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Old 8th Sep 2023, 20:41
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MLHeliwrench
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Canada
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If you have a 911 and only care about the front seats the obvious choice is a MD500. You will have the most fun flying it and its quick. Who cares if a couple times a year you have to fly it a bit further for maintenance. Helicopters cost money, but keep up on the maintenance and you will have an asset that's always worth that money when you sell in the future.

For best all round - I would take a serious look at a 206L3 (or L1 converted to L3). Great compromise of power, speed and economics. The airbus products kill you on the calendar items, both airframe and engine. This sucks as a private guy doing 50-300 hours a year.

The absolute best money you can spend when purchasing a helicopter is to have a very detailed pre-purchase inspection done. Get your PPH on a piston wherever, but come out to BC for a mountain flying course in a turbine. Chinook and Top flight are great mountain schools. These skills thought by very experienced instructors will keep you safer on your adventures.
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