Helitech 2015

[maddmatt]

Just a quick post to see if anyone is planning on going to this years Helitach conference at the Excel in London 6 - 8th October?

[ShyTorque]

I will go to the next Helitech held at a flying venue, so not this one.

[claudia]

ShyTorque. Here Here, well said.

[maddmatt]

Yeah bit strange having it at the Excel, totally agree they should be held at a flying venue.

[paco]

Yawn. Second all the above.

Phil

[chopper2004]

I will pop in , be interesting to see if there is more a/c on display. I seem to recall from the email updates from the organizers, there is a US Pavilion there so maybe it might be more than two halls.

I seem to recall (probably on previous thread two years ago) that initially it was some of the OEMs had influenced the push to the Thames due to easier access from LHR, LGW than hassle of coming up to my neck of the woods.

Laughingly or not, post show, there were concerns about personal security - worries about being on public transport late at night in that part of the City. Plus one of the vendors mentioned it was far easier to find and fight for accommodation in my area of academia than what it was in London...surprisingly.

Cheers and see you all around there,

[paco]

Speaking as an exhibitor, Duxford was fine - pull up, unload the stand, park up and leave three days later. Try doing that in London.

Phil

[claudia]

Same for me as a visitor, land my heli, park up, enjoy the show. Enjoy the
varity of heli movements beside you, Go to the museum etc.
A really good day or two out.--- Excel just torture in comparison.

[G-ARZG]

Another one here who will avoid Helitech in London this year. Two years ago I found it soul-less and uninspiring, a poor venue choice.

[misterbonkers]

I went to just about everyone from 1997. But stopped going when they moved it to London. Ridiculous.

The industry seems to prefer how it used to be so why do they insist on keeping it in London?!?

[chopper2004]

Static line up

Static Displays - Helitech International

[heli1]

"An impressive array"??...and if you want to fly in as a visitor ,you need to prebook and land at Damyns Hall to get transport to the show!

[KiwiNedNZ]

7 REAL helicopters and one mock = Impressive Array

Duxford was a fantastic location, easy to get to, straight up the M something from the airport, great accommodation all around, and the thing I loved to see was the many many helos flying in and landing on the other side, oh and the OFMC etc doing their Spitfire demos. Such a shame it moved.

[tqmatch]

I will be exhibiting this year - preferred the old venue at Duxford, someone must be on a back hander for using the excel.

[Hughes500]

Who wants to go to the East of London ? Difficult to get to, can't fly in, why do I want to waste 5 hours minimum each way in the car when it was just over an hour in one of the company cabs ?
Duxford fantastic and nice to have a whip round the museum as well
Have fun if you are going I am not and in fact I know lots of people in the business who won't be

[Pink Panther]

I too was a regular to Helitech UK, with a group of 3 to 4. Did the bit of business and enjoyed the Day at Duxford. What a wonderful spot to spend a day, inc my 2 nights in Cambridge. It would be nice to see it make a return.

[HOGE]

Redhill was fine, apart from it occasionally emulating Glastonbury...

[vfr440]

Snap H500, neither will I (and also know of a 'bunch' (around 30) of engineering types who won't either. Advertised attendance at 5000, well, we'll see! - VFR

[PANews]

Last week at ExCel there was an event called DSEi which attracted the world to what was pretty much the whole of the exhibition centre. Plenty of people there attracted by the easy transport, large under cover car parking and hotels.

It remains to be seen whether Helitech attracts as many helicopters to its static park as DSEi. They had only military stuff of course .... a US Chinook Sea King, Apache, Puma and Merlin and there were other on ship assets including a Lynx on the Iron Duke and some Meggitt drones on one of the other six ships of the line. Most of the big stuff inside related to ground vehicles but there were some drones and anti-drone systems.

Helitech is of course smaller, 1-2 halls, and has aviation only as its theme. Lots of knockers for this event but you clearly have not tried the Dubai Helishow. Just the place if you want to buy paintings, carpets and antiques or go horse racing !

[heli1]

Cancelled room available at the Travel Lodge next door to Excel if anyone interested...mon and Tues nights. Contact 07825 453 728. Seems a shame to waste it!