*We wanted to keep this video short so we know we missed some good ones. Which other kit helicopters do you think deserves to be on this list? What features are you looking for in a kit helicopter? Share your thoughts below! To see more interesting helicopter videos, check these out:* Top 5 Most Expensive Kit Helicopters 2022-2023 | Price & Specs ua-cam.com/video/qewiylP8B2o/v-deo.html Top 5 Most Fuel-Efficient Private Helicopters 2022-2023 | Price & Specs ua-cam.com/video/ExM8-QtwLIo/v-deo.html Top 5 Most Unconventional Helicopters (International) 2022-2023 | Aircraft Comparison ua-cam.com/video/NQ2n8L_XQK8/v-deo.html
I almost invested in a RotorWay Kit (when they were about the only ones offering a heli kit), back in the mid 80's until I started looking thru the sales classifieds in "Trade-a-Plane" magazine. There was a dozen or more kits advertised that were in various stages of completion, and some completed but never flown. Seeing so many wanting out from such a project made me rethink the whole idea. It also raised some "Red Flag's". With 30+ yrs in commercial aviation maintenance under my belt I'd go for the turbine powered Heli simply for their reliability over Recip engines. I'd also check the airplane classifieds for anyone selling the model I'd chosen to build just to find out why it was for sale.
It's wise to carefully consider all aspects before diving into a kit project, especially when it comes to helicopters. The reliability of a turbine-powered helicopter is indeed an attractive feature. Have you explored other aircraft options or projects since then, or did you find an alternative that captured your interest?
@@AviationFederation I found an alternative that captured my attention. Back in the 80's when I was looking at RotorWay, I was a Millwright/Machinist for one of the largest seafood processors in Alaska and running a Sporting Good wholesale business. We (the wife & I) were busy w/ three jobs each and were looking for alternatives to Air Travel in & out of SE Alaska to our homes in Washington & Oregon. Alaska State Ferries took the better part of a week (driving time included), and the Airfare to & From SE Alaska was pretty jacked up. But I never fully invested in a Kit Plane, although the RV4 at the time looked pretty attractive. We divorced and I finished a 15 yr career w/ the Seafood Co and went back to College (Idaho St Univ) for my Associates & A&P cert. Took a job w/ Alaska Airlines regional carrier, Horizon Air in 2000, . . . . that was my "alternative" choice. After 2+ decades w/ them I retired about a year ago. It turns out I enjoyed the "machine" that could fly much more than flying itself. I Still don't like flying, unless I can actually see the horizon. The jump seat in the cockpit was always nicer for me even though the actual seat itself sucked. Alaska Air still provides me w/ the standby flying perk, so I limit my trips to short hauls. The Non-Rev perk is overrated because as soon as you step off the plane, you're spending money on rental cars, accommodations & dining out. My assessment of Mechanics vs Pilots kind of morphed into this; Airplane Mechanics think of those awesome flying machines as the next best thing to a mechanical miracle and will treat them as such, with Gr8 Respect, whereas Pilots just wanna move thru 3D Space with their Hair on Fire. 🤭 . . . I did get pretty heavily involved in flying Radio Controlled Helicopters at a sanctioned flying field in East Seattle. Good Times ! Most my flying buddies picked up factory sponsorships from the many R/C Heli kit manufacturers at the time and as a group we'd make appearances all over the Pacific NW in "Fun Fly" events, and do quite well. We always seemed to win enough Freebies to pay for the trip, and met some pretty Kewl people along the way. Most well-known "full scale" Pilots were into flying models when they were younger and many do so as a sort of retirement hobby. The list of professional people I've met in that hobby turns out to be rather amazing.
