Anyone been in a helicopter?

[Swift]

Lately I have been viewing Bell 206 'Jetranger' videos and realise that while they are a fairly common sight in the sky, very few in the population have or will ever experience flying in such an aircraft.
I have always admired the shape of the 206 and have learnt quite a lot about them through watching youtube clips and reading up on the web.
I would like to read any first hand accounts of what they are like to stand near while taking off and, of course, to fly in.

[V981]

I have on a couple of occasions flown in a helicoptor and highly recommend you do it. It is of course slightly different than a fixed wing aircraft, and one notable difference is a much better ability to admire the view. Often, a helicopter has glass directly below your feet if you are lucky enough to sit in the front seat, offering you even more view.

Take off can be a bit daunting at first, as it is quite sudden and you will feel a bit of movement, but it is lots of fun.

Im not sure where you are from Swift, but most major cities have a number of companies that offer joy flights. They are not exactly cheap, I think last time I went on one, it was around $130 or so for a 20-30 minute flight. But it is well worth it for the experience.

[system improver]

Had a ride in one of these in 1965:

[Swift]

An article I recently found on the design and development of the Bell 206 in the 1960s.
http://www.heli-archive.ch/en/helicopte ... et-ranger/

[huppypuppy]

Several!

Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III, VH-JAK (twice) and VH-TBP (several times)
Robinson R44 Raven II, VH-RIZ
Robinson R22 Beta II, VH-ZUE (in the pilot in command's seat)
Eurocopter EC120B Colibri, VH-AUQ (owned by my brother's boss at the time)
Eurocopter AS355-B2, VH-SWX

[Swift]

You're lucky. My main interests are the 206 and Huey.
What was the 206 like and has the III got two rotors?
Nothing well ever surpass the looks and sounds of the 206.

[huppypuppy]

You're lucky. My main interests are the 206 and Huey.
What was the 206 like and has the III got two rotors?
Nothing well ever surpass the looks and sounds of the 206.

The 206's are fantastic machines - I have to admit the 206B-3 will always be my first love! The 206B-3 JetRanger III still uses a two blade main and two blade tail rotor setup - I have one dream though.... go for a fly in a MD500N (preferably the MD520N)! I've always been intrigued with the MD500N series of NO TAil Rotor helicopters..... much like the Eurocopter EC120B with it's enclosed fenestron tail rotor

[Swift]

Do you mean a Hughes MD500 like this? https://youtu.be/bE56Nf6lsSQ
They're mad!

I do admire the Eurocopter "squirrel" for their sheer capability. I remember Nine in Sydney getting theirs while Seven still "made do" with their red 206 Jetranger. It certainly raised Nine's status to me.

I spoke to a guy who knows Dick Smith and he calls his JetRanger the FJ Holden .

[huppypuppy]

Do you mean a Hughes MD500 like this?
They're mad!

I do admire the Eurocopter "squirrel" for their sheer capability. I remember Nine in Sydney getting theirs while Seven still "made do" with their red 206 Jetranger. It certainly raised Nine's status to me.

I spoke to a guy who knows Dick Smith and he calls his JetRanger the FJ Holden .

This is the MD520N - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxrfD8EFmGU

[captainch]

In 1965/6 for 13 months that all we did in national service & viet-nam thats how we went anywere! we jumped out onto the ground picked up the wounded if you were wounded it only took 5 mins for you to be picked up the saddest thing was in the end the U.S .A started up brand new choppers and fly them off air craft carriers dumped them into the sea. WHAT A WASTE!

[Swift]

They were truly amazing machines in the 1960s and remain amazing today.
My dad and his brother rode them too in Vietnam. It's a pity you never met my dad Capt, although he rarely talks about his time there.

[huppypuppy]

Lately I have been viewing Bell 206 'Jetranger' videos and realise that while they are a fairly common sight in the sky, very few in the population have or will ever experience flying in such an aircraft.
I have always admired the shape of the 206 and have learnt quite a lot about them through watching youtube clips and reading up on the web.
I would like to read any first hand accounts of what they are like to stand near while taking off and, of course, to fly in.

Swift,
Here is one I did - this was from inside Tango-Bravo-Papa!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2ExRfBjoxE

[Swift]

Just watched it. Very nice. I had to mute it as the high pitch ringing from the turbine got too much.
What a great way to view the scale of that town. It looked quite small until I saw there was much more urban swathe at the end.
It reminded me of Arizona and Southern California the way the residential streets backed onto the hills at the start. Good job filming.

[Swift]

Here's a video showing starting procedure and a short flight on an early build 206 dating from 1969.
I've cued the video to the start of the helicopter concerned.
https://youtu.be/rEy-HxMah14?t=19m42s

[Swift]

Check this out for a flyby.
https://youtu.be/kk52SjhhNYM?t=00m52s
Spooling up.
https://youtu.be/kk52SjhhNYM?t=00m15s