Helio Courier
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Bai, mi go long hap na kisim sampla samting.
Posts: 2,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was a STOL type of aircraft with a hefty lifting capability. operated in both Vietnam and PNG in the early days. Would love to have flown one. looks a bit like a big ol 180.
Note the huge leading edge slats used for STOL capability.
Note the huge leading edge slats used for STOL capability.
Grandpa Aerotart
I used to fly one in PNG...quite a lot of fun but certainly a quirky aeroplane.
If you're talking about a Tassy based Helio it is probably the one I used to fly...it was sold to a farmer from Tassie and, after I taught him how to fly it, he dissappeared NW along the coast from Port Moresby heading home to the farm...in fact I was unsure which was more quirky, the aeroplane or him...bit like dogs and their owners I suppose.
In terms of all out lifting ability they closely equate to a C180 or maybe an early model 185...they are slower than a 180...more difficult to fly period and lots more difficult to fly to the limits of their performance...but I think it may be the only true 'go anywhere' aeroplane I have ever flown.
In the SE trades at Moresby I could bring the aircraft into a low hover over the piano keys and land with virtually no ground roll...they have virtually no crosswind capability...7 kts from memory...so having landed in a 20kt south easterly on 14R at POM just taxiing it to the GA apron was fraught with unpleasant possibilities.
If you're talking about a Tassy based Helio it is probably the one I used to fly...it was sold to a farmer from Tassie and, after I taught him how to fly it, he dissappeared NW along the coast from Port Moresby heading home to the farm...in fact I was unsure which was more quirky, the aeroplane or him...bit like dogs and their owners I suppose.
In terms of all out lifting ability they closely equate to a C180 or maybe an early model 185...they are slower than a 180...more difficult to fly period and lots more difficult to fly to the limits of their performance...but I think it may be the only true 'go anywhere' aeroplane I have ever flown.
In the SE trades at Moresby I could bring the aircraft into a low hover over the piano keys and land with virtually no ground roll...they have virtually no crosswind capability...7 kts from memory...so having landed in a 20kt south easterly on 14R at POM just taxiing it to the GA apron was fraught with unpleasant possibilities.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Down a dark hole
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: The pineapple plantation
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An aircraft, now why didn't I think of that! Thanks for the responses.
Wiz, there still might be a chance to fly it if you want to move to Tassie for 4 months!
Details are available on the normal job site (union) webpage.
Wiz, there still might be a chance to fly it if you want to move to Tassie for 4 months!
Details are available on the normal job site (union) webpage.
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Bai, mi go long hap na kisim sampla samting.
Posts: 2,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think I could handle the cold down there. I might just keep doing what I'm doing and hope another chance pops up somewhere I think. 
besides, girls with three thumbs don't really do it for me.
besides, girls with three thumbs don't really do it for me.
Grandpa Aerotart
RS
At POM the terrain means the wind blows from two direction...14 or 32...but taxiing was really hard even with the locking tailwheel...I was sorely tempted to eschew the runway all together and just land on the GA apron lined up with a parking spot...but figured Sooty in the tower was unlikely to cope at all adequately so never tried it...on previous occassions I had put on an impromptu aerobatic display low over the airport at Moresby in a C152 Aerobat belonging to the aeroclub and taxied a C185 all the way to the maintenance hangar 'tailwheel up' after landing with a known flat tailwheel (departed the bush strip the same way)...on both occassions after requesting 'clearance' from 'Da Tauwa'...on both occassions I received clearance but it was excrutiatingly obvious on both occassions they had no idea what they were saying yes to
At POM the terrain means the wind blows from two direction...14 or 32...but taxiing was really hard even with the locking tailwheel...I was sorely tempted to eschew the runway all together and just land on the GA apron lined up with a parking spot...but figured Sooty in the tower was unlikely to cope at all adequately so never tried it...on previous occassions I had put on an impromptu aerobatic display low over the airport at Moresby in a C152 Aerobat belonging to the aeroclub and taxied a C185 all the way to the maintenance hangar 'tailwheel up' after landing with a known flat tailwheel (departed the bush strip the same way)...on both occassions after requesting 'clearance' from 'Da Tauwa'...on both occassions I received clearance but it was excrutiatingly obvious on both occassions they had no idea what they were saying yes to
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Bai, mi go long hap na kisim sampla samting.
Posts: 2,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Strewth, your lucky they spoke to you. Last time I tried to chat to the tower, they wouldn't talk back............... So I landed anyway (it was dark and raining).
They had plenty to say soon afterwards. didn't they Ozex. (I must say that our mate Oz has a rather eloquent way with words.)
They had plenty to say soon afterwards. didn't they Ozex. (I must say that our mate Oz has a rather eloquent way with words.)
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Helio also had a version of the Courier with a turbine pulling it around.
