Thank You! I've seen several video's of people "flying" this aircraft. Their idea of flying is hovering and doing circles at 10ft off the ground. This is the first actual flight, at elevation, flying over a wide area, video I've seen. Amazing, and great job.
@Critical Drone Solutions LLC it's not hard to fly a helicopter. Cyclic controls speed and elevation, and stick and petals control direction. Once you learn the basics, and instruments you're good to go!
@@thebestofj.fraley Pardon? Rotorcraft is notoriously more difficult for beginners to learn. They sustain almost a 35% higher crash ratio than fixed wings and usually have a longer and more expensive course to get your rating. The cost is because heli's are generally more pricy to fly but the bottom line is without imput, a fixed wing will remain in a semi stable state whereas heli's are short for this world without constant adjustment. They're fun to fly, 100%, and are niche and capable machines but easy is not an apt desriptor. Also, Critical, yes, you do need training, a PPL, your radio, medical and other peripheries to fly a heli.
@Critical Drone Solutions LLC I took lessons in an R-22 to start, and I had my fixed wing ticket already as well. This was the first time I had flown this helicopter though!
1st time, Wow! I don't know anything about helicopters, but I thought you were a pro! Thank you so much for sharing, I know I'll be watching many more times!
Thanks! After this flight I was able to wire in the intercom to the radio so that I can record what I am saying when not transmitting on the frequency.
Dang! I was sure I would have seen a walk-around preflight check ;) I really wanted to see that turbine install and all, great job. that and you obliviously have helicopter experience. nothing harder to control and fly than a small helicopter, Nice form.
Thanks! Yeah, I find filming a little distracting so I skipped that on my preflight check. I should probably do a little walk around video, that's a great idea! At this flight I had 6 hours of dual in an R-22 and about 200 hours fixed wing.
Warning…long winded question coming. So I’ve been looking at this as a “commuter option” to work. I live 3 hours by car from where I work. I rent a place and stay the 5 days and then drive back…and leave the night before I’ve got to be back at work the next day. All the research I’ve done is the flight in this would be about 45 minutes each direction. Would this platform be a decent alternative to allow me to sleep at home? I can land at home and I will figure out where to land near “the office”. Basically I’d fly 5 days a week from the west coast of Florida to the east coast and back 5 days a week.
Great question! This heli is setup to cruise about 100 mph and you can carry 2 hours of fuel, so 45 minutes each way is close but doable from that perspective. The only real issue is cargo room as there isn’t much. It’s a much better way to get to work than driving!
@@NateVolk so my plan was to buy a Cherokee Six and rebuild it with a glass panel. Which I still want to do. BUT this seems like an other option with a different mission… but a faster way to get to the office and not have to rent a place to stay. Take that money and buy this…and still buy the Six for the long missions. At about $100 an hour to fly I’ll actually save money in the long run. I don’t need cargo space. I need time. My biggest question is maintenance. More research required.
Good choice, as much as I like the Mosquito, the Helicycle has caught my eye as of late. It appears affordable enough, I guess they're smart business people and will count on volume rather than high price sales. Thanks for sharing. Cheers
@@NateVolk I so agree, it is unique in its own way. So much more structure to the build, has a certain ruggedness to it. A safety factor that's built in and looks good at the same time. Cheers
Can you please PLEASE tell me who makes your colorful steam instruments? The 8 in the middle and 4 surrounding? I have been searching for colorful analog instruments just like this for my helicopter.
Amazing video man! This helicopter is very small, but it is one of the cheapest helicopters! And you can do anything with this machine, such a good thing…
First video ive seen really showing the panel and startup. How do you fly a power setting? EGT's? I didnt see a torque guage. Ive got time in big turbine helis but this excites me so much more. Planning on starting to build one in the next few years
Hi can you specify what is the name for your helicopter? Who built it? How much it cost you? How much you pay to storage at the airport? How much fuel is its capacity and how much you spend for a regular fly like the one on the video? And the total price for the helicopter including shipping? And who’s the manufacturer or their web-site? Thank You 🙏
Sure, it's called a Helicycle and it comes in a kit that you build yourself or buy one used. One like this costs about $80k used. Airport storage varies by location. It holds 25 gallons of jet-a and that gets you almost two hours of flight time that costs about $100...
