Must do trips.

[raving2]

Dont know if there has been similar threads on this. Looking for some inspiration. Been a ppl(h) now for last 4 years. So far done following trips:
i) London Heli Lanes
ii) Paris
iii) Lunch on Isle of Wight (Priory Bay Hotel) with low level burn around the solent.
iv) Mountain flying in Wales
v) Scotland
vi) Lundy island
vii) Weson Super Mare Heli museum.
viii) Bovey Castle, Devon.
viii) or is it ix) Duxford Helitech.
Anyone got some favourite/memorable trips to add to list?

[RINKER]

Hard act to follow , youv'e done some good ones but might I suggest get a cheap flight to Majorca and go to Son Bonet airfield to do some local flying around the clear blue waters . I think a couple of British companies operate from there.
R

[raving2]

funny you mention that, I did that back in june and have to say it was one of best trips ive ever done (forgot to put it on my list). Sloane have good set up down there. Did an hour check with one of their instructors then hired a raven 11 with floats and spent few hours with family burning around coastline and up through the mountains. Awesome! Highly recommend it.
Another trip I did which wasnt on the list was 2 weeks mountain flying in Canada with Canadian Heliopters. Great experience if a touch expensive.

[Pandalet]

Anywhere in South Africa :ok:

In and around Port Elizabeth particularly recommended.

[heliski22]

Anywhere in the Alps (or equivalent) on a clear day in Winter, a body might be driven to believing in a higher power!!

[rotorspeed]

If you really want to fly through some stunning scenery and can justify it fly down to Switzerland and go through the Alps. Montreaux, Sion, Brigg, Simplon pass, Dommodossola stunning; Goldau, Gotthard, Lugano even better. Stay at Il Sol de Ranco on Lake Maggiore. Then come back more west via Aosta and drop into Courchevel altiport. Take a good camera!

Lots of caution though. Very weather dependent; great info on pass status from Swiss GAFOR system. Watch your acft weight and don't plan a tight schedule so you can accomodate weather delays without stress. Strongly advise mountain flying course before you go, particularly if inexperienced.

[RavenII]

Florida Keys, just lovely!! Or even better....Oahu/Hawaii!

[Bravo73]

Or, whilst still in the UK, the Lake District on a nice day is also pretty (pun intended!) spectacular. :ok:

[birrddog]

I have to agree with Pandalet.

My two favourite trips were
1) Cape Town to Port Elizabeth along the coast (stopping along the way naturally), with a little side trip to Shamwari Game Reserve. (R44 ~ 14hrs flying incl. side trips)
2) Johannesburg to a lodge on the Zambezi River via Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Chobe, Vic Falls (Zambian Side) (B407 ~22hrs flying total, incl. Trip towards the source of the Zambezi) - A Logistical Exercise as much as anything!

All low level of course, to take in scenery and game!

Other nice (shorter) trips in SA include Wine Routes and Hermanus in the Cape, and going up the west coast.

Although any vacation flying going to multiple Hotel/Lodge/Chateau's in a Helicopter is great fun, though I can't think of anything as rewarding as bush flying in Africa.

Great Self fly hire attitude in South Africa if you invest in the right relationships, good pricing and very reasonable to do from the UK.

The "technical" trips like London (and LHR if you can fit it in) and NY Heli Routes (probaby LA too), or Mountain flying in NZ are also neat experiences.

[stonedigger]

Can't go past the Alps. As some fellow slappers have mentioned, Switzerland, Austria, and the northern parts of Italy are as beautiful as it gets! One has to be mindful of the high altitudes on landing - a power check is essential!

[AlanM]

Vic Falls from Livingstone..... then do it in a Tiger Moth too!

[perfrej]

Anyone?

:O

[Whirlygig]

High on my list is Iceland. One of our number, Heli-Ice, has a Schweizer available for SFH. The scenery is stunning, the cost is reasonable; just have to remember to take the duty-free with me!

Cheers

Whirls

[Rotorhead77]

I was lucky enough to take a Super Puma from Halifax, Canada to Baku, Azerbaijan. Greenland, Iceland and the Faeroe Islands were certainly the most spectacular part of the trip although the Greek islands weren't too shabby.

The deserts of Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico at low level in a 76 were also memorable. Viva Las Vegas.

[B Sousa]

The deserts of Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico at low level in a 76 were also memorable. Viva Las Vegas.

Only the airspace has changed, just dont do it on a summer day.....ha ha

For me its Ferry Flights from the West Coast of the U.S. down to the Virgin islands in a 407. Days of fun.

[RavenII]

The Irish coast in the Cork / Kinsale area is not to bad either.

The Kinsale Old Head Golfclub has a Helipad, and they serve really nice food :-)

[I'm Off!]

I can only echo the suggestion of the Alps, including Courcheval Altiport - just pick some good weather to do it in!!!

[anti-talk]

LA to West Palm Beach - done it 9 times so far in R22's and R44's:cool:

[spinwing]

Mmmm.......

Cranfield UK to CoffsHarbour NSW Australia ..... 1982 .....

Can't remember if I enjoyed it?

I do know that my back seizes up and I start twitching uncontrollably if I hear a Cessna 337 fly by !!! (that being the instrument of torture at the time). :eek:


Do remember vowing NEVER to do it again unless ... TAS>180Kts and burning Jet Fuel!


:E

[birrddog]

Anyone here _toured_ the Bahama's in a heli?

If so, please tell, and also explain logistics.

[nigelh]

Birrddog.....i will be in S africa over Xmas and New Year . I have friends with a game farm 100 m in from Port Elizabeth . Is there anyone out there who will sfh something like a 206 or AS 350? What sort of money ? I have FAA CPL CFI and CAA PPL 1000+ Hrs. Would be great to fly around that area for a few days . If there is an owner out there who would like to swap hours that would be a winner !!! V jealous :ooh:

[22clipper]

Sydney to Lord Howe Island by chopper makes a nice fantasy for this old pilot. Just a bit of stretch fuel wise without long range tanks. But then it wouldn't be worth musing about if it was easy?

[birrddog]

nigelh, I dropped you a PM.

Also, you will need an SA CAA approved / validated license. The names I'm sending you could help you sort this out.

Some SA Rotorheads might be able to advise on current requirements.

[g0lfer]

Raving2

Lands End to John O'Groats via the coast. See lake district, West Scotland, Great Glen and if you want to go further, the Orkneys. Some great views.

[minigundiplomat]

Anywhere in Afghanistan at sunrise. Im serious....rest of the flying day/night is crap, but sunrise is epic!