Helicopter or Hot Air Balloon flight ?
Discussion
Wasn't sure if to post this here or in the Holidays & Travel section - but will start here.
Am off to Southern California next week for work and have the chance of either a sunset scenic helicopter flight or hot air balloon flight.
Having never flown in either - am wondering which to choose for an "experience" ?
Cheers
1/2p
Am off to Southern California next week for work and have the chance of either a sunset scenic helicopter flight or hot air balloon flight.
Having never flown in either - am wondering which to choose for an "experience" ?
Cheers
1/2p
I expect the weather is more stable in California but if you are pushed for time then a chopper it is. My balloon flight (several years ago, went past Dunsfold but no sign of Top Gear filming) followed several occasions when the flight had to be called off simply because the wind speed was too high. Ballooning requires the lightest of winds, or complete calm, which doesn't always appear when you want it.
Once you take off a balloon flight is a wonderful experience, though I would agree with the "controlled crash" landing!
Once you take off a balloon flight is a wonderful experience, though I would agree with the "controlled crash" landing!
Having done both (the helicopter more times than I care to count) I'd say the hot air balloon every time.
It's a fabulous way to travel, slow and relaxing for sure but that gives you more time to take it all in.
I bought my trip for my Mum, Sister and I as a Birthday present nearly a decade ago and we still talk about how good it was.
It's a fabulous way to travel, slow and relaxing for sure but that gives you more time to take it all in.
I bought my trip for my Mum, Sister and I as a Birthday present nearly a decade ago and we still talk about how good it was.
I've never been on a hot air balloon trip but have flown in a helicopter and I'd go for the balloon. You'll get more time aloft, at a slower pace so you'll be able to see more of the California sunset whereas a helicopter is noisy and vibrates and is, to me at least, a bonkers way to travel through the sky.
K50 DEL said:
Having done both (the helicopter more times than I care to count) I'd say the hot air balloon every time.
It's a fabulous way to travel, slow and relaxing for sure but that gives you more time to take it all in.
I bought my trip for my Mum, Sister and I as a Birthday present nearly a decade ago and we still talk about how good it was.
Absolutely, have done sight-seeing in both many times, but the balloon is a whole different experience, with far more time to enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, chasing Giraffe at tree-height in a helicopter piloted by a mad 21yo Saffa somewhere in South Eastern Africa was mad fun (and highly illegal), but it was over almost before it had begun. A balloon ride at the edge of the Atlas at dawn was much more of an experience, lasted over an hour, very serene and massively enjoyable.It's a fabulous way to travel, slow and relaxing for sure but that gives you more time to take it all in.
I bought my trip for my Mum, Sister and I as a Birthday present nearly a decade ago and we still talk about how good it was.
halfpenny43 said:
Am off to Southern California next week for work and have the chance of either a sunset scenic helicopter flight or hot air balloon flight.
Is the balloon flight a sunset trip as well?And where abouts over SoCal would either be, same location or different.
For me it would be about what your likely to see with either which would sway my decision one way or other.
I've done a hour helo sightseeing trip in Hawaii and that was fantastic, got to see more interesting stuff in an hour from the air than almost by any other means.
Riley Blue said:
I've never been on a hot air balloon trip but have flown in a helicopter and I'd go for the balloon. You'll get more time aloft, at a slower pace so you'll be able to see more of the California sunset whereas a helicopter is noisy and vibrates and is, to me at least, a bonkers way to travel through the sky.
Depends on the helicopter. Some military and utility use helicopters may be a bit more agricultural, but a nice single/twin turbine in pax spec. - Squirrel, EC130, even Jet Ranger or R66, - should be very comfortable. Noise cancelling headsets and it's as quiet and smooth as a car. R44 is a bit more crude, but cheaper.Geneve said:
Riley Blue said:
I've never been on a hot air balloon trip but have flown in a helicopter and I'd go for the balloon. You'll get more time aloft, at a slower pace so you'll be able to see more of the California sunset whereas a helicopter is noisy and vibrates and is, to me at least, a bonkers way to travel through the sky.
