New to helicopters

[stealthmonkey]

Hey guys. I have been thinking about getting a helicopter for some time now. Im looking for a small piston driven helicopter. I was looking at rotorway mainly because of the price, but i have been hearing some bad stuff about the belt driven tail rotor. What i would like to know is, what is a reliable helicopter that doesn't cost a ton.

 

Thanks Guys!

[Dreamin of a Commuter 2B]

are you looking for 2 place or can you manage with a single seater?

I have a Nice restored Helicom Commuter H-1B Helicopter I have for sale. was asking $29,000 for it, but recently lowered the price for a quick sale.

 

it is powered with a Cont. C-90-12F modified to 100 h.p. vertically mounted like a Bell 47. it is the fore father of the Safari helicopter and I am even listed in the builders gallery on the Safari helicopter web site.

 

here is a test run video,it is in the tracking and balancing stages right now.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHVbcxLoDA0

 

I had bought it to restore for a guy that had agreed to buy it as a time builder, mid way thru the guy backed out so I am stuck with a Helicopter I can not fly.

 

will post more info for any one interested.

 

Fly safe ya'll

[apiaguy]

Nearly timed out R22

older 269

older enstrom

older brantley

 

If you think those "cost a ton" I have nothing for you.

[Miloe]

After Heli-success, I stopped off in Phoenix and visited Rotorway.

 

I saw new birds with a shaft driven tail rotor, as well as some with a belt drive tail. So it may be standard on their new kits or an upgrade to the older ones.

 

I mostly talked with thier chief mechanic and CFI, no sales/marketing types were around for a 'walk up tire kicker'.

 

I will say, the aircraft in the hanger were nicely built but I'm no A&P either, however they looked nice enough to me that I'd hop in and fly one.

 

As to mainteance required, some of their training aircraft had upwards of 3000 hours on them and I was told that like any helicopter, the more you fly them, the more you maintain them. The main question I had was, does anyone have any large amounts of time on a Rotorway, and the training department does anyway.

 

The 90k kit price and the 500-1000 hours of labor to assemble a new one pretty much pushed me out of the market. I figure a mid time R22 is about the same price and it's certified for commercial work. But the Rotorways did look pretty sharp.

 

Oh and I'm not an employee, owner, sales weasle, etc for Rotorway, just someone that went by.

 

I've got an info packet/dvd that I picked up at the factory if you want one or if they won't mail you one.

 

Gary

[IFLY]

You might try looking at a Helicycle, Homer has a few listed for sale at http://www.kitcopterconsult.com/. It is a single seat turbine that looks like its about the best engineered experimental kit made.

 

Jerry

[Dreamin of a Commuter 2B]

Here is more info about My Commuter H-1B should someone be interested.

worse case someone learns some history of a true classic.

 

 

For sale : Very Rare Complete Experimental Helicom Commuter H-1B single seat Helicopter with all current FAA paperwork and I even have a set of the 1960's full size plans and it is currently registered ( N814S ) and Inspected! $29,000 reduced to $25,000 or close offer for quick sale. Sold as is ,not flight tested $29,000 was my asking price when I thought I would have it flight tested . I am not legal or trained to fly it. Hence the reduced price.

 

The Commuter is the Grand daddy of the CHR baby belle/Safari Helicopter. Even the Safari website history says that the Safari evolved from the Helicom commuter.

 

The machine I own is very much a part of home built helicopter and the Helicom company history and was even at one time owned by the company Tamarand International – the company that bought the design rights in the mid 80's from Helicom and was even flown by the designer him self Harold “Pop” Emigh as he has endorsed the log books.

 

Later Bob Dart of Mayville new york Bought the design right ( International helicopters ) and he has even endorsed the log books.

I even have a pic of it flying when first built.

 

It is a well built and Very Rare helicopter.

 

Now the rest of the story.

 

I bought it to restore to sell to a man that agreed to buy it as a time builder when restored, mid way through the restore the buyer backed out.

So now I need to find a new buyer . Here is a 6 minute walk around video showing the details.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlzfOnBbcyI

 

I have the helicopter up to the running stage and I have done a restore thread on the Rotarywing forum at http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22141 and here is a short Video of the very first test start since the restore. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owXxK-pKLY4 note in this Video I don't have the idle set or the blades tracked. Here is Video made after I was working on Balancing the tail rotor blades better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHVbcxLoDA0

 

also a walk around Video in the shop.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlzfOnBbcyI

 

 

This was the first time it was started since 1992 and as you can see she fired right up. I was hoping to get it test flown before listing it, but my test pilot is away and not sure when he can travel to my location to test it .

 

There are over 300 plus pages on the Forum restore thread and more being added as I test this helicopter. It is running great and in the stage of final rotor adjustments. It does have a Current inspection as it is just gone through a frame up restoration. But the blades still need to be tracked.

 

This will be a great helicopter for someone wanting to build Helicopter time, it is built very strong, 4130 steel airframe with fiberglass covering.

 

It is powered with a true aircraft engine, Cont. C90-12F modified to 100 h.p. The engine mounts vertically like in a Bell-47 has great oil pressure. As would be expected since the engine only has about 15 hours on it and was pickled when stored.

It has 2 6 gal. Fuel tanks with a range of 130 miles with 30 minute reserve 170 miles with no reserve. Flys at 75 m.p.h. Max rate of climb 1,670 f.p.m. Vert. Rate of climb 500 f.p.m. Hover ceiling out of ground effect 6,800 feet ,service ceiling 10,000 feet as reported in janes aircraft 1969-1970 this helicopter is rated for a max pilot weight of 300 pounds. So this helicopter is a power house. The first commuters flew on 65 h.p.

 

The helicopter is located in Greensboro n.c. And available for inspection to a buyer. Call Tim aka Animal at 336-674-0451 or E-mail me and I can send you pics of any part of this helicopter you wish to see. Of course most pics are already on the Forum.

where else can you buy a helicopter with this complete back ground and info? The price is negotiable but I will not just give this helicopter away.