TWO-SEAT HELICOPTERS
The smallest helicopters that you can have a ride in, in the UK at least, have two seats. The most common is the Robinson R22, an aircraft that is both highly manoeuvrable and highly reliable. Other models of this size include the sleek Guimbal Cabri G2, which boasts a characteristic fenestron tail rotor.
Of course, one of the occupants must be a pilot, so it’s most likely that if you’re booking a helicopter experience in a two-seater, you’ll be the only passenger. This makes them perfect for trial lessons, as you’ll have the full attention of the pilot instructor and you get better value for money in a smaller machine that uses less fuel. With excellent visibility, two-seat helicopters are also a great choice for sightseeing flights. Both the R22 and the Guimbal are available for helicopter flights in Hertfordshire.
FOUR-SEAT OPTIONS
The four-seat scene is dominated by one model, the Robinson R44. This is truly the workhouse of the helicopter world, outcompeting all other brands in the last few decades. The Robinson factory has the capacity to produce over 1,000 helicopters per year, with R44s frequently making up over half of the total. With that in mind, it’s easy to recognise this helicopter as a trustworthy, versatile aircraft.
You can find R44 around the UK (and the world) being used for law enforcement, agriculture, transport and leisure. With space for three passengers, they make for excellent aerial tours and sightseeing. They are a popular choice for trial lessons as well, allowing you to take some spectators with you on your maiden voyage. A helicopter flight in Dorset is likely to feature an R44, and beautiful vistas of the Jurassic Coast besides.
THE LARGEST HELICOPTERS AVAILABLE
The biggest whirly birds in the world, including the mammoth Mil Mi-26 which has seating for sixty passengers and five crew, are reserved for military uses. If you’re keen to take a bigger group on a flight with you in the UK, you’ll have to choose your companions relatively carefully. In general, the capacity is limited to five people (four passengers) in the case of the Bell 206 JetRanger or the Eurocopter EC120. After Robinson, Bell is probably the most trusted name in helicopter manufacture in the world. Eurocopter is another highly regarded make, with the EC120 having a reputation for slightly more luxury in the cabin that you can expect in similar models from other manufacturers.
If you’re a family of five and you’re desperate to take a flight all together, you’re in luck. There’s one model of six-seater helicopter that’s used by flight experience providers in the UK. It’s the AS350, another product of the Eurocopter workshops in France. If this is the chopper for you, you’ll have to organise your helicopter flight in Somerset.
OTHER OPTIONS
That’s your list of traditional helicopters and flight experiences, there’s always a way to shake things up a bit. Have you ever heard of a gyrocopter? Also known as gyroplanes, these are innovative aircraft that combine features of aeroplanes and helicopters, with propellers for forward thrust and rotors to provide lift. It’s a fantastic design that creates fast, agile flying machines, but it doesn’t scale very easily. Most gyrocopters have either one seat (for a pilot) or two. Keen to find out what it's like to fly in one of these quirky copters? Check out our offerings of helicopter flights in Cumbria.
Finally, there are helicopter flight simulators. These pieces of kit are often owned and operated by flight training schools as they allow pilots to build up practice and experience a range of scenarios - from engine failure to weather condition changes - in a controlled environment. Best of all? There’s no chance of bad weather causing a cancellation. One of the biggest companies that offers sessions on a flight simulator is in Tyne and Wear.