I remember that yellow newspaper ..i was a refueler then ap mechanic.they even had jobs in there.almost went to st croix but. Saw a job for a mechanic in south america somewhere looking back it prob was CIA..the 80 were soo diff no internet.true story tho.i remember the R22..S76..bell jet ranger. II
@@kingsupreme3965 Yea, the Big Yellow Rag known as Trade-a-Plane had a Gazillion private A/C for sale out of Alaska, which is where I was living at the time I'd considered the RotorWay kit. After gettin my A&P I was offered a job & free flight training at the FBO next to the Classroom (an old B-17 Hanger) in Pocatello ID. I almost took that job just for the Free flight lessons but got smart and did some research into prior mechanics employed there. I ended up turning down an offer from Raytheon on the East Coast and went w/ a Regional Carrier out of Portland. Turned out to be a good idea, I never really felt like it was a Job because I enjoyed it so much. Met some Really Kewl people along the way, Good Times ! 😊
Rotorway is NOTORIOUS for having multiple drivetrain issues throughout their lifetime. Met a pilot who had autoed his rotorway 8 times because of engine issues.
I looked at a Rotorway Helicopter for sale once,! I called my flight instructor and asked him what he thought about it, he said, “ I don’t want to be within 100 yards of one when it cranks up, much less fly in one. “. I bought a Hughes TH-55, two place military trainer helicopter. It was the US military’s primary pilot training helicopter for 16 years. Awesome safety record, Lycoming 180hp air cooled engine certified by the FAA. Sweitzer, bought the rights to the airframe, and it is now the Sweitzer 300, still an awesome FAA certified aircraft. I would recommend buying a used Hughes or Sweitzer Helicopter over an experimental Helicopter a thousand times over. Your life is worth the safest aircraft, and the resale value is much better. 😀
I learned to fly with 269 in Alabama: you are absolutely right. Simple, easy, FORGIVING, chopper. Never had so much fun in my life ....miss that time badly!
$85,000 for a Mosquito. I dont see the aviation industry lasting another 20-30 years. They are pricing out their own consumers. If thats #3 there is no need for me to even waste my time looking at the top2
Yep. I definitely agree. Probably a lot of it is due to aviation safety regulations. But still... this is a dying breed. This should be something like 30 grand.
The price for the Mosquito helicopter may not always include the turbine, as it depends on the specific package and customization options chosen. Typically, the base price we present may cover the basic kit, but additional components or features, such as the turbine engine, may be offered as optional upgrades. It's advisable to check with the manufacturer for the most accurate and up-to-date information on pricing and included features. Is there anything else you would like to know about the Mosquito helicopter or other aircraft?
If I was holding back from inflation I'd never own as yes its double cost since I first got interested, but now its value is going up and it fits in my garage. Owning is everything. See you from up there. Later.
Learning to hover a helicopter is said to be like trying to keep one's balance on a pogo stick on a floor covered with ball bearings. It certainly was tough for me, but with diligence I earned my commercial rotorcraft rating.😅
This is the first Helicycle, a turbine engine, to be completed from a kit by the customer, and the first customer built Helicycle to receive an FAA Certificate of Airworthiness. It is a design hybrid combination between the Bell AH1 Cobra and the Bell 206BIII. This helicopter is expected to have a 2000 hour TBO. Currently, this exact individual Helicycle boasts 1340 Hobbs hours TTAF. ua-cam.com/video/3rlv5HpEx9U/v-deo.html
I would buy a safari helicopter,factory made,faA certified for about $200000,no need to spend 100s of hrs building and have a helicopter classed as experimental.
Well, I wanted a helicopter. But "cheapest" is way beyond any reasonable price range for what would be a "toy." If a person needed one for business, he might pay that much. But these prices are insane for a hobbyist.
Helicopters indeed come with a hefty price tag, making them a substantial investment. They are often associated with business or professional use due to their operational costs. For hobbyists, it's indeed a significant consideration. Are there specific types or models of helicopters you find particularly appealing, even if just for the joy of dreaming?
@@AviationFederation No use dreaming about something that I could never afford. Even if I were a multi-millionaire, I can't see myself spending that much on a toy. It would be different if I needed one. But I don't.
Yes finally we will not lie, it remains extremely expensive for everyone. The guy who earns $ 1,200 a month or € 1,200 depending on where he is, is not likely to be able to afford one day. Unless, maybe he decides to resell the organs of his little sister on the black market. Anyway, it's probably much better, because these things consume a lot of fuel. And in our time, we would do well to practice the virtue of economics, which has not yet remained with regard to the colossal waste of recent decades.
