BeechTalk - BT - Endeavor to Resurrect the Helio Courier Brand

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Apr 2025, 10:00

Username Protected wrote:

Dennis Martain, did you watch the video? They show just exactly how, their setting up to re-produce an Airplane, with precision, that was previously Hand Built :thumbup:

Yes, I watched the video. They have done a hell of job modeling the airplane and converting to match hole construction. That's not easy. I question some of their tooling but good fabricators can make good aircraft without good tooling. (BTW, bad fabricators can make bad aircraft with good tooling...something some OEM's don't seem to understand.)

I worked for a GA OEM for 17 years. It's so much harder than people realize. As much as they've done....they are about one quarter of the way there. People have done it before and will do it again. I hope they are one of them! I'm pulling for them.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Apr 2025, 13:11

Username Protected wrote:

As I watched them discussing engines I kept wondering how an IO550b would work?

As I read Charlie saying he got the tail up before ‘chickening out’ :peace:

I’m reminded of the sum total advice I got before settling into the left seat of P2-BOX the first time.

1/. When the tail comes up on takeoff she’s ready to fly…don’t keep her on the ground or she’ll start looking for new and exciting places to go, and take you there.

2/. Slats pop out at 39kts on approach.

3/. 8 cranks is half flaps…don’t even think about full flaps until you have 30-40hrs up in her.

On my first takeoff into a stiff wind I was off the ground before I had a chance to look at the ASI and understand the pitot tube was blocked - so when the slats popped out on approach with a bang I thought “oh 39kts”

Being young, dumb and full of you know what I tried a full flap landing with maybe 3hrs on type. :doh:

Yep that was my thoughts. Not quite sure what it was going to do or need, better wait for another day. Sadly another chance never came. It was a 300ft wide grass runway to play with luckily and the airplane behaved fine. I can see how the far forward gear placement would get interesting especially if any crosswinds and landing across the runway is a better option.

Nice to have a good audible check of speed with the slat extension.

Back in the 1990s there was a tricycle gear Helio at Oshkosh with a Garrett on the front and a dual tire nose strut setup I think from a F-101. It had large Super swamper truck tires on the mains block tread and all. I wonder where that one ended up.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Apr 2025, 22:07

Username Protected wrote:

Hey Dennis,
It does seem pretty bare bones, I'm intrigued by what you question in the tooling.

It just seemed kinda light duty. Wood fixtures and aluminum channel jigs. This isn't necessarily "wrong" if the fabricators know how to use them, but it's going to require a lot of attention to detail and triple checking. I know a lot of you are saying all airplanes should be built with attention to detail and triple checking, however in a production world the better you tool the easier this becomes, the easier it becomes the faster you can build, and the faster you can build the lower you can charge.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Apr 2025, 22:15

Username Protected wrote:

Let’s drop in on them.

If I had only known. :doh:

Would have loved to stop.

Under the ...."it's a small world"..... I drove to within 1/4 mile of AK24 once, and 1 mile a second time last summer leaving our dog at a boarding kennel nearby.

Flew over it a third time departing Anchorage heading home in the A36.

Leldon

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 May 2025, 20:38

History of the Helio video.

https://youtu.be/H4higihuZ58?si=4CJPj7jILKAP0qxW

Username Protected · **Posted:** 02 May 2025, 11:41

While I was based in Spartanburg, SC I got to see Larry Montgomery fly a few Helio Demos. It was amazing how he could take off and fly the tightest circle that you can imagine, right over the runway. He was Larmont Aviation, former Helio test pilot, missionary pilot, and known as Mr. Helio.
There were usually 2-3 or 4 Helios on the ramp at any given time.
I told him about watching a Helio demo at Kupper airport in NJ back in about 1963... he said "it was probably me". I think he said he has sold almost all the Helios, twice.
Google him...