Selling the Jet Ranger..
Discussion
Bulldong great story I like your Dads style 
I suppose what I was getting at was since I was a kid I've had an ambition to own a Jet Ranger. Not so much a helicopter it just so happened a Jet Ranger happened to be one if that makes sense.
I remember the exact time and place when it happened. Leeds Odeon in 1977 I was in shorts watching The Spy Who Loved Me and mesmerised by the jettie straffing the Lotus Esprit with that stunning Caroline Munro 'flying' it.
Oddly enough a few years ago I met the stunt driver who drove the Lotus on the set, Roger Becker at a dinner. He said when he rounded the corner in one sequence and shot under the JR's skids he really wasn't sure he'd make it it was that low
I suppose what I was getting at was since I was a kid I've had an ambition to own a Jet Ranger. Not so much a helicopter it just so happened a Jet Ranger happened to be one if that makes sense.I remember the exact time and place when it happened. Leeds Odeon in 1977 I was in shorts watching The Spy Who Loved Me and mesmerised by the jettie straffing the Lotus Esprit with that stunning Caroline Munro 'flying' it.
Oddly enough a few years ago I met the stunt driver who drove the Lotus on the set, Roger Becker at a dinner. He said when he rounded the corner in one sequence and shot under the JR's skids he really wasn't sure he'd make it it was that low
I love Heli's - and Jet Rangers in particular.
Without naming names, I've been lucky enough to have spent around six 8-hour days in the back seat of one, accompanying a pilot and observer, doing low-level petroleum company underground pipeline patrols, across a huge part of England and Wales.
All for free
/jammy git
Highlights include Welsh mountains and valleys, low-level flying over familiar towns near where I live, and best of all intersecting runways at some big London airports, having been given special ATC clearance to do so - and even looking down on parked Concordes, that were awaiting their end-of-life fate
In that time I had one mini-drama...an engine 'chip' light (Jet Ranger pilots will know what that is) coming on just before we were about to traverse Gatwick. We dropped the chopper pretty quick, had the sensor looked at and cleared - took off again, and didn't see a repeat of it. I believe that if it comes on a second time, then its a grounded aircraft and turbine out job - which re-inforces the OP's postings of 'expensive, high-maintenance!'
I think my FAVOURITE part of being in a Jet Ranger - which the OP will probably concur with, is:
Getting in, helmeting up, plugging in the comms, sitting down and shutting up (for me at least - a lowly back seat passenger!)
The Pilot getting on the radio to local ATC to discuss flight and clearance.
THE BEST BIT OF ALL - the whine of the engine's starter coupled with the fast 'tick tick tick' of the ignition piezo units in the turbine - and then the rolling on of the fuel lever on the collective, and the 'whoomp' of the fuel igniting in the turbine, which then gave the whine of the engine climbing up quickly to idle speed and the rotors turning into a disc above
Gives me wood, even thinking about it now!
Without naming names, I've been lucky enough to have spent around six 8-hour days in the back seat of one, accompanying a pilot and observer, doing low-level petroleum company underground pipeline patrols, across a huge part of England and Wales.
All for free
/jammy gitHighlights include Welsh mountains and valleys, low-level flying over familiar towns near where I live, and best of all intersecting runways at some big London airports, having been given special ATC clearance to do so - and even looking down on parked Concordes, that were awaiting their end-of-life fate
In that time I had one mini-drama...an engine 'chip' light (Jet Ranger pilots will know what that is) coming on just before we were about to traverse Gatwick. We dropped the chopper pretty quick, had the sensor looked at and cleared - took off again, and didn't see a repeat of it. I believe that if it comes on a second time, then its a grounded aircraft and turbine out job - which re-inforces the OP's postings of 'expensive, high-maintenance!'
I think my FAVOURITE part of being in a Jet Ranger - which the OP will probably concur with, is:
Getting in, helmeting up, plugging in the comms, sitting down and shutting up (for me at least - a lowly back seat passenger!)
The Pilot getting on the radio to local ATC to discuss flight and clearance.
THE BEST BIT OF ALL - the whine of the engine's starter coupled with the fast 'tick tick tick' of the ignition piezo units in the turbine - and then the rolling on of the fuel lever on the collective, and the 'whoomp' of the fuel igniting in the turbine, which then gave the whine of the engine climbing up quickly to idle speed and the rotors turning into a disc above
Gives me wood, even thinking about it now!
£10k a month seems excessive. I fly and run both turbine and piston helicopters and I think I could operate an AS Squirrel B3 for less than that, including finance costs.
Motorsport can be more expensive than helicopters, IMO.
OK, they're never going to be cheap, but their versatility is remarkable and in a different league to any supercar.
Motorsport can be more expensive than helicopters, IMO.
OK, they're never going to be cheap, but their versatility is remarkable and in a different league to any supercar.
Simon,
At least you've done, thats a lot more than most people can say.
On a side note I saw it transiting over xscape towards sherburn a couple of months back, fairly low. looked stunning!
If you can find a way to make it work we are needing helis every 2-3 months shortly from leeds/sherburn to battersea.
At least you've done, thats a lot more than most people can say.
