GA Helicopters

HeliNomad · August 9, 2013

I know the vast majority of you guys on this forum are professional pilots who fly for a career. I wanted to gauge how many of us are there that fly just for the privilege of flying...whether you rent an R22 on the weekends or your own your own ship. I proudly own and fly a 2002 EC-130B4 that I just put through a 12 year, glass panel upgrade, and paint. I love it to death. Anyone else do this for fun?

Flying Pig · August 11, 2013

Yes... I will fly your helicopter for fun too.

Little Red 22 · August 11, 2013

This is the little "pocket rocket" that belongs to Rick and I. You haven't lived until you keep a helicopter in your living room.

Edited August 11, 2013 by Little Red 22

HeliNomad · August 11, 2013

This is the little "pocket rocket" that belongs to Rick and I. You haven't lived until you keep a helicopter in your living room.
image.jpg image.jpg

Wow, agreed! Do you live in a fly in community?

Little Red 22 · August 11, 2013

We live in our hangar at Santa Paula Airport, where the West is still wild. The first couple of nights after we got her I would get up in the middle of the night to check on her, and have to pinch myself that it was real!

Edited August 11, 2013 by Little Red 22

HeliNomad · August 11, 2013

We live in our hangar at Santa Paula Airport, where the West is still wild. The first couple of nights after we got her I would get up in the middle to check on her, and have to pinch myself that it was real!

Excellent. What's the fixed wing behind her in your photo?

Little Red 22 · August 11, 2013

That's a Zlin242L made in the Czech Republic, for aerobatics mostly. But it's a good cruiser too, and has a tow hook for gliders.

pilot#476398 · August 11, 2013

Well this is all too rich for my blood! I'm just a poor shlub renting a 22 for an hour every 5 to 6 weeks!

HeliNomad · August 11, 2013

Well this is all too rich for my blood! I'm just a poor shlub renting a 22 for an hour every 5 to 6 weeks!

Well your smarter then me, that's for sure!

Little Red 22 · August 12, 2013

I'd be jealous too! We acquired our toys by the tried and true method of hard work. No Eurocopters on my horizon though, so enjoy reading VR.

Rich1 · August 12, 2013

Me too! After first flying a true R22 (no governor) in 1983, it was 25 years of renting, driving 200 miles round trip to fly 1.0 once or twice a month...and saving every nickel until 2008 when my wife and I bought our Beta II....it's been 5 yrs and 600 hrs of pure bliss. It was worth hard work and worth the wait!

AS350 pilot · August 12, 2013

Cool to see people enjoying their own helicopters. I actually have flow that "little red R22" quite a bit! I did a lot of training and instructing in it before the flight school sold it. Small world!!!!

adam32 · August 12, 2013

Ok, so what kind of living does a guy have to do to own a 130 for the fun of it???

HeliNomad · August 12, 2013

Ok, so what kind of living does a guy have to do to own a 130 for the fun of it???

One were he sells lots of widgets for a very long time to be able to start another company that also sells even more widgets for a very long time to finally start a company that sells very few widgets and allows a little more free time so he can focus on a passion of flying that he has had since a boy...

Anyway...here's a photo of the panel. I am waiting patiently for the STC to come out so I can install a GTN 650 in place of the 430W and a GTN 750 down below in the pedestal. Please don't remind me that already many others EC-130's have GTN's installed without STC's by using field approvals. Call me unlucky or whatever but my local FSDO will not do a field approval without at least a follow on STC for another helicopter model.

HeliNomad · August 12, 2013

More photos:

Ready for a morning flight in typical Bay Area overcast.

Finally got rid of that crappy Eurocopter strobe that has gotten dim over the years. Removed 1.2 lbs from the tail area. New weight and balance sure needed after that. The Whelen LED strobe is like looking into the sun!

And finally my copilot Minka and I performing one of the best dry washes in the industry in my humble opinion. My airport doesn't allow washing so I've become quite the dry-wash expert.

ridethisbike · August 13, 2013

My shepherd never looks at the camera either... haha

aussiecop · August 13, 2013

That sure is one beutiful 130, what airport are you hangared at?

HeliNomad · August 13, 2013

That sure is one beutiful 130, what airport are you hangared at?

Thanks, APC.

pilot#476398 · August 13, 2013

Thanks, APC.

I like the helipad there.

HeliNomad · August 13, 2013

I like the helipad there.

Why? What's to like? Middle of no where...half of the lights are burnt out. What do you fly into Napa? Between me, another R44 on the north end of the field, and the CHP we are the only helicopters based there. We are also slightly above pavement grease in the pecking order of aircraft...it's a highly fixed wing dominated airport. If I rarely ever land near the main ramp to pick someone up I put one skid parallel the grass at the furthest point from the terminal. I'll still invariably get the "Do you really have to land so close with that thing?" If only we could be like Hayward (Heliward) were everyone loves helicopters between the news channels and helicopter schools. Anyone else fly into Napa?

pilot#476398 · August 13, 2013

Why? What's to like? Middle of no where...half of the lights are burnt out. What do you fly into Napa? Between me, another R44 on the north end of the field, and the CHP we are the only helicopters based there. We are also slightly above pavement grease in the pecking order of aircraft...it's a highly fixed wing dominated airport. If I rarely ever land near the main ramp to pick someone up I put one skid parallel the grass at the furthest point from the terminal. I'll still invariably get the "Do you really have to land so close with that thing?" If only we could be like Hayward (Heliward) were everyone loves helicopters between the news channels and helicopter schools. Anyone else fly into Napa?

Before they put in that helipad I used to have to do cock-eyed patterns to the numbers, and although I still have to do a cock-eyed pattern, I just like landing to a spot a lot more than a runway!

I've always found them pretty friendly at Napa, although I just go there once in a blue moon, and this time a year there's generally nobody around since I'm usually there at night! Haven't noticed any lights out at the pad, but it has been a while since I've been there?

I fly there in a 22, at night I use the pad, but during the day I just go to the South Ramp (seems more out of the way when they're busy). Never had a problem, but as I said, I'm not up there very often!

heligirl03 · August 13, 2013

Beautiful paint job on the EC. Sleek and simple.

HeliNomad · August 13, 2013

Beautiful paint job on the EC. Sleek and simple.

Thanks. I believe less is more on the EC-130. Advanced Helicopter Services in Woodland, CA did the entire job. A flawless experience start to finish from a group of people who only do things the right way.

Dedicated Helicopters Inc · August 14, 2013

I am still trying to find another flying job...but the wife and I will always keep flying "Lucy", our 1966 Bell 47J2-A. Pic is from when I took my Grandfather for his first helicopter ride

adam32 · August 14, 2013

Thanks. I believe less is more on the EC-130. Advanced Helicopter Services in Woodland, CA did the entire job. A flawless experience start to finish from a group of people who only do things the right way.

Is that airport still dead? I hangared a helicopter down from those guys a few years ago, wasn't much going on, almost every big hangar was empty.