And my favourite helicopter is...
For work - the Chinook. Who cares about wind?, ignore the faff of a tail rotor, a vertical rate of climb in excess of 3500 fpm when light, stops in a hurry when you need to, sustained turn performance due to excess power, capable of embarressing helicopters half its size when manoeuvred, and, if you lose a donk, the ability to hover ISA OEI with 3000kg of gas AND 2000kg of payload.
For nostalgia - the Huey; had a go in the 412, -1N and CH146. Didn't feel like a proper helo pilot until I'd flown it. Though the Mighty Wessex does run it close!
For fun - The Gazelle. After Tucanos and being shafted to go RW, the Gazelle was a simply wonderful tonic. Fast, fun and oh, what a view!
For nostalgia - the Huey; had a go in the 412, -1N and CH146. Didn't feel like a proper helo pilot until I'd flown it. Though the Mighty Wessex does run it close!
For fun - The Gazelle. After Tucanos and being shafted to go RW, the Gazelle was a simply wonderful tonic. Fast, fun and oh, what a view!
John Eacott wrote:
Actually... Back in the 1970's, Mack Truck did run one of the first IFR-certified 212's in and around the New York City area in the U.S. And indeed, they *did* have their trademark bulldog mounted on the nose. I'm sure Nick Lappos remembers it. It was really classy...back then. Wish I could find a pic to post.
In my entire career, which began in 1976, I never flew or even flew in a 205/212. Couple of quick 412 rides here and there, but no two-blade Huey time. Then, in like 1995 or so PHI was doing a hurricane evac. We pilots had driven our cars up to high(er) ground (it was Louisiana, after all and *nothing* was all that high) and they were using a 212 to shuttle us back down to the base at the mouth of the Mississippi River so we could grab up our planes and scram outta town before the storm hit.
Oh, it was a truck, alright, that 212. As we clattered and rattled and humped away from the New Orleans base, I remember thinking, "Did we lose a tip-weight? Or a whole blade? What a piece of junk! Why do pilots love this thing so much?" And this 212 was on contract to Shell Oil! Then I also thought about those poor Mack Truck executives making that torturous 45 minute teeth-rattling flight (longer if IFR!) from Allentown, Pennsylvania into NYC in that "state-of-the-art" IFR helicopter. Sheesh!
Meh- I'll never understand the attraction of the 212. Great machine, obviously...a real workhorse, no doubt about it...but I don't think I'd like to fly one for any length of time. Then again, I said that about the Bo-105 and ended up loving that tank. Might even be my favorite aircraft of all time.
We always reckoned that the 212 should have a bulldog on the nose: the Mack truck of the air.
In my entire career, which began in 1976, I never flew or even flew in a 205/212. Couple of quick 412 rides here and there, but no two-blade Huey time. Then, in like 1995 or so PHI was doing a hurricane evac. We pilots had driven our cars up to high(er) ground (it was Louisiana, after all and *nothing* was all that high) and they were using a 212 to shuttle us back down to the base at the mouth of the Mississippi River so we could grab up our planes and scram outta town before the storm hit.
Oh, it was a truck, alright, that 212. As we clattered and rattled and humped away from the New Orleans base, I remember thinking, "Did we lose a tip-weight? Or a whole blade? What a piece of junk! Why do pilots love this thing so much?" And this 212 was on contract to Shell Oil! Then I also thought about those poor Mack Truck executives making that torturous 45 minute teeth-rattling flight (longer if IFR!) from Allentown, Pennsylvania into NYC in that "state-of-the-art" IFR helicopter. Sheesh!
Meh- I'll never understand the attraction of the 212. Great machine, obviously...a real workhorse, no doubt about it...but I don't think I'd like to fly one for any length of time. Then again, I said that about the Bo-105 and ended up loving that tank. Might even be my favorite aircraft of all time.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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But, at the same time could you imagine that SAME trip in an 'R' Model Tri Axle Dump Truck? {Mack®, of course. Complete with Bulldog with orange jeweled eyes.}
The Huey would have made for a much more comfortable transit .
( You haven't felt shakes & rattles until you ridden in one of those trucks on Pennsylvania's famed highways ! )
The Huey would have made for a much more comfortable transit .
( You haven't felt shakes & rattles until you ridden in one of those trucks on Pennsylvania's famed highways ! )
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I have flown . . . .
