Notes from Heli-Expo 2019
So I tried to post this on the "bad" JH board, but it kept giving me an error message that the word "rape" is not allowed. Which was strange since I didn't use that word. Aaaaanyway, here's my first-time-visitor's account of my day at Heli-Expo.
After descending into what seemed like the depths of Hades, we finally got down to the exhibit floor. It was pretty well-attended, although itw as an older crowd than I expected. Not too many young people. And no music! What's up with that? As far as exhibitors, all the usual suspects were there in two giant cinder-block halls. And walk? Dang, I should have worn more comfortable shoes. Rumor had it that Matty Z had already fled the scene, escaping back up to NYC where it is friggin' WARMER than here in Atlanta. Chuck Aaron got up on stage, whipped it out (his notes) and gave a speech on what a big...mustache...he has. And he has! Afterward, I got him to autograph my arm in magic marker. I think he actually wrote "Justin Bieber" though. I don't know, I was pretty drunk at the time (drat that free beer!). But it's gone now because I took a shower when I got home last night and inadvertently washed it off. Oh well...
Didn't get to meet Lyn Burks of JustHelicopters and Vertical. Maybe today. Did get to meet some pretty cool pilots, some of whom I've only "spoken" to online.
"Blackhawk Row" was pretty interesting! Plenty of 'em, although it appeared that there was an empty parking space for one more. Hmm, wonder what happened to it. Blackhawk down? I'm stumped.
Reports were that some operators were actively and aggressively recruiting pilots. Any warm body with a CPL was fair game. One operator's rep was standing outside their booth, giving a spiel like a used-car salesman, "Come on over! If you've got a license, we've got a job for you!" Well...young pilots, not 63 year-old me. "Move along, old man!" the car salesman said to me. "Let me talk to that young buck behind you." I turned around only to see a 62 year-old guy behind me. There was an airline booth there too, recruiting helo pilots with offers of sign-on bonuses and free toasters. The helicopter operators were shunning them and mean-mugging them like crazy. I heard one operator yell at them, "Go home, n-word!" Harsh! Must be a lot of animosity there.
Bell Helicopter had a big display. Almost all their stuff was there - but no 525 or 609 though (which I know...it's not technically a Bell Helicopter product anymore. There was a huge screen with a CGI video of their overgrown quadcopter zooming around some city, in and among the skyscrapers but never landing! Very impressive! I asked the girl at the counter where such a thing would land? She said, "Rooftops." And I went, "Oooooh, that might be tough in some cities." And she just winced and nodded in agreement but did not say anything. These drones are a pipe dream, I tell you. The 505 was there. Meh, about what I expected...either a big 206B or a small 206L. No salesmen that I could talk to about it though. On one 505 the paint on the exposed tailboom attach bolts had been worn off, clearly by tools, indicating that the tailboom had been off one (or more) times. Bell should leave stuff like that unpainted.
Finally, we were drinking in a bar after the show. Someone suggested that we go crash the Robertson Helicopter after-party. Someone else wisecracked that, "We don't have to crash it, it'll crash itself!" Which was pretty funny and I wish I'd thought of it. We all laughed.
And I have two more days of this? I may just go today and then bag it. Having the show here in Atlanta was probably a mistake. Next year, I suggest they have it in some place more fun (and warmer!). Like California. I'll speak to Matty Z about it.