Flying in and around Boston (MA)
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Flying in and around Boston (MA)
Dear All,
My wife and I will be in Boson, MA next week and I was thinking about going up for a spin. I was thinking about renting an R44 with an instructor for a few hours (I don't have time to sort out the JAR -> FAA paperwork). I have booked a rental car so I can travel.
Any suggestions / recommendations regarding suitable organizations would be most helpful.
All the best,
John
My wife and I will be in Boson, MA next week and I was thinking about going up for a spin. I was thinking about renting an R44 with an instructor for a few hours (I don't have time to sort out the JAR -> FAA paperwork). I have booked a rental car so I can travel.
Any suggestions / recommendations regarding suitable organizations would be most helpful.
All the best,
John
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John
I highly recommed a flight along Cape Cod, including Provincetown and where the pilgrims landed, if you can arrange it.
Probably best from Plymouth - an easy drive from Boston.
I did it in a fixed-wing so can't recommend helicopter schools.
The Cape is well worth visiting - wonderful scenery (especially the coastline/beaches) - highly recommended.
So is Martha's Vineyard if you've got the time. It's a very interesting island. (If you saw Jaws, you'll recognise 'Amity' and several other key locations.
)
I looked into flying a Bell 47 not far from Boston, but ran out of time.
If you're interested, I could look it up and give you the details.
Tudor
Edit
Just remembered. The Bell 47 was at Ryan Rotors at Plymouth airport.
Expensive by American standards, but not by UK.
If you haven't done it already, it's well worth flying a B47 if you get an opportunity.
I highly recommed a flight along Cape Cod, including Provincetown and where the pilgrims landed, if you can arrange it.
Probably best from Plymouth - an easy drive from Boston.
I did it in a fixed-wing so can't recommend helicopter schools.
The Cape is well worth visiting - wonderful scenery (especially the coastline/beaches) - highly recommended.
So is Martha's Vineyard if you've got the time. It's a very interesting island. (If you saw Jaws, you'll recognise 'Amity' and several other key locations.
)I looked into flying a Bell 47 not far from Boston, but ran out of time.
If you're interested, I could look it up and give you the details.
Tudor
Edit
Just remembered. The Bell 47 was at Ryan Rotors at Plymouth airport.
Expensive by American standards, but not by UK.
If you haven't done it already, it's well worth flying a B47 if you get an opportunity.
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 19th Sep 2006 at 13:33.
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John, Here are a couple more I thought of:
http://www.neha-usa.net/about/helicopters.html 300cbi at Plymouth, MA (They are at Norwood, MA too, I think).
http://www.bostonhelicopter.com/ ...EC120
At CR-Helicopters I highly recomend Mike Rhodes.
Have a great trip,
Tom
http://www.neha-usa.net/about/helicopters.html 300cbi at Plymouth, MA (They are at Norwood, MA too, I think).
http://www.bostonhelicopter.com/ ...EC120
At CR-Helicopters I highly recomend Mike Rhodes.
Have a great trip,
Tom
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Hi Tudor,
Thank you very much for your suggestions. I had thought about Cape Cod but not Martha's vinyard - sounds like an excellent plan. I will give Ryan Rotors a call.
All the best,
John
Thank you very much for your suggestions. I had thought about Cape Cod but not Martha's vinyard - sounds like an excellent plan. I will give Ryan Rotors a call.
All the best,
John
Have a Pint in the Crow's Nest at Gloucester north of Boston.....the pub made famous by the film "A Perfect Storm". Nice area to visit.
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I agree with SASless that, if you're in Gloucester, the Crow's Nest is worth a visit.
I couldn't find it down by the boats as in the movie, and then discovered it's not. They built a copy of the bar on the waterfront.
It's not the most attractive drinking establishment in the world, and not the sort of place you'd necessarily think of using but for the book/movie, but the regulars are used to 'Perfect Storm' fans and friendly enough. They have interesting information and memorabilia about the history of fishing in the area, disasters etc on the walls and, inevitably, 'Perfect Storm' t-shirts, baseball caps etc etc for sale.
If you like lobster, the Gloucester area is excellent - fresh, delicious and (to a Brit) unbelievably cheap in the local restaurants.
You can do it in an afternoon from Boston but, if it's a choice between there and taking the ferry to Martha's Vineyard when you're on the Cape, I'd say go for MV.
I couldn't find it down by the boats as in the movie, and then discovered it's not. They built a copy of the bar on the waterfront.
It's not the most attractive drinking establishment in the world, and not the sort of place you'd necessarily think of using but for the book/movie, but the regulars are used to 'Perfect Storm' fans and friendly enough. They have interesting information and memorabilia about the history of fishing in the area, disasters etc on the walls and, inevitably, 'Perfect Storm' t-shirts, baseball caps etc etc for sale.