Wow that looks like so much fun. I think I would have flown around the airport a little bit longer to feel comfortable with it. You probably been thinking about your first flight the whole time building it and couldn't wait to get some distance from the ground and from the airport. Thanks for uploading the video. It was my first flight video of anything and that was awesome for me, I know it was a rush like no other for you. I'm going subscribe and hit the like button to see your next video. Thanks for taking the time to share the video and answer everyone's questions. I don't have any questions that you haven't covered already. You are a great pilot and looked like you been flying that thing for some time now and I you never said it's your first flight I would of never thought so. Safe flying in the future.
Thank you Jack! It is super fun. Atually, being close to the ground is one of the more dangerous parts. The higher and faster you go, the more time you have to figure out a plan if something goes wrong. There was lots of spots to land in an emergency along my route, and I had just flown that same route with an instructor in a different helicopter, so I felt pretty comfortable with it. Thanks for watching and subscribing!
haha! You are right. Although there is nothing to clear when engaging the starter. The turbine spools up, but nothing turns at that point :) I do clear the tail and main rotor visually before I start the blades spinning. Thanks for watching!
@@NateVolk no prob..not like im a licened pilot..i just am a heli freak and watch alot of vids..and know they always yell it before they begin start sequence lol..is yours one of thos automatic start helis?..er do you have to watch t.o.t...introduce fuel when n1 comes up ect?
@@natertater1978 Generally, helicopters have the two sections of the compressor connected by gasses, so when the turbine spins, the blades start moving. This one, has a shaft connecting the two. So to get her started, you can't have the blades connected or you will get a hot start. So, we start it, then engage a clutch to turn the blades. Kind of like a robinson. The fuel is automatically controlled, mostly. I turn on the fuel solenoid, and manually control the start fuel, which gets released and purged once the turbine is self sustaining. You can wire it up to be fully automatic, but I like the control the manual gives. There is no n1 section or gauge :) I hope that explains it a bit!
@@NateVolk it does!!..that explains the clutch button u were referrin to..and yeah..surely dont need a hot start😬🤑☹️!..they should call em "broke starts"..what youll be if ya have ta by a new engine lol
Yes, I still have it :) To be honest, for a month or two after that first flight, I really focused on the basics of flying. So it wasn't really that exciting to share. Then it was tripple digit heat all summer and just to hot to be enjoyable, plus I bought two project airplanes. The helo is coming out of its annual inspection, the weather is cooler, and I'm looking forward to flying it more in the next few weeks, and making some videos as well! As for the hilltop, I set it down on random hilltops all the time. Its pretty incredible to be able to get to places like that. I'll post a video of one of those soon :)
Curious question; perhaps one you've already answered (1,123 times) but ... where / when / how did you get your R/W rating? How R/W many hours? What equipment? Thanks!
I did some basic training in an r22, about six hours before I flew this helicopter. Since it is experimental, you don’t need a rw endorsement in most situations :)
Thank you, and you are correct, it is not an ultralight and doesn’t fall under part 103. It is an amateur built, experimental aircraft and simply needs any license, nothing type specific unless you are carrying passengers.
@@OculusQuestFun Thanks, that sounds super cool! I'll have to try that someday soon. I wonder where a good spot would be to mount a 360 camera? Inside or outside?
So while we can use the runway, the FAA asks helicopters to remain clear of fixed wing traffic when possible. So we use the taxiway instead. Not great in my opinion, but it works. A lot of time we have to side step taxiing traffic so we don't overfly them. AND its uncontrolled, so a lot of taxiing fixed wings do not use the radio while taxiing. Makes for fun helicopter approaches when the oncoming fixed wing looks up and sees a helicopter descending! The runway and pattern is quite crowded :)
Thank you. I think the cost is relative. Way cheaper than a certified turbine, and still cheaper than an R-22 by far, with better performance to boot. You can get a nice flying example for about $60k.
It is called a helicycle from Eagle R&D. I'm 6'1" and fit just fine. The max weight it can be is 850, including pilot and fuel. So you could fit, but wouldn't be able to take enough fuel to fly very long. If you are serious, I'd look into a Jet Exec from Rotorway, they can carry two passengers, so solo you could go with full fuel and have some fun!
