing this raid on the 109 (F-GYBA)!

The R44 is not flying anymore since they had a problem at Isafjordur (Island) !

The Alouette 2 is very slow that's why the raid doesn't move very fast and the weather in Greenland especialy at Sisimut was very bad so that didn't arrange anything !

But presently they are flying in Canada ;)

[ATN]

Uplifter,

Years ago, mid 70s IIRC, there was a Heli Union operation in Greenland with an Alouette II.

Cheers

ATN