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!

Hmmm. EC135. Better still Bell 430.

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.

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 ! )

It has to be the true King/Queen off the skies S-61N. What a machine built to last. And it looks Right.:)

as 350 b3

superwork horse

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.

SeaKing, Queen of the skies. :D

Any one who's seen Magnum PI knows it got to be the MD500...

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!

Can I change my answer? Even though it hasn't flown (yet), the X2 looks fast just sitting there.

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.

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...

Favourite, as in want to fly now, same as John. Yes please :-)

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 !!

BO 105 Super 5!!!!! :D What a beaut!!! I fly it in various conditions, various missions and I love EVERY minute of it. All 54000 minutes!!! :ok:

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. :)

seymour!!!
 

hey buddy i did my training in seymour kestrel aviation.

It has to be the GAZELLE. Looks, speed and superb handling qualities

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...:ugh:

Simon