Just sub to your channel Nate, nice flying, I know the area you flying in btw, live close by and my first time seeing it up bird’s eye view. Thanks to your flying skills!👍🏾👍🏾
How many hours this engine till you overall or replace? What the cost 💲 I may see the piston engine more economic Also is there Annual inspection cost ? Last question; how many hours till you replace the blades? Are they expensive?
These engines run north of 25,000 hours before a rebuild is needed. Because of that and the experimental category, most if not all of the helicopter and components are "on condition" not a certain number of hours. Blades too, just on condition. Annual inspection is generally a few hundred dollars as you do change all of the fluids and spend about 10 hours on inspecting certain areas. If you are the builder, you can do it yourself. If you don't built the ship, any A&P can do the inspection.
I enjoyed your video... I see it's from 3 years ago so my comments might seem a little late or a little out of place. I was surprised that for your first flight you headed out on a long flight. If this was the first time flying this aircraft I would assume you would take off, do some flying above taxiways or possibly a circuit at an airport and then land and then physically check all the mechanicals. I imagine I would land and check things over then possibly go out for another circuit. I'm guessing maybe you bought the helicopter from someone who had already built up hours going through careful flights and tests. In any case I'm interested in hearing the story from before and after this flight. Cheers!
Well, both. The helicopter was well built, and I had a very good mechanic go over everything with me before I flew it. He actually hovered it and did a few circuits before I hopped in. I had 6 hours training, so I let him do the ops flight. This video was my first flight in it. Make sense?
This is nice! I have some questions: - So no license is needed to fly this thing? - Can you keep it at a private property, or you have to use the local airport? What is the monthly fee for the airport? - what is the price of a new and used one and where you can buy it? - is the maintenance expensive? what is the average cost of ownership for 1 year?
Thanks! You do need a license of some sort (fixed wing, hot air baloon, etc) and if you want to carry passengers, you need a helicopter license. You can keep it on private property, as long as your city or county does not have a rule against it. I land at my buddy's property quite a bit to say hi. I share a hangar at the airport just for convenience. These are experimental, meaning that they have to be built by someone, not manufactured. You can buy a used one from a private party that is already flying. Expect to pay between $50-$75k for one in good shape. Other than fuel, the cost of ownership is very minimal. You have an annual inspection (about $500) and simple maintenance besides that. I've spent less than $200 on maintenance in the last year. Thanks for watching!
@@NateVolk dang..just when I figured I'd never be able to afford to fly, +TURBINE🤯 Get in tough w/Kenny Keller at Helicopter Online Groundschool.. he does a fantastic TH-cam channel & provides great groundschool packages. Even though your'e doing ultralight, good to be safer.. heli's have interesting dynamics which are very unforgiving if not understood & respected, I'd take all the rotorcraft time I could afford to bring back to that bird!
@@francisconti9085 its actually not an ultralight :) But yes, lots of studying done, and lots of training in robinsons as well. I'm working on my helicopter commercial certificate. Its the cheapest way to get helicopter and turbine time that I have found so far!
@@NateVolk Wow! I gotta start selling those! Haha, sounds like a nice bird, flying speeds/@ altitudes looked good in TH-cam vision, & indicated airspeed.. looked like you had a good head start on process😁👍 I fly RC bush planes, in confined off field locations, etc.. HOGS channel helped with additional safety protocals/awareness/site assessment as it overlapped in safety etc. I have one plane which comes in @ 10 Kts that I can fly safely in & out of a 75' area with max obstacle height of 40' with 10' clearance.. Heli offsite considerations like LOWFEET checklist insights hugely important to success/safety .. my little Eflight Timber is almost like a helicopter kept in ETL, love it so much I have 4! Ski, float, land, performance land😎👍
Hey Nate, This video says it's located at French Valley Airport. I'm in the Fallbrook area... Is your Overland Adventure Truck being built in the local area? If so, I'd love to checkout your build in person as I'm also planning on building an off-road RV. Cheers, - John
So can I legally take off in my back yard and land it in my other yard in a different city? what are my limitations for landing and takeoff, safely of course.