On a side note I saw it transiting over xscape towards sherburn a couple of months back, fairly low. looked stunning!
If you can find a way to make it work we are needing helis every 2-3 months shortly from leeds/sherburn to battersea.
insurance_jon said:
Simon,
At least you've done, thats a lot more than most people can say.
On a side note I saw it transiting over xscape towards sherburn a couple of months back, fairly low. looked stunning!
If you can find a way to make it work we are needing helis every 2-3 months shortly from leeds/sherburn to battersea.
Hi Jon, yes probably going to the good chaps at aero maintenance in Pontefract for something or other. I really dont like heights so rarely go above a 1000ft. Never been over 2500ft yet.At least you've done, thats a lot more than most people can say.
On a side note I saw it transiting over xscape towards sherburn a couple of months back, fairly low. looked stunning!
If you can find a way to make it work we are needing helis every 2-3 months shortly from leeds/sherburn to battersea.
HOHoHo I doubt I'll be going to Le Mans this year, hope its not a washout
at Random:
http://www.heliair.com//Page.aspx?id=464946
http://www.london-helicopters.co.uk/sightseeing_by...
PS: In my years of training - phone works best - the UK doesn't seem to like email ! (a VERY generalisation)
Regards
http://www.heliair.com//Page.aspx?id=464946
http://www.london-helicopters.co.uk/sightseeing_by...
PS: In my years of training - phone works best - the UK doesn't seem to like email ! (a VERY generalisation)
Regards
There is a lot of love for the R66 at the moment... even traditional Robbo haters like Dennis Kenyon are saying it's one of the best things they have ever flown.
Most reports are suggesting 120-125kt cruise with 4-5PAX and 50-70% fuel at 82% power. Sounds VVV interesting and would love to have a go in one.
Most reports are suggesting 120-125kt cruise with 4-5PAX and 50-70% fuel at 82% power. Sounds VVV interesting and would love to have a go in one.
CTjockey said:
R66.
Same smell, same noise-cheaper.
and generally speaking - you can't f**k up the start !Same smell, same noise-cheaper.
Not quite the same "image" though if thats important... but great machine I hear.
...and you cant fly it on a UK licence yet - and I guess that means it cant go on an AOC yet either - if you want it to earn some money..
I seriously think people should drop the image thing.
Yes, I'm a Robinson fan but...
How many people can afford it? Often most of the people bashing them havent got a pot to piss in and are therefore either jealous or just misguided.
How many people would sneer at the car equivalent?
E.g. Second hand R22 - £60-80k same as most Porsches etc
Second hand r44, £100-200k same as bentleys ferraris etc
R66 £550k - more than the average persons house and yet people sneer at it?
Come on, give it a rest men! Hehe
Yes, I'm a Robinson fan but...
How many people can afford it? Often most of the people bashing them havent got a pot to piss in and are therefore either jealous or just misguided.
How many people would sneer at the car equivalent?
E.g. Second hand R22 - £60-80k same as most Porsches etc
Second hand r44, £100-200k same as bentleys ferraris etc
R66 £550k - more than the average persons house and yet people sneer at it?
Come on, give it a rest men! Hehe
bulldong said:
I seriously think people should drop the image thing.
Yes, I'm a Robinson fan but...
How many people can afford it? Often most of the people bashing them havent got a pot to piss in and are therefore either jealous or just misguided.
How many people would sneer at the car equivalent?
E.g. Second hand R22 - £60-80k same as most Porsches etc
Second hand r44, £100-200k same as bentleys ferraris etc
R66 £550k - more than the average persons house and yet people sneer at it?
Come on, give it a rest men! Hehe
To be clear - I have only ever flown Robinsons, and have no issue with Robinsons... and couldn't afford any !Yes, I'm a Robinson fan but...
How many people can afford it? Often most of the people bashing them havent got a pot to piss in and are therefore either jealous or just misguided.
How many people would sneer at the car equivalent?
E.g. Second hand R22 - £60-80k same as most Porsches etc
Second hand r44, £100-200k same as bentleys ferraris etc
R66 £550k - more than the average persons house and yet people sneer at it?
Come on, give it a rest men! Hehe
...but to some the financial sensible choice isnt always at the top of their criteria.
mrloudly said:
Agree about the 44 by the way, cracking bit of kit! Here's the one we chased the WRC thru Wales in last year
Isn't there a problem getting the 66 certified in the UK at the Mo?
There's a surprise...
It is just that IASA are taking a long time to certify it... it will get certified soon. Nothing wrong with the machine.Isn't there a problem getting the 66 certified in the UK at the Mo?
There's a surprise...
It must have been quite a moment when the following thought first sunk in...
'I own a helicopter...'
I've followed your story from working at BT to starting your supercar experience company (probably got that all wrong knowing me) to now in evo and it's a great inspiration.
Off topic: Did you ever get the leather in the 458 repaired btw?
'I own a helicopter...'
I've followed your story from working at BT to starting your supercar experience company (probably got that all wrong knowing me) to now in evo and it's a great inspiration.
Off topic: Did you ever get the leather in the 458 repaired btw?
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