If you like lobster, the Gloucester area is excellent - fresh, delicious and (to a Brit) unbelievably cheap in the local restaurants.
You can do it in an afternoon from Boston but, if it's a choice between there and taking the ferry to Martha's Vineyard when you're on the Cape, I'd say go for MV.
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BTW, you mentioned you've booked a rental car.
I'm a car enthusiast and drive everywhere, but there's no point in having a car for the days when you're sightseeing in Boston itself. It's a very compact city - most places of interest are within walking distance or a short cab ride and you'll almost certainly have to pay for parking even in your hotel car park.
We drove up from New York so had a car anyway, but didn't use it for three days. If you're flying into Boston, you could save rental and parking by arranging (if it's not too late) to collect it when you want to start travelling.
The Bull and Finch Pub on Beacon Hill is worth a visit if you used to watch the 'Cheers' television series. (My partner did and she wanted to go there.) Inevitably a little touristy, but pleasant atmosphere and good food.
There's a wonderful view of Boston and the Charles River from the restaurant on the top floor of a tower block in a large hotel/shopping complex in the middle of the Back Bay area. I can't remember the name of the tower at the moment, but Boston isn't a 'skyscraper' city so you'll find it very easily.
FL
I'm a car enthusiast and drive everywhere, but there's no point in having a car for the days when you're sightseeing in Boston itself. It's a very compact city - most places of interest are within walking distance or a short cab ride and you'll almost certainly have to pay for parking even in your hotel car park.
We drove up from New York so had a car anyway, but didn't use it for three days. If you're flying into Boston, you could save rental and parking by arranging (if it's not too late) to collect it when you want to start travelling.
The Bull and Finch Pub on Beacon Hill is worth a visit if you used to watch the 'Cheers' television series. (My partner did and she wanted to go there.) Inevitably a little touristy, but pleasant atmosphere and good food.
There's a wonderful view of Boston and the Charles River from the restaurant on the top floor of a tower block in a large hotel/shopping complex in the middle of the Back Bay area. I can't remember the name of the tower at the moment, but Boston isn't a 'skyscraper' city so you'll find it very easily.
FL
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 20th Sep 2006 at 22:45.
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Thanks for the Tips, FL,
If you or Sassy ever tire of your current jobs then you should start writing tourist's guides ;-)
I am really looking forward
Cheers,
John
If you or Sassy ever tire of your current jobs then you should start writing tourist's guides ;-)
I am really looking forward
Cheers,
John
One might consider visting Breed's Hill....where the perpetual fuss between the Brits and the Yanks began....here we are all these years later and we still beat up on one another.
One last suggestion....about tea time, swing by the USS Constitution....have a coffee cause we never did get the hang of making tea. The grand experiment using saltwater was a distinct failure.
Old Ironsides is the oldest operational man-of-war afloat....and is a wonderful tour. The crew love talking about her....don't be bashful about asking questions.
One last suggestion....about tea time, swing by the USS Constitution....have a coffee cause we never did get the hang of making tea. The grand experiment using saltwater was a distinct failure.
Old Ironsides is the oldest operational man-of-war afloat....and is a wonderful tour. The crew love talking about her....don't be bashful about asking questions.
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*We* natives are quite friendly...
Contrary to popular opinion, and regional prejudices...approachable even!
I have flown in the region for better than 29 years now and would be happy to help with your experience, either in this topic or by PM.
Everyone will have specifics which are worthy of note, but consider these small points as well?
Massachusetts is only a bit more than 100 miles in width, so it's not very large. Even though most US citizens regard all of the NorthEast corridor as a sort of megalopolis, when you get much further than 15-20 miles from Boston, you will discover that Massachusetts is a delightful mix of small New England towns and villages with large tracts of rolling hills and green meadows.
There are many lakes and ponds, ample highways which do not overly intrude, and very easy access to all of the other New England destinations as well.
The ocean temperatures at this time of year are still in the upper 60's so well worth the time if you are used to UK and Irish water temps. The food is diverse and reasonable...as all of the natives, (save the students from NY) will tell you, after all this is not NYC.
As a whole, you will find much, from architecture, to place names which will remind you of Britian and Ireland.
I hope you have a wondrous time and that it meets all of your expectations!
Kevin
I have flown in the region for better than 29 years now and would be happy to help with your experience, either in this topic or by PM.
Everyone will have specifics which are worthy of note, but consider these small points as well?
Massachusetts is only a bit more than 100 miles in width, so it's not very large. Even though most US citizens regard all of the NorthEast corridor as a sort of megalopolis, when you get much further than 15-20 miles from Boston, you will discover that Massachusetts is a delightful mix of small New England towns and villages with large tracts of rolling hills and green meadows.