I found a local airport with a helicopter school. It took me about 6 hours of transition training before this flight. I believe that the FFA requires 20 hours (not entirely sure) before you can take the practical test for your helicopter add on. The transition was fairly easy, navigation and radios are the same, and forward flight is pretty close to fixed wing. The hovering and approaches I found to be the most challenging. I wasn't used to slowing below 50 knots on final :)
@@NateVolk Oh yeah, I can relay to not liking low speed approaches. I know how to fly a helicopter, but have no practical experience. I know a man who has a Hiller. He is a helicopter flight instructor. Would that Hiller be good enough to learn in? Does it matter whether the engine is recip or turbine? I might prefer the turbine, but am not sure.
@@randallgarrison8653 the Hiller is a great machine! I wouldn't worry about the eninge for the first dozen or more hours. Recip are cheap to operate and pretty reliable! The turbines burn a ton of fuel and are pretty expensive. Learn however you can!
Thanks! As an experimental, I can do the maintenance (pretty detailed in the manual) and I have and A&P that does the annual with me. The most expensive thing is the 13 gal/hr of jet a, but its a lot cheaper than avgas. Risks are about the same as any type of flying. Know your machine is good, maintain it, keep good personal minimums, and always prepare. Those few things help manage the risks inherent in flying.
The really great thing the FAA did with experimental aviation and aircraft is they granted the builder of said experimental aircraft an A&P and IA rating and signoff privileges......BUT! only for the aircraft he or she built.....AND!.... the signoff privileges DO NOT transfer with the sale of the aircraft! You get to maintain and signoff all work on your aircraft,but if you purchase an experimental aircraft,you will have to pay an A&P and IA for all work on your aircraft.....yipeee!!!!!
So do you need a helicopter license to fly this one? I’m looking to buy one. I was told by by the maker of this aircraft the xel is the only one I can fly without a license. They said I can remove the pontoons after I fill out a form to the ffa. But I want a XE with a turbine engine. What do you suggest? I’m in no where Oklahoma and would just fly rivers and pasture land.
This is a helicycle, not a Mosquito. You do need some sort of license to fly one, a fixed wing or balloon is sufficient. But if you don't have a license, you might get pulled over by the sky police :)
@@johnnyg177 You need a license, but only a helicopter license if you want to carry a passenger. So, a fixed wing license is sufficient for this. Obviously, you need training too ;)
This was not your first time you flown,? Do you have a certain break in, schedule, like alitude, speed, distance. It is probably cheaper being a single seater. I would need lessons in one. Just the start up was alot od swithes to operate!
Hey David! I had taken lessons before with an instructor on board in a different helicopter, plus I’ve been flying airplanes for a while. This was just the first time solo, in any helicopter, and the first time in this one. Getting some lessons so you don’t kill yourself or others is always a good idea!
Not silly at all! The collective (up and down) has a friction control knob on it, so you can tighten it up and fly without holding it constantly. The cyclic you don't really want to let go of as helicopters are inherently unstable, meaning that they want to do anything but stay straight and level. Thanks for watching!
Great question! The 2 rotor system is super simple in design and maintenance. The more blades, the more mechanically difficult it is to maintain and the ore complicated the system. For an experimental, the trade off in performance is worth the simplify and low maintenance of a 2 blade system.
It is actually classified as an experimental, so you have to have some sort of license to fly. If you want to take a passenger in an experimental, you need a license that fits that type. Since I have only one seat, my fixed wing license suffices for me :) Thanks for watching!
thats cool. I noticed this video was in 2020. Do you still have this helicopter? Sure looks like fun.. Where abouts are you located .?? Cheers My friend.
Thanks! Yes, it will run diesel, kerosene, Jet-a, and a few others. The turbine is from a military application, so they wanted it to run off as much as possible. Jet-A is actually cheaper here than diesel though. Our local airport wants fixed wing and helicopters to be separated, so helicopters use the taxiway if possible. We can use the runway, but we don't need to, so why be in the way of the fixed wing guys. Plus we can stop mid air :) Our traffic pattern is right turns, while the fixed wing pattern is left turns. Its pretty crazy out there sometimes as we have a long runway that accomodates jets, and no tower to control everyone :)
@@NateVolk haha, we have a remote tower for KART (Watertown Intnl.), Class E airspace covered by local military base, Ft Drum NY.. about 10 miles away!👍
I just fly for fun and to build hours. I've been considering getting my commercial license, and the turbine time is a huge bonus. A friend of mine has a long line mount on his, and he practices that with it!
