500e at altitude

[Gordonjs]

I have thousands of hours fixed wing but relatively new to the heli world and clearly caught the bug, barely fly fixed anymore! 
 

My question.. my wife and I are moving to the Colorado front range and I’ve really considered having a heli based at our place. Enough acres, neighbors aren’t a problem, the real challenge is altitude; we are at 8800ft.

always loved the MD birds, but concerned I need to go to a 530f for the altitude. I’d prefer not having the thirsty c30 if I don’t need it, would a c20r 500e be sufficient based at that elevation? I’m just flying for myself, so I’m fine with some days just being too hot and high to fly, and the book says I’d have margins for HOGE in the summer, but I’d love to hear real world experience.

i only know one person who has a 500e and he said he wouldn’t even blink about taking his E model up to my ranch in the summer with 4 people but that’s just one opinion..

 

 

[helonorth]

Look at the HOGE charts for the 500E. They are probably pretty accurate with a healthy engine. 

[Gordonjs]

Sorry for the delay in this. Yes, the oge charts give me about a 100-200lb buffer on what mission I’d typically fly in the worst of the summer up here, so that’s good, I just didn’t know if anyone had real world experience with the 500d or e landing at those altitudes, tailrotor authority, etc.