How Much Do Helicopters Cost? What Is The Range?

[bednobs]

prompted by a little daydreaming about euro millions, i was wondering about helicopters. How much are they, how much for a pilot on standby, and what sort of range and speed do they have (say i wanted to visit parents who live 65 miles away, how long would it take? would there be enough fuel for a return trip?)

[EDDIE51]

One problem is finding a suitable landing site , you can't just land anywhere. You need permission and flight clearance , only the police and ambulance helicopters can land anywhere they like and that has to be an emergency. Most choppers can manage 120mph so a 65miletrip would be less than 30 mins. ( But the nearset landing site may be 10 miles or more away)

[EDDIE51]

Range here your 65 miles would be no problem
http://www.elitehelicopters.co.uk/portfolio/fleet/
I have flown in a Bell Jet Ranger in Saudi Arabia , the pilot had flown combat in Vietnam , he gave us quite a ride !!

[bednobs]

yikes, perhaps i'd be better off with a limo then

[jno]

if you don't mind second-hand, some of these are from about £100,000

http://www.globalplanesearch.com/helicopters/

People who own them often charter them out to companies who run pleasure flights when they're not using them themselves

[Fitzer]

Actually there aren't too many regs on landing a helicopter, just the landowner's permission really, obviously there are areas where you can't such as public spaces but my son-in-law is a helicopter flying instructor and with him I've landed in back gardens (isolated houses), school playing fields and the like.

[Fitzer]

Problem is running costs, a Robinson R22 (2 seater) costs about £400 per hour +VAT and that's about as cheap as you can get :-(

[DTCwordfan]

30 minute trip, possibly 20 minutes if there are no air impediments...(like urban areas, RAF tracts etc......

great fun to fly this way!

[Buenchico]

Prices here:
http://www.fly-q.co.uk/buy/used/

Range?
A little Robinson R22, for example, has a range of 240 miles. A larger helicopter, such as a Eurocopter AS350, has a range of about 350 miles.

[Clanad]

Of course, you could go with something like this:

http://www.gizmag.com/cavalon-fully-enclosed-gyrocopter/18444/picture/133279/Don't know what it might cost, but, although it can't do a true vertical take-off it doesn't need that much runway...

A long way from the first Autogyros like this: (apologies for the lengthy URL)

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.youngeagles.net/photos/gallery/Helicopters_-_Rotorcraft/PitcairnAutogiro_54.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.youngeagles.net/photos/gallery.asp?action%3Dviewimage%26categoryid%3D19%26text%3D%26imageid%3D116%26box%3D%26shownew%3D&h=340&w=500&sz=26&tbnid=lXLbtdMP9GFoqM:&tbnh=85&;tbnw=125&prev=/search%3Fq%3DVintage%2Bautogyro%2Bpictures%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=Vintage+autogyro+pictures&usg=__97LnQsSO58WF_gZKwqdKa7dRJlc=&docid=TTwjUuHvi_kFeM&;hl=en&sa=X&ei=cQwLUev_B7O02AXjpICoCw&;sqi=2&ved=0CC8Q9QEwAA&dur=2

They're a lot more simple to fly than a helicopter and require a lot less maintenance since the main rotor is a "free" rotor and not powered. The early ones flew at about 80 mph and would land and takeoff in about 50 feet...

[jno]

65,000 euros for a gyrocopter, Clanad? That's not much more than a loaf of dry bread and a glass of water hereabouts. And you could rent them out to science fiction movie directors when you're not using them.

The older one looks as though it would be better rented out as a framework for tents.

[Clanad]

My, you're up late tonight jno... nice to "see" you.

The older auto-gyro was actaully invented about 1923 by a Spaniard (de la Cierva). It is still found in the U.S. and several have been carefully rebuilt and are flyable. I've never flown one, but am told they are a joy to fly, if alittle breezy...

[bednobs]

what is a gyrocopter?

[bednobs]

ps when i get the euromillions, the running costs wont bother me all that much

[sandyRoe]

I think a gyrocopter uses the rotor for lift and has another propellor for movement

[mallyh]

if you get a helicopter can i have a lift always wanted a go in one x

[jno]

I went on a helicopter ride over London last year - fabulous. Lovely day and we flew along the Thames (hitting no cranes), past the Shard - I took this photo of the top of it

http://i45.tinypic.com/9lhduq.jpg

[bednobs]

sure mally, as long as you are in range!

[Fitzer]

Excellent picture jno, when we flew in and out of Duxford last year you could see the Shard on the horizon a good 45 miles away!

[steg]

They are doing a special no frills lightweight helicopter down the road from me at a very affordable priceIt has paper mashy rotor blades a special mix of alloy and plastic engine, seats 4 with space for a dog . They say it will be the next big thing in travel, I disagree, I think it will never take off

[bednobs]

so how much do you reckon a helicopter pilot would expect to earn a year?