I feel it is easier to fly. It is more precise, has a ton more power, and a higher inertia rotor system. Helicopters are are basically the same as far as difficulty, but this one solves some limitations that you encounter with an R-22.
@@extremerecluse2095 I guess unless you build your own everything, that is true to a point no matter what you fly or drive ;) I took a lot of time to go through it before I flew it.
Thank you, for this helicopter, you need some sort of license. Fixed wing, balloon, etc. You only need a helicopter license if you are taking a passenger
@@NateVolk I meant video frames. A walk around of the outside either before or after the flight would have been nice. Outside of the thumbnail added later, there are only literally a few frames of footage of the outside of the bird at the very start of the video.
I come from a family of aviation. My grandfather's brothers who served in World War 2, piloted the P-51 Mustangs. My uncle's along with some family friends are all licensed fixed wing pilots. Unfortunately im physically disabled born with a disease called arthrygroposis. I apologize for spelling, however it effects the joints. My love is with rotory fixed aircraft. I am a pretty good helicopter pilot in Battlefield, a PC game as I am told, LOL. I would love to rig an experimental craft to pilot. It's a dream out of my reach. Thanks for sharing you look like a pro!
Hi Jason, thank you for the nice words! There is a lot to love about rotary wing craft! I'm glad you enjoyed the video, I'll be flying more soon and will post some new updates. Have a great day :)
45:30 Could have sworn you said you've never flown a helicopter before. Must have misspoken there. I rewound that part a few times thinking I hallucinated it due to lack of sleep. 😅
Hello my friend love your Heli. I live in Australia can you buy this machine ready built ex factory? Cant make any sense of the Helicycle website. Can you be of assistance please?
![ILLSLICK X YOUNGOHM - We're The same [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yUJNkobYR0E/mqdefault.jpg)
that sound of the start up is AWESOME!!!
Thanks! It feels pretty amazing too. Nothing like a turbine and rotor spinning!
Thank You! I've seen several video's of people "flying" this aircraft. Their idea of flying is hovering and doing circles at 10ft off the ground. This is the first actual flight, at elevation, flying over a wide area, video I've seen. Amazing, and great job.
Thank you! They fly really great when setup properly! I get about an hour and a half of flight time from a full tank. They are a joy to fly :)
@Critical Drone Solutions LLC it's not hard to fly a helicopter. Cyclic controls speed and elevation, and stick and petals control direction. Once you learn the basics, and instruments you're good to go!
@@thebestofj.fraley Pardon? Rotorcraft is notoriously more difficult for beginners to learn. They sustain almost a 35% higher crash ratio than fixed wings and usually have a longer and more expensive course to get your rating. The cost is because heli's are generally more pricy to fly but the bottom line is without imput, a fixed wing will remain in a semi stable state whereas heli's are short for this world without constant adjustment. They're fun to fly, 100%, and are niche and capable machines but easy is not an apt desriptor.
Also, Critical, yes, you do need training, a PPL, your radio, medical and other peripheries to fly a heli.
@@_Skitter maybe to some, but I've flown both and I've found that rotorcraft to me is much easier.
@Critical Drone Solutions LLC I took lessons in an R-22 to start, and I had my fixed wing ticket already as well. This was the first time I had flown this helicopter though!
Wow, .... you took us all for a wonderful flight in your Beautiful Turbine Helicopter .... Bravo !
Thank You
Thank you!
Thanks for the ride …. I’m retired and thinking I might want to learn to fly a small craft like this one.
Thanks for watching! There isn't much that is like flying, and flying something that can hover and has tons of power is a whole new level!
That was a GREAT first flight Nate!! Way to go....
Thank you! It is a blast to fly! And there is nothing like a helicopter.
A natural talent for flying rotorcraft! Congrats!
Thank you!
1st time, Wow! I don't know anything about helicopters, but I thought you were a pro! Thank you so much for sharing, I know I'll be watching many more times!
Thank you! It was a fun flight to put what I learned into practice in my own heli. Enjoy the vids!
Congrats Nate!!! Enjoy your single seat helicopter.
👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏
Thank you!
I’m loving this video. It excites me so much that I’ve decided to watch it in installments. Thank you and I’ll be back soon.
Glad you enjoy it! I'll be posting more flying videos soon!
Disfrute el vuelo TOTALMENTE, gracias amigo...Recordé mis buenos tiempos de aviación Volar mi CESSNA 206 y CESSNA 172.... ❤️❤️❤️
Hablo poquito espanol :) Me gusta mucho mi cessna 210. Tambien vuelo a 206, es muy bien tambien! Gracias ;)
Happy for your flight .. enjoyed watching you .. do talk more on your next flights would be nice to hear your emotions .. good luck with your flying
Thanks! After this flight I was able to wire in the intercom to the radio so that I can record what I am saying when not transmitting on the frequency.
Dang! I was sure I would have seen a walk-around preflight check ;) I really wanted to see that turbine install and all, great job. that and you obliviously have helicopter experience. nothing harder to control and fly than a small helicopter, Nice form.
Thanks! Yeah, I find filming a little distracting so I skipped that on my preflight check. I should probably do a little walk around video, that's a great idea! At this flight I had 6 hours of dual in an R-22 and about 200 hours fixed wing.
@@NateVolk it showed, ;) I have an r22 in the books, and coming from a 500c it was a squirrely to do , nothing outrageous, just a wake-up call.
Warning…long winded question coming.
So I’ve been looking at this as a “commuter option” to work. I live 3 hours by car from where I work. I rent a place and stay the 5 days and then drive back…and leave the night before I’ve got to be back at work the next day. All the research I’ve done is the flight in this would be about 45 minutes each direction. Would this platform be a decent alternative to allow me to sleep at home? I can land at home and I will figure out where to land near “the office”. Basically I’d fly 5 days a week from the west coast of Florida to the east coast and back 5 days a week.
Great question! This heli is setup to cruise about 100 mph and you can carry 2 hours of fuel, so 45 minutes each way is close but doable from that perspective. The only real issue is cargo room as there isn’t much. It’s a much better way to get to work than driving!
@@NateVolk so my plan was to buy a Cherokee Six and rebuild it with a glass panel. Which I still want to do. BUT this seems like an other option with a different mission… but a faster way to get to the office and not have to rent a place to stay. Take that money and buy this…and still buy the Six for the long missions. At about $100 an hour to fly I’ll actually save money in the long run. I don’t need cargo space. I need time. My biggest question is maintenance. More research required.
@@curtisaitken7027sounds like a good fit for you then!
Love that panel!
Me too, thanks!!!
I THINK TO FLIGHT FOR FIRST TIME WOULD BE WONDERFULL. GOOD BLESS YOU.
Thank you, it is insanely fun. The freedom to go anywhere is amazing!
having fun watching you fly, PS be careful
Thank you! Safety is always first :-)
Good choice, as much as I like the Mosquito, the Helicycle has caught my eye as of late. It appears affordable enough, I guess they're smart business people and will count on volume rather than high price sales. Thanks for sharing. Cheers
Thanks, I really like the build quality of the helicycle!
@@NateVolk I so agree, it is unique in its own way. So much more structure to the build, has a certain ruggedness to it. A safety factor that's built in and looks good at the same time. Cheers
They can't be too bad, as they do require both arms and legs to pilot. Lol. What is the sticker range on these anyway?
Would have liked to see a step-by-step startup procedure and show how the stick Maneuvers the copter..
That's a great idea :) I'll put one of those video together. I just got the ability to record my audio in flight as well :)
Can you please PLEASE tell me who makes your colorful steam instruments? The 8 in the middle and 4 surrounding? I have been searching for colorful analog instruments just like this for my helicopter.
Those were custom made by UMA instruments. Actually fairly affordable too!
Amazing video man! This helicopter is very small, but it is one of the cheapest helicopters! And you can do anything with this machine, such a good thing…
Thanks! Its pretty great :)
Moses ful efect helicopter dmal size
Seems like yesterday you were flying around Maui. Awesome!
It does, time flies!
