Help fulfilling a bucket list item . . .

[garyscott]

Hi. My better half has always wanted a short flight over where she lives in a helicopter. The last and so far only time she became airbourne in a heli, was in an air ambulance, and she was kind of asleep at the time (she died twice enroute to the hospital), and as a result, she would very much like to be awake during any next flight!
All i am asking, is do any of the aircrew etc who frequent these boards, know of an outfit, or lone operator, who could help with this endeavour for a bit cheaper than i have thus far been quoted. I dont have a great deal of spare change of late, due to problems in the family circle. The area in question is around North Wootton, near Shepton Mallet in Somerset, and all that is wanted is a shortish flight around the general area, maybe in region of 10 - 15 minutes, which i will gladly pay as much as i can for. She does have a relatively weak heart, so no extreme manouvers required!
This is something i wish i could take care of myself, but the prices i have thus far seen are quite staggering for a short flight in area mentioned, even from a close point of origin. If there is anyone who could help, or could point me in the "dont have to mortgage your kidneys" direction, i would be eternally grateful.
Ideally the flight would be with both of us as pax, but her alone would be fine, i just want her to see her corner of the world from the best vantage point. She is called Sarah, is 49, and is the greatest thing to grace my life. I just wish i could spontaneously grant her this wish myself, but alas i cannot. Its a bucket list item, she has a fear of heights, yet would love to be awake for a flight this time! Conquer her fear of altitude at the same time. Any help or advice will be gratefully received, should someone be able to spare a couple seats for a flight in that area, i will happily pay what i can, i just want to be able to help her with this wish.
Thank you for reading,
Sincerely,
Gary Scott

[Hughes500]

Out of interest how much and by whom have you been quoted ?

[heli1]

Polo Helicopters at Bristol are your best bet for a local flight,but the cost is in the positioning etc. As a compromise regular flights are available from the Helicopter Museum at Weston super Mare about £35.00 a head.

[helihub]

Remind us, heli1, how much your museum benefits from these flights?

[Overdrive]

Remind us, heli1, how much your museum benefits from these flights? Very little I imagine, at £35 per head.

[garyscott]

Heli1, these jollies out of wsmhm, are they local area? I think its around 15 - 19 miles direct line from there to the area of interest, but a reasonable length flight around wsm would be a boon. Say 15 - 20 minutes? Your input greatly received.
G

[stacey_s]

Just a thought, how about someone doing this for free!, call me old fashioned but sounds like a wonderful thing to do for another human being, how many private or commercial helicopters are there in UK these days?, the guy is asking for 15 minutes!! repositioning? 30 minutes? not a lot to ask, I'm an engineer and don't own a helicopter but if I did I'd be there in heart beat.
S

[jimf671]

A few miles from Yeovil, eh. Who'd have thought it would be hard.

Anyway, whose ambulance aircraft was she in? And who is the air operator? Those are angles you should explore.

There are possible PR angles you might think about. There will be some who will do stuff like this on the QT and ask you not to tell anyone. (If you don't tell us here on pprune we won't mind.) Then there will be publicity hounds who will want it all over the local paper. Best be ready for either.

Good luck.

[garyscott]

Was an Avon and Somerset air ambulance. I was nowhere near at the time, and she had already been on the ground at hospital in bath twenty minutes by time i got to her. We contacted the crew on duty later, gave them the gen on how she is doing, extended our gratitude, and gave a worthy donation. We asked to visit them, but was politely told it would be unable, due to the nature of the job there was a good chance they would be out on a call.
She would just like a little airtime, and if it can be done over the part of the world she grew up in and lived for coming up 50 years in september, that would be grand.
Thank you for all comments and reads thus far, my friends.
Gary

[Tangoromeo]

Gary, Yeovilton is just down the road, know anybody there?

[garyscott]

TangoRomeo, alas i do not know anybody from there, however, should any Lynx or SeaKing pilots do a brief setdown at a location i can supply by PM, for a quick round the local area flight and drop off at where picked up from, some money for the squadron bar will be forthcoming! I know the field opposite the house can take a heli with breathing room, as the air ambulance got in and out with minimum of fuss. :ok:
Thanks again to all who have read this thread, and wish you all well.
Gary