Your point about the high cost of aircraft and the challenges for individuals with more modest incomes is well taken. Economic considerations and environmental impact are indeed crucial factors to consider, especially in the context of rising fuel costs. Are there specific initiatives or changes you think could make aviation more accessible or environmentally friendly?
@@AviationFederation Honestly, I admit that I don't know anything about it. So I will speak at random. I suppose that with regard to planes, we will try to adopt for even more aerodynamic profiles, perhaps with lighter materials, by trying not to sacrifice resistance and security if possible, not necessarily to go faster but to consume less. I saw that there were also solar-powered aircraft projects, which should theoretically be able to fly relatively economically for some time. If I remember the case of Concorde for example, the plane was well designed but it was noisy to the point that several countries prohibited the overflight of their territory by the machine. It also consumed 4 times more fuel than a conventional airliner and required much more maintenance time.The average for an airliner was 2 hours of maintenance for 1 hour of flight, while the Concorde required approximately 20 hours of maintenance for 1 hour of flight. In our time, we see a whole bunch of hybrid projects flourish between helicopters and flying cars. But the problem remains because we cannot change the laws of physics. And I am not convinced that it is judicious to produce millions of these things, whether from an economic or ecological point of view. It seems to me that there were also projects to develop planes with nuclear reactors, but hello the damage in the event of a crash. But hey, given the progress of science, I suppose that we will eventually find compromises, even if our era no longer necessarily aims for speed and raw performance. And regarding the design of more economical helicopters, I admit that I don't know. Maybe we could try to develop a hybrid between an ultra-light glider and a helicopter, allowing vertical takeoff, and then pivoting the propellers forward ? I would have thought of a much lighter version of the Osprey helicopter plane. But I don't know if it is achievable.
If you got 120 k buy a toy ? Your ok. These toys kills fast. So they tell you what you want to hear but reality is so fkng different. Maintenance will kill you. Broke in no time. Forget it where not there yet
You're right, owning a kit helicopter might seem affordable upfront, but maintenance costs and complexities can add up quickly. It's important to thoroughly research and consider all aspects before diving into such an investment. Safety and practicality should always be a priority.
*We wanted to keep this video short so we know we missed some good ones. Which other kit helicopters do you think deserves to be on this list? What features are you looking for in a kit helicopter? Share your thoughts below! To see more interesting helicopter videos, check these out:*
Top 5 Most Expensive Kit Helicopters 2022-2023 | Price & Specs
ua-cam.com/video/qewiylP8B2o/v-deo.html
Top 5 Most Fuel-Efficient Private Helicopters 2022-2023 | Price & Specs
ua-cam.com/video/ExM8-QtwLIo/v-deo.html
Top 5 Most Unconventional Helicopters (International) 2022-2023 | Aircraft Comparison
ua-cam.com/video/NQ2n8L_XQK8/v-deo.html
They going real stupid on prices lol
I almost invested in a RotorWay Kit (when they were about the only ones offering a heli kit), back in the mid 80's until I started looking thru the sales classifieds in "Trade-a-Plane" magazine. There was a dozen or more kits advertised that were in various stages of completion, and some completed but never flown. Seeing so many wanting out from such a project made me rethink the whole idea. It also raised some "Red Flag's".
With 30+ yrs in commercial aviation maintenance under my belt I'd go for the turbine powered Heli simply for their reliability over Recip engines. I'd also check the airplane classifieds for anyone selling the model I'd chosen to build just to find out why it was for sale.
It's wise to carefully consider all aspects before diving into a kit project, especially when it comes to helicopters. The reliability of a turbine-powered helicopter is indeed an attractive feature. Have you explored other aircraft options or projects since then, or did you find an alternative that captured your interest?
