Helicopter expo in Anaheim now

[whiteworks]

In my quest to for a professional pivot and midlife change of scenery I’m constantly learning and taking every chance I can to learn about an industry that is is extremely different from anything I’ve been exposed to in the past. So that’s my reason for being at this show, but holy shit is there some radical equipment there. Spent the day walking the floor yesterday, headed back in a few to dive in again.

I love me a good trade show, and this one is next level. There are at least 50 helicopters inside the building, multiple blackhawks, every vendor that is in the game is there. I’m looking at a few of the rotorcraft simulators as I’d like to expand into that market as well. There are two VR based units at the show, $1M+ and ++. Not sure I’m sold on those things at that price point considering in the not so distant future it will be obsolete junk you have to pay to have hauled off

If you’re not doing anything I’d suggest this as a badass personal enrichment field trip.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I thought HeliExpo was in Vegas every year? Did that change or is this a different dealio?

 

[2Driver]

Nice

If I win the powerball my first stop would be the helicopter store.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

The Catalina Fucking Wine Mixer! They have to rent 300 helicopters to cover their nut!

 

[monkeyswrench]

Some baller needs to do it:
Chinook off grid camper! Fly where wherever and set of camp.

 

[JB in so cal]

Typical california. All ships had to fly into Fullerton to get a dose of "low emission" fuel then on to the lot at the convention ctr.

 

[Tank]

This Fuckin thing!!! YES PLEASE!!!

Thanks for the pics brother. Looks like a cool show.

 

[SnoC653]

Are the Blackhawks converted military or are they active military showing off the new gov't goodies? Wish I was closer as I would love to see all the new goodies. Please continue posting lots of pictures. And yes if I won the lottery, I would probably have my own Blackhawk/S71. But it does take some space to land one without blowing everything in sight away. Of course something like the a 500MD would make a nice commuter.

 

[530RL]

179k

Go fly it. Not bad.

 

[Spudsbud]

I follow TJs Helicopters, on the gram. used car lot... but Helos ! Hey somebodys gotta buy & sell 'em !
usually between $50K & $500k. depending on last Annual/rebuild. Yes. mucho $$$
neato site to peruse. Not that much more $$$ than a nice boat.

 

[530RL]

Are the Blackhawks converted military or are they active military showing off the new gov't goodies? Wish I was closer as I would love to see all the new goodies. Please continue posting lots of pictures. And yes if I won the lottery, I would probably have my own Blackhawk/S71. But it does take some space to land one without blowing everything in sight away. Of course something like the a 500MD would make a nice commuter.

Converted military. No one is sure how they are going to work economically compared to 61’s.

They don’t have a civilian maintenance scheduled or a phased maintenance schedule so people are attempting to figure it out.

 

[530RL]

I thought HeliExpo was in Vegas every year? Did that change or is this a different dealio?

Moves around between Orlando, Atlanta, Anaheim, Dallas and Vegas.

Hasn’t been to Vegas for a while.

They are rebranding HAI from helicopters to vertical lift to encompass all the new technology stuff so no idea what other changes are coming.

 

[SnoC653]

Converted military. No one is sure how they are going to work economically compared to 61’s.

They don’t have a civilian maintenance scheduled or a phased maintenance schedule so people are attempting to figure it out.

The maintenance and inspection schedules are a key part of becoming certified. Them becoming FAA Certified aircraft rather than exhibition, would be a huge plus. The military has a long history of aircraft that are not FAA certified. Thus using military surplus helicopters presents challenges as they require special permission and have limitations on what you can do with them. So has the FAA already agreed to Certify them for commercial use or are the vendors hoping to cross that bridge when they get the schedules figured out?

 

[530RL]

The maintenance and inspection schedules are a key part of becoming certified. Them becoming FAA Certified aircraft rather than exhibition, would be a huge plus. The military has a long history of aircraft that are not FAA certified. Thus using military surplus helicopters presents challenges as they require special permission and have limitations on what you can do with them. So has the FAA already agreed to Certify them for commercial use or are the vendors hoping to cross that bridge when they get the schedules figured out?

No one that I’m aware of is trying to certify them with a civilian TC.

Since they do not have a TC, they operate under a special airworthiness certificate in the restricted/experimental category.

 

[530RL]

D model versus E model glass upgrade.

 

[Singleton]

My sister used to attend that show annually.
She runs an Aviation Insurance Brokerage Company.
They discontinued their rotary wing division - too many EOL claims. Only writes fixed wings now

 

[JB in so cal]

How about a thread with @530RL that he doesn’t get broadsided after every post lol

 

[530RL]

Even the Helicopter industry has gone woke!

 

[530RL]

 

[copterzach]

500 D model is a bad bitch

 

[HgH Vltg]

Dream helo, 530F. I've always wanted to go to Heli expo, haven't ever made it. I just found out non industry can go, it's just not cheap.

 

[530RL]

500 D model is a bad bitch

View attachment 1341258

Super D

N model main rotor blades, tail boom extension and F model tail blades.

 

[530RL]

 

[530RL]

Dream helo, 530F. I've always wanted to go to Heli expo, haven't ever made it. I just found out non industry can go, it's just not cheap.

Sign up as a student pilot. You can go for like 75 bucks.

 

[530RL]

Future pilot

 

[530RL]

407

 

[530RL]

505

 

[whiteworks]

I went back today and dove into the simulator booths a bit deeper. The VR based sims are not certified by the FAA. I went and found the FAA booth and had a very nice chat with them about the current status of the VR stuff in terms of the certification process. They have had the loft unit in there “push buttons and break things” facility for a year and it looks like the other company’s are hoping to ride the coat tails of any positive VR based platform.

It was cool to see the various platforms and talk with the sales and engineering staff from the different outfits. Long story short I got myself a bit of an education, but I had to work for it

 

[whiteworks]

 

[whiteworks]

This one is supposed to have big projection screen in front of it.

 

[whiteworks]

The trailer mounted sim was kinda cool, the presentation was a little jenky but for the price point it’s not a bad gig and also carry’s certification.

 

[whiteworks]

These are pics from the loft facility out in LA from a few weeks back.

 

[whiteworks]

Badass

 

[whiteworks]

HBPD has a sick new rig

 

[whiteworks]

 

[whiteworks]

 

[Taboma]

View attachment 1341339 View attachment 1341340 505

Always wondered, what the logic of the bar style pedals, visibility ? It appears they'd be uncomfortable for any long duration flights. I see some have the bar, others flat and others more a more full pedal, which appear more comfortable.

 

[530RL]

Always wondered, what the logic of the bar style pedals, visibility ? It appears they'd be uncomfortable for any long duration flights. I see some have the bar, others flat and others more a more full pedal, which appear more comfortable.

Unlike fixed wing you don’t need to have dual actuation for both yaw and braking. As a result a full pedal you can push up on is not necessary.

You only need right and left, not right, left and up.

Most of the bar stuff is hydraulic requiring limited foot pressure.

 

[JB in so cal]

Is the fly out tomorrow afternoon?

 

[530RL]

Is the fly out tomorrow afternoon?

Exhibiting Aircraft - HAI HELI-EXPO

heliexpo.com

 

[Boat Potato]

HBPD has a sick new rig View attachment 1341369 View attachment 1341370 View attachment 1341371 View attachment 1341372

My buddy is the mechanic for HBPD's new whirly birds. He'll be in their booth.

 

[CLdrinker]

These guys do allot of work for us https://www.hphelicopters.com/hp-60a

 

[Romans9]

Much badassery in this thread!

Thanks for posting!

 

[SnoC653]

Always wondered, what the logic of the bar style pedals, visibility ? It appears they'd be uncomfortable for any long duration flights. I see some have the bar, others flat and others more a more full pedal, which appear more comfortable.

Visibility has always been an important feature in helicopters. Airplanes do not fly a profile that would put the flight path where the pilot would need to look towards their feet to keep the area clear. A lot of the early helicopters had plexiglass bubbles for a cabin for this reason. As posted most helicopters don't have toe brakes as most don't have wheels to brake. If you look at the Blackhawk cabin you can see the traditional bar pedal with toe brakes, but the pedals are cut out so you can see through them if needed. Also unlike airplanes most helicopters put the pilot in the right seat. The Hughes pictured must be an exception as the yaw pedals are removed on the right seat. Removing controls or partial removal for non-pilots is also a common helicopter practice.

 

[530RL]

I

Visibility has always been an important feature in helicopters. Airplanes do not fly a profile that would put the flight path where the pilot would need to look towards their feet to keep the area clear. A lot of the early helicopters had plexiglass bubbles for a cabin for this reason. As posted most helicopters don't have toe brakes as most don't have wheels to brake. If you look at the Blackhawk cabin you can see the traditional bar pedal with toe brakes, but the pedals are cut out so you can see through them if needed. Also unlike airplanes most helicopters put the pilot in the right seat. The Hughes pictured must be an exception as the yaw pedals are removed on the right seat. Removing controls or partial removal for non-pilots is also a common helicopter practice.

500’s are certified as LH PIC.

 

[Taboma]

Visibility has always been an important feature in helicopters. Airplanes do not fly a profile that would put the flight path where the pilot would need to look towards their feet to keep the area clear. A lot of the early helicopters had plexiglass bubbles for a cabin for this reason. As posted most helicopters don't have toe brakes as most don't have wheels to brake. If you look at the Blackhawk cabin you can see the traditional bar pedal with toe brakes, but the pedals are cut out so you can see through them if needed. Also unlike airplanes most helicopters put the pilot in the right seat. The Hughes pictured must be an exception as the yaw pedals are removed on the right seat. Removing controls or partial removal for non-pilots is also a common helicopter practice.

I flew fixed wing, never rotary, but realized no toe brake was necessary. My question regarding the bar was strictly related to foot comfort, but considering the visibility was a motivating factor.
Never pressed on a bar pedal, never felt the force required, strictly an observation.

 

[Loo Dog]

View attachment 1341226 View attachment 1341229
D model versus E model glass upgrade.

I spy the “security” zip tie on the engine start circuit breaker! Nice.

 

[530RL]

Sill

I spy the “security” zip tie on the engine start circuit breaker! Nice.

Silly FD rules. It can’t start without a battery that must be disconnected and a key which must be removed.

The power for the avionics is a box that can only power the avionics and is of insufficient amperage to start the turbine.

You do what they want and nod. They act and treat exhibitors like criminals. Never understood their attitude? But no big deal, just do as they say.

 

[Taboma]

Sill


Silly FD rules. It can’t start without a battery that must be disconnected and a key which must be removed.

The power for the avionics is a box that can only power the avionics and is of insufficient amperage to start the turbine.

You do what they want and nod. They act and treat exhibitors like criminals. Never understood their attitude? But no big deal, just do as they say.

What, you COMPLY ??? Compliance is not an option on RDP, the only true and acceptable option is ----- Defiance

 

[Loo Dog]

Sill


Silly FD rules. It can’t start without a battery that must be disconnected and a key which must be removed.

The power for the avionics is a box that can only power the avionics and is of insufficient amperage to start the turbine.

You do what they want and nod. They act and treat exhibitors like criminals. Never understood their attitude? But no big deal, just do as they say.

Sorry, not what I meant. We used to zip tie circuit breakers the exact same way in old Huey’s and Cobra’s for various reasons. Makes sense to me for the start breaker in a convention hall.