Just returned from a helicopter ride...(pics)

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

My neighbor took me for a ride in his R22 helicopter this evening.. We took off from Grosse Ile, MI and flew over Trenton and Wyandotte. It was a blast, much more fun than a Huey! I've got great neighbors!!

Here's the R22 and my Helga in the hangar, getting ready to fly!

The "dude" (me)...

Oh Haha · 07-17-2008, 05:30 PM

What? Is your neighbor Sammy Hagar?!!!!

j/k--That' looks pretty cool.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Too much heat and sun for the camera... the colors didn't turn out right...

My neighbor is going to take me up in his seaplane next!

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Wayne,
I think he thinks he's Sammy Hagar!

KFC911 · 07-17-2008, 05:41 PM

Cool pics! For those of us who don't get out much, how do you get the helicoper out of the hanger and maneuver it around? I see the small wheel in the first picture.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Keith,
There are two small wheels that attach to the skids and my neighbor pushed the R22 out of the hangar easier than pushing Helga out of my garage (thankfully, I don't have to do that any more!). The Helo has a 20 gallon primary and a 10 gallon auxiliary fuel tank and he can fly for 4 hours on that. Pretty windy today, but it was great!

Oh Haha · 07-17-2008, 06:01 PM

Dumb question of the day:

Does the helo have a/c?

I would have to imagine that being in a bubble like that cockpit has to get hotter than heck on a day like today.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Wayne,
He does have a heater for winter flying but no A/C, the doors are off, so it's breezy and cool, even with that engine sitting right behind you. Kind of like the "ultimate Targa"!! It was 93 degrees today and it was pleasant since we flew over and near the Detroit River.

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

no ac in a r-22 .. but look at the size of that fan!

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

I think it's cool that he had me park Helga in the hangar to keep the car out of the sun.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I can't imagine how terrified I'd be and I think I want to get my wife a helo tour of the Grand Canyon for her b-day. I may have to let her go up there without me and then tell me about it.

KFC911 · 07-17-2008, 06:29 PM

Rick, I did the helo tour of the Grand Canyon back when I was seventeen, and still remember it vividly. That was when they could fly below the rim down into the canyon (I don't think they do that anymore, but could be wrong). I remember sitting next to the pilot, looking down through the front glass, cruising along at 120 mph at tree top level, and then we reached the edge of the canyon, and WHOA, the bottom drops out. I'm not a fan of heights at all (they say it's the edge that gets you), but I had no problems with it at all, it was one of those "memories of a lifetime"....DO IT!

rouxroux · 07-17-2008, 07:16 PM

Looks as if you were flying over "The Artist formerly known as Prince's" estate

"Purple trees, purple trees".....

EDIT: I saw a Youtube video a while back of a fellow jumping out of an R44 into the water and catching a Marlin...pretty funny.

Jims5543 · 07-17-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I can't imagine how terrified I'd be and I think I want to get my wife a helo tour of the Grand Canyon for her b-day. I may have to let her go up there without me and then tell me about it.

I just booked one for when we are there next month and cannot wait. We are doing a very short tour, like 30 minutes but it should be memorable.

Cool pics, I wonder why the color got warped like that?

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

You realize, of course, that those things can't really fly, right?

stomachmonkey · 07-17-2008, 07:34 PM

Color issue.

Polarized glass on the helo and camera.

One polarized lens is ok, mix 2 and you get weird stuff like that.

Ford had an issue with the windshields on the Tauras a few years back.

People were complaining about spotted windshields. Was actually due to the drivers wearing polarized glasses/sunglasses.

rusnak · 07-17-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I can't imagine how terrified I'd be and I think I want to get my wife a helo tour of the Grand Canyon for her b-day. I may have to let her go up there without me and then tell me about it.

I'd be terrified to let Sammy Hagar pilot anything I was riding in, let alone something that flies.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I don't know if I'd want to fly in anything called "Beta II"

I'll wait for the shipping version

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

My wife just said the pic of the 911 and the R22 in the hangar should be called "mustard and ketchup".

Joeaksa · 07-17-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I can't imagine how terrified I'd be and I think I want to get my wife a helo tour of the Grand Canyon for her b-day. I may have to let her go up there without me and then tell me about it.

If you are nice might fly you up there in my new airplane!