Think it was called the Stallion. Been a long time but I do recall that it gave new meaning to the term STOL.
Think it was called the Stallion. Been a long time but I do recall that it gave new meaning to the term STOL.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ahh the Helio Stallion, wanted one of those...or a go in one, anyway...for donkeys years. They are making both the stallion and the courierr again. See here http://www.helioaircraft.com/ourplan...lion_stats.htm for the performance figures on the Stallion (37 kias to 190 kias ish lifting 3000 pounds out of around 300 ft at sea level....hmmm nice)
Piccies here (scroll down for the Stallion)
http://www.heliocourier.net/
Piccies here (scroll down for the Stallion)
http://www.heliocourier.net/
Stallion: "Seating Capacity 10 (pilot/passengers)". From my memory of P2-BOX, 10 POB could be interesting.....
But I'm sure "he who got 19 into a C402 and 30 something into a Bandit" could test even that!
But I'm sure "he who got 19 into a C402 and 30 something into a Bandit" could test even that!
How come they stopped using Porters in PNG? Did Talair make money out of them?
There was a Turbine Helio Courier for sale in Brazil a couple of years back for about $165k US.
There was a Turbine Helio Courier for sale in Brazil a couple of years back for about $165k US.
Silly Old Git
Come to think of it the god botherers (CIA?) were using Helios out of Sentani Irian Jaya as well as piston
Porters in the 70's
The god botherers had a Dornier at Wewak that old Father McDuck would fly with his pith Helmet on
Dornier
Porters in the 70'sThe god botherers had a Dornier at Wewak that old Father McDuck would fly with his pith Helmet on
Dornier
Troppo
Talair inherited them (one, P2-SEA?) from M@cair and exchanged a piston Porter air frame from the Catholic Mission for an overhauled engine. They were not financially viable and we made a decision to quit single engine aircraft. They were too slow, and with the PT6A-20 engine (upgraded I think from a -6), the engine HSI's were short lived and expensive. So slow in fact, Maxie departed Goroka for Lae on one occasion and returned 40 minutes later for more fuel and to wait until the easterly wind subsided a little!
Also, from memory the legal max TO weight was around 4,800 pounds, which limited legal payload. (Air America operated them at 6,200 pounds max TO weight and I think the US military at 7,000 pounds max TO weight).
Besides, pilots used to break them at places where recovery was very difficult and expensive - like Karimui!!
M@cair pranged one in the Gulf, near Kerema I think it was, before we bought M@cair out. Can't recall the pilots name, but he was badly injured. A passenger was also either injured or killed. If I remember correctly, the young bull they were carrying was also put down? It's over 30 years ago.......
They were a special mission STOL aircraft, not viable on normal air charter operations. I shared the Boss's view, we simply didn't need a one off, especially with up to fourteen Twin Otters filling the same role.
The Tykes at Wewak had a few Dorniers - Archbishop Leo Arkfield used to fly one - but I'll bet you didn't know that at one stage, Talair also had one Dornier DO27, but it didn't last very long. From memory, that was around the mid 60's?
At one stage we considered a twin Dornier - a DO28? - with twin geared engines on sponsons. The look was very brief before interest was definately lost forever!!
"How come they stopped using Porters in PNG? Did Talair make money out of them?"
Also, from memory the legal max TO weight was around 4,800 pounds, which limited legal payload. (Air America operated them at 6,200 pounds max TO weight and I think the US military at 7,000 pounds max TO weight).
Besides, pilots used to break them at places where recovery was very difficult and expensive - like Karimui!!
M@cair pranged one in the Gulf, near Kerema I think it was, before we bought M@cair out. Can't recall the pilots name, but he was badly injured. A passenger was also either injured or killed. If I remember correctly, the young bull they were carrying was also put down? It's over 30 years ago.......
They were a special mission STOL aircraft, not viable on normal air charter operations. I shared the Boss's view, we simply didn't need a one off, especially with up to fourteen Twin Otters filling the same role.
The Tykes at Wewak had a few Dorniers - Archbishop Leo Arkfield used to fly one - but I'll bet you didn't know that at one stage, Talair also had one Dornier DO27, but it didn't last very long. From memory, that was around the mid 60's?
At one stage we considered a twin Dornier - a DO28? - with twin geared engines on sponsons. The look was very brief before interest was definately lost forever!!
Last edited by Torres; 19th Dec 2006 at 02:25.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'Talair also had one Dornier DO27, but it didn't last very long. From memory, that was around the mid 60's?'
1961.
My first ride in a light aircraft. Out of Kundiawa. Set an impressionable teenager on the road to ruin in aviation.
Snooze
1961.
My first ride in a light aircraft. Out of Kundiawa. Set an impressionable teenager on the road to ruin in aviation.
Snooze