Depends on the helicopter. Some military and utility use helicopters may be a bit more agricultural, but a nice single/twin turbine in pax spec. - Squirrel, EC130, even Jet Ranger or R66, - should be very comfortable. Noise cancelling headsets and it's as quiet and smooth as a car. R44 is a bit more crude, but cheaper.aeropilot said:
Geneve said:
Riley Blue said:
I've never been on a hot air balloon trip but have flown in a helicopter and I'd go for the balloon. You'll get more time aloft, at a slower pace so you'll be able to see more of the California sunset whereas a helicopter is noisy and vibrates and is, to me at least, a bonkers way to travel through the sky.
Depends on the helicopter. Some military and utility use helicopters may be a bit more agricultural, but a nice single/twin turbine in pax spec. - Squirrel, EC130, even Jet Ranger or R66, - should be very comfortable. Noise cancelling headsets and it's as quiet and smooth as a car. R44 is a bit more crude, but cheaper.Riley Blue said:
aeropilot said:
Geneve said:
Riley Blue said:
I've never been on a hot air balloon trip but have flown in a helicopter and I'd go for the balloon. You'll get more time aloft, at a slower pace so you'll be able to see more of the California sunset whereas a helicopter is noisy and vibrates and is, to me at least, a bonkers way to travel through the sky.
Depends on the helicopter. Some military and utility use helicopters may be a bit more agricultural, but a nice single/twin turbine in pax spec. - Squirrel, EC130, even Jet Ranger or R66, - should be very comfortable. Noise cancelling headsets and it's as quiet and smooth as a car. R44 is a bit more crude, but cheaper.As for vibration, I've flown in a WW2 B-25 bomber - boy did that thing shake and vibrate and blast your ear drums!
I'd love a flight in a old Bell 47 helo......
Heli all day long - I assume that as you're on PH you're a petrolhead, right?
In the past I've been fortunate enough to have had quite a few hours as a passenger in a Bell Jet Ranger heli. It's brilliant, it never got boring, helis are a petrolhead's nirvana I reckon!
If you choose a heli, then I would suggest that it's imperitive that you have a turbine powered aircraft. Why? Well, to me, one of the most delightful things to witness is the start-up sequence of a turbine engine which will facilitate your upcoming flight.
Make sure you're wearing the headphones - you hear the electric starter motor turning, and see the rotor blades begin to sweep slowly. You will also hear the electronic igniters chirping away, until the pilot switches the fuel on and the turbine catches with a bit of a 'whoomph!'
Then the turbine accelerates to humungous RPM with the rotors spinning up with it. The whole aircraft vibrates and becomes alive!
And then you've got the take-off and flight to look forward to.
In the past I've been fortunate enough to have had quite a few hours as a passenger in a Bell Jet Ranger heli. It's brilliant, it never got boring, helis are a petrolhead's nirvana I reckon!
If you choose a heli, then I would suggest that it's imperitive that you have a turbine powered aircraft. Why? Well, to me, one of the most delightful things to witness is the start-up sequence of a turbine engine which will facilitate your upcoming flight.
Make sure you're wearing the headphones - you hear the electric starter motor turning, and see the rotor blades begin to sweep slowly. You will also hear the electronic igniters chirping away, until the pilot switches the fuel on and the turbine catches with a bit of a 'whoomph!'
Then the turbine accelerates to humungous RPM with the rotors spinning up with it. The whole aircraft vibrates and becomes alive!
And then you've got the take-off and flight to look forward to.
aeropilot said:
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Sounds fun.....what was it?
As for vibration, I've flown in a WW2 B-25 bomber - boy did that thing shake and vibrate and blast your ear drums!
I'd love a flight in a old Bell 47 helo......
It was half a lifetime ago and I can't remember what it was. The constant 'juddering' throughout the flight was quite disconcerting. In a car, on the ground, I can live with it - a couple of thousand feet up I'd rather not,....Sounds fun.....what was it?
As for vibration, I've flown in a WW2 B-25 bomber - boy did that thing shake and vibrate and blast your ear drums!
I'd love a flight in a old Bell 47 helo......
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