what helicopter would you choose
 

Ok you have just won a prize of any helicopter of your choice fuel maintenence and insurance all paid up!!! for one year and you have to give it back, which one would you choose??????????

I think id go for an ec155!

This one www.solotrek.com. !!

MD Explorer

Just like the new London Air Ambulance

Air Wolf - also known as Bell 222 - from the 1980's TV series. Was capable of supersonic flight.

Umm, I'll have a S76C+ please. A brand spankin new one thanks.



[This message has been edited by heli lonestar (edited 17 October 2000).]

Westland Scout. Ex-military 50's - 90's vintage single engined LOH equivalent, 140kt cruise, 2.5 hour endurance on 160gall tanks !! And £120/hr to run, £100,000 to buy.

Or something brand spanking new like an AH-64, failing that an AH-1.

Have to agree with you Piloteddy. I sat in the new HEMS explorer at Gloucester a couple of weeks ago. Superb.

Hey Fortyodd,

Do you have any more info on the new HEMS, or for that matter the old one.

I saw it up at Denham the other day, and yep its fantastic!

Has got to be a Chinook. How else do you carry around the Roll's and the Porka?

If you can't be bothered with the motors, get your friends along, 50 (or more)of them if you like!

HPT

No doubt about it -- BA609 (a helicopter on steroids)

THE FUTURE IS AROUND THE CORNER!! :) :) :)

An IFR certified "G" model Cobra. No guns necessary for the first 11 months. Then arm it and let them try to get it back.

[This message has been edited by FlyAny (edited 20 October 2000).]

I don't know what their reputation is for quality, but some of those newer Eurocopters are pretty!
I think I'd probably end up with a trusty Huey though (sure it's more than I would ever possibly need, but what the hell - I'm a woman http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/tongue.gif)

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Patience is letting your motor idle when you feel like stripping your gears.

AS350B2 will give you every thing you need without the overheads and stacks of power to boot!

Piloteddy,
From a pilots point of view, the visibility is so good it's probably like flying a greenhouse. Every control and switch is within easy reach and there has obviously been a lot of thought gone into getting it right. The cabin is enormous given the overall size of the aircraft. Can't add much more other than, to the best of my knowledge, it's due to start work tomorrow, 23rd October.

FlyAny........Gs were great but the Mod S without the Flat Glass would be the ultimate RV.....Strip all the crap, wing stores to consist of Two extra fuel tanks and Two storage pods for Toys. Ammo Bay for misc stuff and you have a cross country machine that would be a kick in the pants. TSU with Camera hook up for the memories. Of Course a top of the line King Panel to get you there.....and a paint job that would get the gals shorts wet

Picking helicopters like the Apache and the Cobra sounds great. In this fantasy, the operating expenses are being picked up. However if they weren't, most of you would pick the Sweizer 300 or the Rotorway. The Apache and the Cobra have some of the highest maintenance rates in the military fleet. (Read MMHFH) Maintenance Manhours/ Flight hour.

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The Cat

Lu - If it wasn't fantasy, obviously the new hydraulic R44 - a good, fast four-seater just made better by the great Frank Robinson who has allowed us non-millionaires to experience the delights of rotary flight.

Lu, Its a dream world......There are only a handful that can afford them.. When it comes to reality one would have to fly the junk you mentioned.. Its not fun and the ladies dont get Hard Nipples over Robbies or those other things......

Since we're talking dream worlds here; I think I'd take a Westland Lynx. Who can argue with superior speed (world record holder for speed) and room for a few friends, a cooler for beer, and a bar-b-que so you can go fishing. A Whiskey model Cobra would be alright as well, but can only take one friend, and no room to haul the b.b.q. A guy needs some comforts in life. ;)

If we're talking real-world here, well that changes things a little. For a light single it would be an R44. It's a good, honest, and inexpensive machine with decent performance. If someone elses nipples don't get hard, who cares. Those pilots who don't like it usually haven't flown it. (so there!!! pffft ;) ) Besides 15 gals/hr vs 25 makes a big statement. For a light single turbine machine, I would want a 520 notar. Lovely handling characteristics, with a little speed. Mind you the EC 120 looks good too, but I'll wait until the bugs are worked out of it. For a light twin I would have an MD Explorer. And for those times when 8 seats aren't enough, I think either a Mil Mi26 or a Bell 214 ST. The Mi26 because there is no substitute for sheer size. We're talking C-130 Hercules size here folks. The 214 for no other reason than it makes the most noise of any helicopter in the world. Nothing beats the sound of rotors with a chord of almost 1 meter. Well thats my list, if you agree then great if you don't well you are entitled to your opinion, and whatever makes you happy.

For fun, the Bell 609

For real work, S92.

Cheers,

OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif