Where are you based ? A good rule of thumb is that you need to be putting between two and three hundred hours on an R22 per year in order to avoid hitting calendar maintenance. That's around four hours a week which is a lot of flying in a 22. You might find that joint venturing with another pilot or a training operator would be a more attractive deal.
If you're determined to go it alone, then maybe consider borrowing the money against something else, eg. your house. Just don't tell them it's to buy a helicopter !
Remember the three 'F's though, and consider that if banks are reluctant to lend, they may be telling you something ! Owners tell me there are two great days involved in owning a helicopter, the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
Hope that's useful.
Last edited by puntosaurus; 9th June 2012 at 02:24.