Never flown in a Helicopter
Discussion
Has never happened, have come close, nearly got to go in the GMP Police one as was working at the place where it used to be based and got chatting to the pilots and they offered to take me up after they had lunch on a standard patrol, but then they got a shout and had to go sharpish so I missed out, my mate got to go though.
At school we had a lad who went on to be an RAF chopper pilot, came back and did a demo over the school playing fields and they raffled tickets to get to go up, missed out again, I remembered this and thought I must have dreamt it as really, throwing a military Chopper about over a field full of kids probably wouldnt happen now. I asked the folk on FB I used to go to school with and they confirmed it was indeed true.
Was going to go in Vegas but the missus is a bit like BA Baraccus with air travel, can only just cope with a 747.
So, I want a go in a Helicopter, how much does it generally cost and where is good in the North West, plus, do they tend to throw it about a little ?
At school we had a lad who went on to be an RAF chopper pilot, came back and did a demo over the school playing fields and they raffled tickets to get to go up, missed out again, I remembered this and thought I must have dreamt it as really, throwing a military Chopper about over a field full of kids probably wouldnt happen now. I asked the folk on FB I used to go to school with and they confirmed it was indeed true.
Was going to go in Vegas but the missus is a bit like BA Baraccus with air travel, can only just cope with a 747.
So, I want a go in a Helicopter, how much does it generally cost and where is good in the North West, plus, do they tend to throw it about a little ?
Been up in two, most recent was last summer, my OH bought me a short flight in St Ives & when we got there they had a spare seat so I paid for her to go too as she hadn't been in one before, cost me about £50 for her, suspect mine was dearer as they wanted to sell the spare seat on the day.
Both of mine have been short flights & definitely no 'throwing it around' involved sadly. It's good fun if you've not done it before.
Edited to add, nearly got a ride in an Air Ambulance when my mate had a MTB'ing accident, he'd have been thrilled as he'd come home for the weekend from his day job as an avionics engineer on heli's!
Both of mine have been short flights & definitely no 'throwing it around' involved sadly. It's good fun if you've not done it before.
Edited to add, nearly got a ride in an Air Ambulance when my mate had a MTB'ing accident, he'd have been thrilled as he'd come home for the weekend from his day job as an avionics engineer on heli's!
Edited by LordHaveMurci on Wednesday 13th April 15:39
The only time I've ever been in one was back in 1984 when Portsmouth borough council had a do commemorating the 40th anniversary of D Day. It went over the USS Enterprise that was stationed nearby. A very memorable experience and very noisy. I think it cost me about £5 for a 10 minute flight. Well worth every penny.
Hi! First post, long time lurker!
Many trips in Helicopters - spent many years doing medical work in remote islands off Orkney and Shetland - countless trips in the Shetland Coastguard helicopter, was then Oscar Charlier - now replaced. Including being winched onto vessels which was always fun.
Many trips on the Scottish ambulance helicopter which was never fun - cramped and small, usually a longish trip with an ill patient.
I'd happily ride in the coastguard ones again (Sikorski) and i'd happily never go in the SAS one again! The coastguard one can fairly shift - and doesn't hold back in bad weather!
Good luck - it's fun!
Many trips in Helicopters - spent many years doing medical work in remote islands off Orkney and Shetland - countless trips in the Shetland Coastguard helicopter, was then Oscar Charlier - now replaced. Including being winched onto vessels which was always fun.
Many trips on the Scottish ambulance helicopter which was never fun - cramped and small, usually a longish trip with an ill patient.
I'd happily ride in the coastguard ones again (Sikorski) and i'd happily never go in the SAS one again! The coastguard one can fairly shift - and doesn't hold back in bad weather!
Good luck - it's fun!
HOGEPH said:
Go and get a trial lesson. 30 mins should convince you either way about flying a helicopter.
I did a trial lesson in 1986. Must of liked it, as I have spent the last 30 years doing it for a living.
Might do but no particular designs on learning to fly one, would love to but not got the spare cash for an expensive hobby like that.I did a trial lesson in 1986. Must of liked it, as I have spent the last 30 years doing it for a living.
Geneve said:
Where are you based?
A good helicopter flight can be one of life's great experiences - nice machine, good informative pilot, lovely weather....
Of course there'll be plenty of people with bad experiences, but done properly you'll be smiling for a week.
Based near Manchester Airport.A good helicopter flight can be one of life's great experiences - nice machine, good informative pilot, lovely weather....