Bell 206 in all variants, 407, 230, 430, 222, 412,
The A109 Power, the AS350B3, AS355F, and the infamous R22,
but my favorite of all time is the MD500!!! It's like strapping a big engine with a rotor on your back that gives you unlimited freedom in 3D!!! Flying that thing is a "you want it, you got it", up and down, fast, slow, fits anywhere, ultra manuverable. LOVE IT!!
On the other hand on long flights the A109Power is nice to have, AC, AP, FD, just sit there, but it's boring flying, to me the bigger the heli, the more boring it becomes.
Bell 206 in all variants, 407, 230, 430, 222, 412,
The A109 Power, the AS350B3, AS355F, and the infamous R22,
but my favorite of all time is the MD500!!! It's like strapping a big engine with a rotor on your back that gives you unlimited freedom in 3D!!! Flying that thing is a "you want it, you got it", up and down, fast, slow, fits anywhere, ultra manuverable. LOVE IT!!
On the other hand on long flights the A109Power is nice to have, AC, AP, FD, just sit there, but it's boring flying, to me the bigger the heli, the more boring it becomes.
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When God made the world He did the recce in a Huey...
MD902 these days...it's ok but my heart forever belongs to the Iroquois.
UH-1H... God's own vehicle. Even to an atheist like me!
MD902 these days...it's ok but my heart forever belongs to the Iroquois.
UH-1H... God's own vehicle. Even to an atheist like me!
For sheer pleasure to fly....Sikorsky S-58T.
Best to work with.....Alouette Lama.
As an Icon.....the Huey UH-1H.
The sexiest.....Huey Cobra.
But....without a doubt....the best of them all.....hands down choice....the Chinook! It combines power, speed, strength, longevity, agility, capability, and a way for fat boys to walk up the ramp instead of climbing up ladders to get to the cockpit. Even ol' Nick can get into the seat without rubbing the sides of the entrance.
Best to work with.....Alouette Lama.
As an Icon.....the Huey UH-1H.
The sexiest.....Huey Cobra.
But....without a doubt....the best of them all.....hands down choice....the Chinook! It combines power, speed, strength, longevity, agility, capability, and a way for fat boys to walk up the ramp instead of climbing up ladders to get to the cockpit. Even ol' Nick can get into the seat without rubbing the sides of the entrance.
Dang, SAS! I hope you were referring to jolly ol' St. Nick (aka Sanity Clause) and not the esteemed (and comparatively svelte) Sr. Lappos. (Not that NL isn't a candidate for sainthood.)
...Then again...I always wondered by the crew doors on the S-76 were so huge. Hmm...
...Then again...I always wondered by the crew doors on the S-76 were so huge. Hmm...
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My favourite? Split between the S76 and the BK117
Favourite, as in sentimental, Frank's little gems. The 22 because of the way it soldiered on magnificently through my outrageous first attempts at learning to fly, and the 44 because without it I wouldn't have made the break into that first job. Thanks mate, you're a star !!
Last edited by Unhinged; 27th Feb 2008 at 00:43. Reason: clarity
Join Date: May 2004
Location: In my skin, strapped to my Helo...
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BO 105 Super 5!!!!! 
What a beaut!!! I fly it in various conditions, various missions and I love EVERY minute of it. All 54000 minutes!!! 
What a beaut!!! I fly it in various conditions, various missions and I love EVERY minute of it. All 54000 minutes!!!
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Have flown? The BK117. The 105 handled like a sportscar, but the BK was like flying a spacepod and it would pull stumps out of the ground. It would pick up pilot, nurse, medic and two Missourian patients (which are like whales if you've never seen one).
Haven't flown? The S-61. When I first started training I saw a picture of one in Greenlandair livery. I'd still go to Greenland to get a ticket to fly one.
Haven't flown? The S-61. When I first started training I saw a picture of one in Greenlandair livery. I'd still go to Greenland to get a ticket to fly one.
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I feel bad saying this cause i dont think its been said, but i love the look of the 427, i think the 429 is fugly... like a fat 427 with clam doors
There are so many good helicopters the topic should be what dont you like?
Favroites would have to include all Huey variants, A109E, B407, B427, AS350-, AS355, BK117, EC145, EC130 EC120, S76, S61, Gazzelle and Comanche... I wish i was rich...
Simon
There are so many good helicopters the topic should be what dont you like?
Favroites would have to include all Huey variants, A109E, B407, B427, AS350-, AS355, BK117, EC145, EC130 EC120, S76, S61, Gazzelle and Comanche... I wish i was rich...
Simon