I have worked on everything from a Piper J3 to Boeing 737. I am still in awe working on the higher end helicopters (Sikorsky, Bell and Airbus), watching all the different linkages, control rods and inputs moving the swashplate as a single unit.

You don’t see that type of operation on a fix wing aircraft, I miss working on helicopters they were a challenge, but it was worth every minute.

I fly both. I own a A36 1998 BO, received my first license in a Sweitzer and then an R22 before fixed wing training.
The R22 would be the best helicopter to fly between skyscrapers as they have less moving parts.
I wonder how Mr. Sikorsky got the first helo off the ground.
GW

Gary -

I purchased a brand new R44 some years ago and flew it 1300 hours in the first three years that I owned it. Then I decided that I needed something bigger, better, faster, stronger, and most importantly, something that burned jet-A, so I purchased an MD500. I put almost 1,000 on it in the four years or so that I owned it.

What I can tell you is that you're IA said is not totally accurate, but closer to the mark on a used turbine than on the R44. After selling my R44, my all-in, total per hour operating cost including insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc was about $260.00 per hour. My MD500 was closer to $1200.00 per hour, much of that on the maintenance side of the house, and double the fuel burn. The MD500 was a fantastic ship and could do all sorts of things the R44 could not, but not things that I do myself. Since I fly jets for a living and helicopters as a hobby, the 5-1 ratio of costs no longer made much sense.

I have since sold the 500 and now I am back in an R44. I can fly almost five hours in the R44 for the cost of a single hour in my 500.....no contest.

But a MD500 is a much more fun helicopter to fly. Much more crash worthy also.
If I had the coin the MD would be my favorite to fly day in and day out. Probably the most fun I ever had flying was an MH-6, absolute blast!

But a MD500 is a much more fun helicopter to fly. Much more crash worthy also.
If I had the coin the MD would be my favorite to fly day in and day out. Probably the most fun I ever had flying was an MH-6, absolute blast!

Of course, it is hard to do desert camping on top of secluded mesas in a fixed wing....

Somewhere a liberal is crying himself to sleep over that first photo

This is my kinda fun. Very cool. You're living right.

I flew with T.R. in his helo out in Vegas not long ago and just thought the scenery was amazing. That's a reason to have a helicopter out there. Around the S.E. it's just pine trees.

Somewhere a liberal is crying himself to sleep over that first photo

Why is hammer not cocked? It is a single action pistol after all That's the only thing making this liberal cry. Or can I still be a liberal if I own a few Kimbers. Would that make me confused?

Gary -

I purchased a brand new R44 some years ago and flew it 1300 hours in the first three years that I owned it. Then I decided that I needed something bigger, better, faster, stronger, and most importantly, something that burned jet-A, so I purchased an MD500. I put almost 1,000 on it in the four years or so that I owned it.

What I can tell you is that you're IA said is not totally accurate, but closer to the mark on a used turbine than on the R44. After selling my R44, my all-in, total per hour operating cost including insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc was about $260.00 per hour. My MD500 was closer to $1200.00 per hour, much of that on the maintenance side of the house, and double the fuel burn. The MD500 was a fantastic ship and could do all sorts of things the R44 could not, but not things that I do myself. Since I fly jets for a living and helicopters as a hobby, the 5-1 ratio of costs no longer made much sense.

I have since sold the 500 and now I am back in an R44. I can fly almost five hours in the R44 for the cost of a single hour in my 500.....no contest.

Wow, the Sierra Club would also be screaming. Fly a helicopter to undisturbed places and camp? Blasphemy!

Awesome pics and like JC said the way to do it right.