@@AviationFederation I found an alternative that captured my attention. Back in the 80's when I was looking at RotorWay, I was a Millwright/Machinist for one of the largest seafood processors in Alaska and running a Sporting Good wholesale business. We (the wife & I) were busy w/ three jobs each and were looking for alternatives to Air Travel in & out of SE Alaska to our homes in Washington & Oregon. Alaska State Ferries took the better part of a week (driving time included), and the Airfare to & From SE Alaska was pretty jacked up. But I never fully invested in a Kit Plane, although the RV4 at the time looked pretty attractive.
We divorced and I finished a 15 yr career w/ the Seafood Co and went back to College (Idaho St Univ) for my Associates & A&P cert. Took a job w/ Alaska Airlines regional carrier, Horizon Air in 2000, . . . . that was my "alternative" choice.
After 2+ decades w/ them I retired about a year ago. It turns out I enjoyed the "machine" that could fly much more than flying itself. I Still don't like flying, unless I can actually see the horizon. The jump seat in the cockpit was always nicer for me even though the actual seat itself sucked. Alaska Air still provides me w/ the standby flying perk, so I limit my trips to short hauls. The Non-Rev perk is overrated because as soon as you step off the plane, you're spending money on rental cars, accommodations & dining out.
My assessment of Mechanics vs Pilots kind of morphed into this; Airplane Mechanics think of those awesome flying machines as the next best thing to a mechanical miracle and will treat them as such, with Gr8 Respect, whereas Pilots just wanna move thru 3D Space with their Hair on Fire. 🤭 . . .
I did get pretty heavily involved in flying Radio Controlled Helicopters at a sanctioned flying field in East Seattle. Good Times ! Most my flying buddies picked up factory sponsorships from the many R/C Heli kit manufacturers at the time and as a group we'd make appearances all over the Pacific NW in "Fun Fly" events, and do quite well. We always seemed to win enough Freebies to pay for the trip, and met some pretty Kewl people along the way.
Most well-known "full scale" Pilots were into flying models when they were younger and many do so as a sort of retirement hobby. The list of professional people I've met in that hobby turns out to be rather amazing.
I remember that yellow newspaper ..i was a refueler then ap mechanic.they even had jobs in there.almost went to st croix but.
Saw a job for a mechanic in south america somewhere looking back it prob was CIA..the 80 were soo diff no internet.true story tho.i remember the R22..S76..bell jet ranger.
II
@@kingsupreme3965 Yea, the Big Yellow Rag known as Trade-a-Plane had a Gazillion private A/C for sale out of Alaska, which is where I was living at the time I'd considered the RotorWay kit. After gettin my A&P I was offered a job & free flight training at the FBO next to the Classroom (an old B-17 Hanger) in Pocatello ID. I almost took that job just for the Free flight lessons but got smart and did some research into prior mechanics employed there.
I ended up turning down an offer from Raytheon on the East Coast and went w/ a Regional Carrier out of Portland. Turned out to be a good idea, I never really felt like it was a Job because I enjoyed it so much. Met some Really Kewl people along the way, Good Times ! 😊
Rotorway is NOTORIOUS for having multiple drivetrain issues throughout their lifetime. Met a pilot who had autoed his rotorway 8 times because of engine issues.
I looked at a Rotorway Helicopter for sale once,! I called my flight instructor and asked him what he thought about it, he said, “ I don’t want to be within 100 yards of one when it cranks up, much less fly in one. “. I bought a Hughes TH-55, two place military trainer helicopter. It was the US military’s primary pilot training helicopter for 16 years. Awesome safety record, Lycoming 180hp air cooled engine certified by the FAA. Sweitzer, bought the rights to the airframe, and it is now the Sweitzer 300, still an awesome FAA certified aircraft. I would recommend buying a used Hughes or Sweitzer Helicopter over an experimental Helicopter a thousand times over. Your life is worth the safest aircraft, and the resale value is much better. 😀
An absolutely fair point. Thanks for sharing!
U need a license though ..experimental dont require one
I learned to fly with 269 in Alabama: you are absolutely right. Simple, easy, FORGIVING, chopper. Never had so much fun in my life ....miss that time badly!
