Helicopters Search for Speed

Helicopter Manufacturers Search for Speed

ByMike Byrd

Rivals Eurocopter, U.S.-based Sikorsky and other companies are testing fast prototypes, all with an eye toward redefining the helicopter’s place in the sky and expanding its market. Eurocopter’s X3 made its public debut at the 2011 Paris Air Show.

The companies are hoping that by increasing range and boosting maximum speed to as fast as 280 miles per hour from a current high speed of 175 mph will spark increased use as emergency vehicles and as transportation for executives and workers in remote locations.

Dodge City Community College Helicopter School Helicopters

Helicopter Pilot Graduates are in High Demand

ByMike Byrd

In our contemporary landscape, the demand for helicopter pilots has reached unprecedented heights. These skilled professionals are indispensable in various sectors, from conducting life-saving medical missions and executing complex aerial surveys to catering to a booming interest in aerial tourism. As industries continue to broaden their horizons, the urgent requirement for adept helicopter pilots surges concurrently. This trend not only reflects the thrilling nature of the profession but also underscores its intrinsic rewards. Those who aspire to a career above the clouds will find themselves in a field with limitless opportunities, where the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.

Hawaiian Helicopter Tours are awesome

Helicopter Rides in Beautiful Hawaii

ByMike Byrd

If you have never visited the beautiful 50th state of the United States, Hawaii, then you have missed some of the best scenery available to American tourists. Hawaii is famous for the volcanoes, valleys, coastlines, and waterfalls that make up its island landscape, and for the five smaller islands that surround it. Helicopter rides are one of the most popular ways to explore such landmarks as the island of Oahu or any of Hawaii’s 5 volcanoes.

One of the rarest and least-known Cessnas ever produced, the CH-1 helicopter. [Credit: Cessna]
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That Time Cessna Made a Helicopter

ByMike Byrd

If you’d like to stump everyone at aviation trivia, simply ask them to name the Cessna with the shortest takeoff-and-landing distances. More than likely, guesses would include the O-1 Birddog and possibly the 180 and 182. However, digging into the dustier corners of Cessna’s history reveals the true winner—its one and only helicopter the company ever produced, the CH-1 Skyhook.

Medevac Helicopters Save Lives

Medevac Helicopters in the Medical Field

ByMike Byrd

Helicopters, synonymous with adaptability and speed, have cemented their role in various sectors, both military and civilian. One of their paramount contributions remains medevac, or medical evacuation, a service that has transformed emergency medical responses. This airborne ambulance’s ability to arrive faster, more safely, and smoother than ground-based ambulances has made it a game-changer in life-saving missions.

Heli-Skiing- Off the Beaten Path

Step off the Beaten Track with Heli-Skiing

ByMike Byrd

Everyone has hobbies but if you are the type of person that loves an adrenaline hit then you are no stranger to the rush of skiing or snowboarding. There are countless others, but one constant is the excitement from completing a difficult maneuver or the thrill of battling with some tough terrain and both winter and extreme sports fans bond over this fact. If you are nodding your head in agreement, it is time to step off the beaten (or well-skied) track in search of something more challenging. What if it was suggested you go heli-skiing? What if someone offered you the chance to experience the following:

Becoming a Medevac Helicopter Pilot

How to Become a Medevac Helicopter Pilot

ByMike Byrd

Being a medevac helicopter pilot has to be one of the most important vocations there is. That is especially true if you are planning to become an Army medevac helicopter pilot. Even civilian pilots fly into harm’s way to rescue the injured, making it a very human career choice for anyone with the aptitude. There are two routes to becoming a medevac helicopter pilot. The first is to join the army and become a helicopter pilot. The other is to train as a civilian and join one of the many medevac outfits running across the country. It is this latter that we shall discuss here.

Airbus EC135 Police Helicopter

The Remarkable Journey of the Airbus EC135 Helicopter

ByMike Byrd

The Airbus EC135 helicopter has a fascinating origin story. Initially, it was a humble demonstrator. However, it quickly climbed the ladder of popularity. Airbus decided to turn it into a production model.

The EC135 began its journey in the 1970s. The EC135 was originally built by German manufacturer Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm and Aerospatiale as the BO 108. It was not just a helicopter, but a technology showcase. It aimed to highlight the latest advances in avionics and aerodynamics.

Robinson R-22 Helicopter in Flight
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Robinson R22 Helicopter Hovering Video

ByMike Byrd

This helicopter video shows a Robinson R-22 Helicopter hovering in one place. 

The Robinson R-22 Helicopter is one of the most popular helicopters in the world.  It is used for flight training, livestock mustering to patrolling pipelines because of it’s dependability, low operating costs and performance.

The Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter is flown throughout the world for many applications, ranging from flight training to livestock mustering to patrolling pipelines, that require dependability, low operating costs, and performance.

Huey Helicopter at Yanks Museum
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A New Huey Helicopter for the Yanks Air Museum

ByMike Byrd

After many years of searching for a UH-1H Huey Helicopter to add to the Yanks Air’s collection, on August 31, 2013 the museum has received its first model. Yanks received this aircraft through the US Forestry Service. The museum will display the Huey as the entrance into the Vietnam era. The Huey is one of the most extraordinary aircraft of our time. Officially the UH-1 series is the Iroquois.

Fly A Huey Helicopter in Cape Town
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Fly in a Huey Helicopter While In Cape Town

ByMike Byrd

This is an awesome video of the Huey Helicopter.  The video is of a ride that’s available in Cape Town, Africa.  The riders get to ride in a Huey that’s flown as a pilot would have flown in the Vietnam War.  The video is well put together and has some great inside and outside shots of the Huey Helicopter.

I know I want to get to Cape Town and go for a ride!  Looks like a ton of fun!