Of course there'll be plenty of people with bad experiences, but done properly you'll be smiling for a week.
I hate the term "Bucket list" but it is one of those things I think I need to do, I have a figure in my head of £200 to £300 for a short pleasure flight, is that realistic ?
There are 2 schools listed in the Barton directory, give them a shout: http://cityairportandheliport.com/flights/flying-s...
J4CKO said:
At school we had a lad who went on to be an RAF chopper pilot, came back and did a demo over the school playing fields and they raffled tickets to get to go up, missed out again, I remembered this and thought I must have dreamt it as really, throwing a military Chopper about over a field full of kids probably wouldnt happen now. I asked the folk on FB I used to go to school with and they confirmed it was indeed true.
Was going to go in Vegas but the missus is a bit like BA Baraccus with air travel, can only just cope with a 747.
We had the RAF come to us on a recruiting drive, with a raffle to go up. Only about half a dozen kids got the permission slips, so the raffle turned into everyone who brought a slip, with the teachers arguing for the rest of the seats. They chucked it about a bit too.Was going to go in Vegas but the missus is a bit like BA Baraccus with air travel, can only just cope with a 747.
If you are going to the Grand Canyon Village on your Vegas trip the Papillon Helicopters (sp) trips are very good, lasting around 45 mins. There is a nice enough seating area for your missus to read a book for that time, possibly with coffee available.
Twice, both many (many) years ago - old man was in the RAF and blagged me a ride in a Wessex, and the other was Penzance to Scilly Isles with school, back when British Airways ran Sikorskys from PZ to St Mary's - can't really remember anything memorable apart from they were noisy, but to a kid very exciting!
Quickmoose said:
Nervous as hell in my first passenger ride in the physics-fighting machine.
That first ride happened to be over the Grand Canyon and was easily the most enjoyable and smoothest air born trip I've been on. Fantastic.
My first flight was over/into the Grand Canyon back in 2012 then last year went for a ride in a Chinook That first ride happened to be over the Grand Canyon and was easily the most enjoyable and smoothest air born trip I've been on. Fantastic.
These guys seem to do some interesting stuff round your way and they publish prices:
http://www.pleasureflightsltd.co.uk
I spent 7 years working for the largest civil operator in the world (outside Russia) but ironically only ended up doing a North Sea rig trip when I was working my notice. Great trip from up front on an EC225 (as-was) with our Chief Test Pilot and his oppo, just a tad warm in a survival suit in July. I had been due to do a familiarisation trip when I first joined but that was out of Norwich on an S76 when this happened the night before: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Bristow_Helic... , very sobering.
Other than that I only ever did a great trip over Vancouver Island in a supplier's B206 Jet Ranger.
In general, like fixed wing, the bigger they are, the more stable. B206 not bad though if its not too windy.
Remember the definition: A helicopter is a collection of rotating parts going around and around and reciprocating parts going up and down -- all of them trying to become random in motion. Right now.
...just like a TVR
Do it and enjoy
http://www.pleasureflightsltd.co.uk
I spent 7 years working for the largest civil operator in the world (outside Russia) but ironically only ended up doing a North Sea rig trip when I was working my notice. Great trip from up front on an EC225 (as-was) with our Chief Test Pilot and his oppo, just a tad warm in a survival suit in July. I had been due to do a familiarisation trip when I first joined but that was out of Norwich on an S76 when this happened the night before: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Bristow_Helic... , very sobering.
Other than that I only ever did a great trip over Vancouver Island in a supplier's B206 Jet Ranger.
In general, like fixed wing, the bigger they are, the more stable. B206 not bad though if its not too windy.
Remember the definition: A helicopter is a collection of rotating parts going around and around and reciprocating parts going up and down -- all of them trying to become random in motion. Right now.
...just like a TVR
Do it and enjoy
J4CKO said:
So, I want a go in a Helicopter
No you don't.They are The Work Of The Devil.
They were Not Meant To Be.
If god had meant heckilopters to fly, he'd have given them wings.
How did someone earlier define a helicopter? Hundreds of thousands of mechanical parts, all going in the wrong direction...?
ash73 said:
It's fantastic, we did a treasure hunt type thing at work a couple of years ago and I was lucky and bagged the front passenger seat, really enjoyed it. We were staying at a hotel and it was really cool landing on the lawn, talk about making an entrance! 
Would have been an even more impressive arrival if the tail rotor had stopped spinning...
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