Turbine hilo flight school

lestat611 · July 7, 2010

My dad used to fly for the Army in a OH 58D helicopter until 96 and has since retired. I often hear him mentioning that he misses flying. His birthday is coming up in august and I was thinking that would be a great gift for him to be able to fly again.

He is currently on medication that would prevent him form flying alone so I think the only way to make this possible is for him to fly with an instructor. I have been looking into some helicopter flight schools and they all use Robinson type helicopters. But I think he would enjoy it even more if he could fly an OH 58D or the civilian version of it (206A JetRanger).

Any suggestions on where I might be able to find a flight school with this type of helicopter in the Los Angeles area?

rick1128 · July 9, 2010

My dad used to fly for the Army in a OH 58D helicopter until 96 and has since retired. I often hear him mentioning that he misses flying. His birthday is coming up in august and I was thinking that would be a great gift for him to be able to fly again.
He is currently on medication that would prevent him form flying alone so I think the only way to make this possible is for him to fly with an instructor. I have been looking into some helicopter flight schools and they all use Robinson type helicopters. But I think he would enjoy it even more if he could fly an OH 58D or the civilian version of it (206A JetRanger).
Any suggestions on where I might be able to find a flight school with this type of helicopter in the Los Angeles area?

There are very few 206A still around. A large number of them have been converted to B models. Besides, I believe that the 58D is more like the 206B3. There are several 206 operators around the LA area.

lestat611 · July 18, 2010

There are very few 206A still around. A large number of them have been converted to B models. Besides, I believe that the 58D is more like the 206B3. There are several 206 operators around the LA area.

Thank you for the correction. I wouldn't really know I was just going of of what I found on another website (can't remember where that was though). But how do I find an 206 operator? Like I mentioned he will most likely need to fly with an instructor.

helonorth · July 19, 2010

I think your dad flew a OH 58A or C model since the OH 58D is based on the 407 and didn't begin production until 1995. I would call Group 3 Aviation. I don't think they have a 206 for training, but I bet they know who does. You're probably looking at $900 an hour or so.

I have to correct myself: it seems that the D model goes back to '86.

Edited July 19, 2010 by helonorth

helonorth · July 24, 2010

I see Heliclass has a 206 for $720 an hour which is the cheapest I've seen. They are in Van Nuys.

DAWg134 · July 25, 2010

Try Rotor Aviation in Long Beach. They have a nice low-time 206BIII that I just found out they are using for instruction again. Don't know the current rate, but they were charging $500/hr wet three years ago.