There are many lakes and ponds, ample highways which do not overly intrude, and very easy access to all of the other New England destinations as well.
The ocean temperatures at this time of year are still in the upper 60's so well worth the time if you are used to UK and Irish water temps. The food is diverse and reasonable...as all of the natives, (save the students from NY) will tell you, after all this is not NYC.
As a whole, you will find much, from architecture, to place names which will remind you of Britian and Ireland.
I hope you have a wondrous time and that it meets all of your expectations!
Kevin
Kevin dear lad,
If Massachusetts is such a nice place....country settings and the like....how do you explain Kennedy, Kerry, and Frank?
If Massachusetts is such a nice place....country settings and the like....how do you explain Kennedy, Kerry, and Frank?
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Oh....Dear?
Greetings oh wise and wisened Dinosaur,
Did I forget to mention?
We are, of course all (true Blue-stated!) Democrats in these small Middlesex villages and towns.
It has something very much to do with our mistrust and fear of ALL of that GOP power down in Washington these days. I am sure you heard those horrid tales of what can happen to a democracy when reasonable checks and balances are not in place?
Too much power and too much arrogance has made for a very un-American turn in much of what passes for national politics these days.
But, as I have my feet occasionally, (and I must confess my Passport(s) as well!) in two different nations....you can comfortably disregard my ramblings as that merely of another outside aggitator!
At your fine vintage, you must rmember that they were the root cause of all evil, not so many decades ago!
Best regards, my Fellow Traveler!
K
Did I forget to mention?
We are, of course all (true Blue-stated!) Democrats in these small Middlesex villages and towns.
It has something very much to do with our mistrust and fear of ALL of that GOP power down in Washington these days. I am sure you heard those horrid tales of what can happen to a democracy when reasonable checks and balances are not in place?
Too much power and too much arrogance has made for a very un-American turn in much of what passes for national politics these days.
But, as I have my feet occasionally, (and I must confess my Passport(s) as well!) in two different nations....you can comfortably disregard my ramblings as that merely of another outside aggitator!
At your fine vintage, you must rmember that they were the root cause of all evil, not so many decades ago!
Best regards, my Fellow Traveler!
K
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Thanks for all the suggestions - especially SASless and Flying Lawyer
We managed to fit in most of your suggestions.
I did contact John Ryan at RyanRotors but unfortunately, fitting the duals and taking my Wife along in the Bell 47 wasn't going to work so he suggested an EC120 instead. What a dream machine !
Emergency floats were fitted so from Plymouth we were able to do Martha's Vinyard and Cape Cod. From Provincetown we were able to cut straight across the bay to Plymouth - awesome. If anyone fancies doing an amazing flight in the Boston area then I can thoroughly recommend this. John is a great guy to go flying with.
The non flying highlights included :
Cocktails in the restaurant at the top of the Prudential Tower. Excellent views, food and cocktails.
I can heartily recommend the Sam Adams Brewery tour. Its free and you get to taste some excellent beers at the end.
Cheers,
John
I did contact John Ryan at RyanRotors but unfortunately, fitting the duals and taking my Wife along in the Bell 47 wasn't going to work so he suggested an EC120 instead. What a dream machine !
Emergency floats were fitted so from Plymouth we were able to do Martha's Vinyard and Cape Cod. From Provincetown we were able to cut straight across the bay to Plymouth - awesome. If anyone fancies doing an amazing flight in the Boston area then I can thoroughly recommend this. John is a great guy to go flying with.
The non flying highlights included :
Cocktails in the restaurant at the top of the Prudential Tower. Excellent views, food and cocktails.
I can heartily recommend the Sam Adams Brewery tour. Its free and you get to taste some excellent beers at the end.
Cheers,
John
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John
Pleased you had a good time.
It's always risky making recommendations to other people, but a flight along Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard are fairly safe bets.
Pleased you found the restaurant in the sky. I remembered it was part of a large hotel/shopping complex in Back Bay, but couldn't remember the name of the tower - even though it's a famous Boston landmark.
Pleased you had a good time.
It's always risky making recommendations to other people, but a flight along Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard are fairly safe bets.
Pleased you found the restaurant in the sky. I remembered it was part of a large hotel/shopping complex in Back Bay, but couldn't remember the name of the tower - even though it's a famous Boston landmark.
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The answer is:
It's called, the "Top of the Hub".
I do not know if the bar/restaurant still has a 360' rotating feature as it once did, but it was an 'unusual' perspective!
I do not know if the bar/restaurant still has a 360' rotating feature as it once did, but it was an 'unusual' perspective!