@@mikemiller659 How old are you? 13? Learn engrish better there chuckles.
Wow.. The price of the Mosquito XET has almost doubled? Two years ago you could get them for about $45,000.
I think it's the general economy my old Fama Kiss helicopter with the retractable landing gear cost me 175k new but now they're like 195-225k
You still can get one for that, maybe less
Stop your lies. You could never get the XET for that low. It's 90k easy.
The Safari deserves to be on the list.
$85,000 for a Mosquito. I dont see the aviation industry lasting another 20-30 years. They are pricing out their own consumers. If thats #3 there is no need for me to even waste my time looking at the top2
Yes, it shouldn’t be more than twice the price of motorcycle.
Yep. I definitely agree.
Probably a lot of it is due to aviation safety regulations. But still... this is a dying breed.
This should be something like 30 grand.
$85K is for the turbine. piston versions start at about $50K. Helicopters are much more complex, you can’t compare them to fixed wing kits
Ciccare the BEST
Hi Sophie, how are you going? Hope you're healthy and happy. Keep up the good work.
what a creep lol ewwwwwww
Argentinian Cicare is the best. Its so beauty.
We thought so too! Thanks for the comment.
A pues, que viva Argentina por tan exelente contribución a la industria ☺️🚁🚁
Does the $85k mosquito price include the turbine or is that an additional expense?
The price for the Mosquito helicopter may not always include the turbine, as it depends on the specific package and customization options chosen. Typically, the base price we present may cover the basic kit, but additional components or features, such as the turbine engine, may be offered as optional upgrades. It's advisable to check with the manufacturer for the most accurate and up-to-date information on pricing and included features. Is there anything else you would like to know about the Mosquito helicopter or other aircraft?
If I was holding back from inflation I'd never own as yes its double cost since I first got interested, but now its value is going up and it fits in my garage. Owning is everything. See you from up there. Later.
There is no such thing as a CHEAP HELICOPTER!
Hungarocopter is the best ! 😎
Thanks for sharing your opinion! Hungarocopter does offer some interesting options for kit helicopters. We'll explore them further in future videos.
Don't buy a new kit. It's crazy how much the price has gone up. At 85k you might as well buy a manufacturer FAA approved airframe
so beautiful tourists centre supper🤩🤩🤩
Sophy? Love your video's . I like the mosquito. Small and nimble.
Thank you for the kind comments! The mosquito is definitely a fan favourite.
Can there be a gyro put on these helis?
Cool
I think that I could build a helicopter kit, but flying it, is another thing!
Learning to hover a helicopter is said to be like trying to keep one's balance on a pogo stick on a floor covered with ball bearings. It certainly was tough for me, but with diligence I earned my commercial rotorcraft rating.😅
Love
Can’t you have a kit apache it would be dope
Real leather from a cow? Wow 6:55
Finally, someone noticed.
Best kit helicopter - Hummingbird 300L.
This is the first Helicycle, a turbine engine, to be completed from a kit by the customer, and the first customer built Helicycle to receive an FAA Certificate of Airworthiness. It is a design hybrid combination between the Bell AH1 Cobra and the Bell 206BIII. This helicopter is expected to have a 2000 hour TBO. Currently, this exact individual Helicycle boasts 1340 Hobbs hours TTAF.
ua-cam.com/video/3rlv5HpEx9U/v-deo.html
21,000' density altitude
ua-cam.com/video/Ymt4XlpixPw/v-deo.html
I doubt any of these are three seaters, as the term "two passengers" seems to imply. I think "two occupants" is what they meant to say.
what bs we want a 3000.00 heli 85,000 to well over a 100,000 is not affordable to the average person. Get real
These Aerocopter ain't cheap at all 😵😵😵
I wont an kit built Helicopter so Bad single seat would work fine but how does one learn to fly an 1 seat one
I would buy a safari helicopter,factory made,faA certified for about $200000,no need to spend 100s of hrs building and have a helicopter classed as experimental.
Safaris do have a great track record and excellent reviews.
What is tank miss.
Something tells me the cheapest helicopter package isn't necessarily the right choice.
Consider a gyrocopter. Safer, easier to fly, less maintenance and way cheaper.
Well, I wanted a helicopter. But "cheapest" is way beyond any reasonable price range for what would be a "toy." If a person needed one for business, he might pay that much. But these prices are insane for a hobbyist.
Helicopters indeed come with a hefty price tag, making them a substantial investment. They are often associated with business or professional use due to their operational costs. For hobbyists, it's indeed a significant consideration. Are there specific types or models of helicopters you find particularly appealing, even if just for the joy of dreaming?
@@AviationFederation No use dreaming about something that I could never afford. Even if I were a multi-millionaire, I can't see myself spending that much on a toy. It would be different if I needed one. But I don't.
Look at boats ..
Just watch out when china started building kit air vehicle. Surely it's just a quarter of these cheapest kit vehicle..😁
Im going to go out on a limb and say "cheapest" and "helicopter" are not words you generally want used in the same sentence
Yes finally we will not lie, it remains extremely expensive for everyone.
The guy who earns $ 1,200 a month or € 1,200 depending on where he is, is not likely to be able to afford one day. Unless, maybe he decides to resell the organs of his little sister on the black market. Anyway, it's probably much better, because these things consume a lot of fuel. And in our time, we would do well to practice the virtue of economics, which has not yet remained with regard to the colossal waste of recent decades.
Your point about the high cost of aircraft and the challenges for individuals with more modest incomes is well taken. Economic considerations and environmental impact are indeed crucial factors to consider, especially in the context of rising fuel costs. Are there specific initiatives or changes you think could make aviation more accessible or environmentally friendly?
@@AviationFederation Honestly, I admit that I don't know anything about it. So I will speak at random. I suppose that with regard to planes, we will try to adopt for even more aerodynamic profiles, perhaps with lighter materials, by trying not to sacrifice resistance and security if possible, not necessarily to go faster but to consume less. I saw that there were also solar-powered aircraft projects, which should theoretically be able to fly relatively economically for some time. If I remember the case of Concorde for example, the plane was well designed but it was noisy to the point that several countries prohibited the overflight of their territory by the machine. It also consumed 4 times more fuel than a conventional airliner and required much more maintenance time.The average for an airliner was 2 hours of maintenance for 1 hour of flight, while the Concorde required approximately 20 hours of maintenance for 1 hour of flight.
In our time, we see a whole bunch of hybrid projects flourish between helicopters and flying cars. But the problem remains because we cannot change the laws of physics. And I am not convinced that it is judicious to produce millions of these things, whether from an economic or ecological point of view. It seems to me that there were also projects to develop planes with nuclear reactors, but hello the damage in the event of a crash. But hey, given the progress of science, I suppose that we will eventually find compromises, even if our era no longer necessarily aims for speed and raw performance.
And regarding the design of more economical helicopters, I admit that I don't know. Maybe we could try to develop a hybrid between an ultra-light glider and a helicopter, allowing vertical takeoff, and then pivoting the propellers forward ? I would have thought of a much lighter version of the Osprey helicopter plane. But I don't know if it is achievable.
Sure is a lot of my video, and imaging of me flying in this video. No credit, or $$$?
👍👍😎😎😂😂
To me the words “helicopter” and “kit” just don’t sound very comfortable next to each other. Kinda like “nuclear power plant” and “DIY”. 😂
Got to admit, the idea of a DIY nuclear power plant is a tad interesting!
heli cycle
If you got 120 k buy a toy ? Your ok. These toys kills fast. So they tell you what you want to hear but reality is so fkng different. Maintenance will kill you. Broke in no time. Forget it where not there yet
You're right, owning a kit helicopter might seem affordable upfront, but maintenance costs and complexities can add up quickly. It's important to thoroughly research and consider all aspects before diving into such an investment. Safety and practicality should always be a priority.
𝐩яⓞ𝓂𝓞Ş𝐦 💐
all copters are way overpriced..