First video ive seen really showing the panel and startup. How do you fly a power setting? EGT's? I didnt see a torque guage. Ive got time in big turbine helis but this excites me so much more. Planning on starting to build one in the next few years
Power is set by the governor automatically. There is no torque meter, just egt. The shaft is connected so it’s a little different than the big helis
Hi can you specify what is the name for your helicopter? Who built it? How much it cost you? How much you pay to storage at the airport? How much fuel is its capacity and how much you spend for a regular fly like the one on the video? And the total price for the helicopter including shipping? And who’s the manufacturer or their web-site? Thank You 🙏
Sure, it's called a Helicycle and it comes in a kit that you build yourself or buy one used. One like this costs about $80k used. Airport storage varies by location. It holds 25 gallons of jet-a and that gets you almost two hours of flight time that costs about $100...
,,,,,, thank you for an awesome video you did really well
Thank you!
Love it! Now I want one... 🚁
Go get one! They are a blast!
How is the vibration in your machine?
It’s actually really smooth, but the camera mount was a bit shaky!
Wow that looks like so much fun. I think I would have flown around the airport a little bit longer to feel comfortable with it. You probably been thinking about your first flight the whole time building it and couldn't wait to get some distance from the ground and from the airport. Thanks for uploading the video. It was my first flight video of anything and that was awesome for me, I know it was a rush like no other for you. I'm going subscribe and hit the like button to see your next video. Thanks for taking the time to share the video and answer everyone's questions. I don't have any questions that you haven't covered already. You are a great pilot and looked like you been flying that thing for some time now and I you never said it's your first flight I would of never thought so. Safe flying in the future.
Thank you Jack! It is super fun. Atually, being close to the ground is one of the more dangerous parts. The higher and faster you go, the more time you have to figure out a plan if something goes wrong. There was lots of spots to land in an emergency along my route, and I had just flown that same route with an instructor in a different helicopter, so I felt pretty comfortable with it. Thanks for watching and subscribing!
didnt holler "CLEAR" Before engaging the starter. good habit to get into. take nothing for granted.
haha! You are right. Although there is nothing to clear when engaging the starter. The turbine spools up, but nothing turns at that point :) I do clear the tail and main rotor visually before I start the blades spinning. Thanks for watching!
@@NateVolk no prob..not like im a licened pilot..i just am a heli freak and watch alot of vids..and know they always yell it before they begin start sequence lol..is yours one of thos automatic start helis?..er do you have to watch t.o.t...introduce fuel when n1 comes up ect?
@@natertater1978 Generally, helicopters have the two sections of the compressor connected by gasses, so when the turbine spins, the blades start moving. This one, has a shaft connecting the two. So to get her started, you can't have the blades connected or you will get a hot start. So, we start it, then engage a clutch to turn the blades. Kind of like a robinson. The fuel is automatically controlled, mostly. I turn on the fuel solenoid, and manually control the start fuel, which gets released and purged once the turbine is self sustaining. You can wire it up to be fully automatic, but I like the control the manual gives. There is no n1 section or gauge :)
I hope that explains it a bit!
@@NateVolk it does!!..that explains the clutch button u were referrin to..and yeah..surely dont need a hot start😬🤑☹️!..they should call em "broke starts"..what youll be if ya have ta by a new engine lol
I don't see any other videos. Do you still have the helo? How tempted to just put down on some hilltop? :)
Yes, I still have it :) To be honest, for a month or two after that first flight, I really focused on the basics of flying. So it wasn't really that exciting to share. Then it was tripple digit heat all summer and just to hot to be enjoyable, plus I bought two project airplanes. The helo is coming out of its annual inspection, the weather is cooler, and I'm looking forward to flying it more in the next few weeks, and making some videos as well!
As for the hilltop, I set it down on random hilltops all the time. Its pretty incredible to be able to get to places like that. I'll post a video of one of those soon :)
Curious question; perhaps one you've already answered (1,123 times) but ... where / when / how did you get your R/W rating? How R/W many hours? What equipment? Thanks!
I did some basic training in an r22, about six hours before I flew this helicopter. Since it is experimental, you don’t need a rw endorsement in most situations :)
@@NateVolk Didn't look like a Part 103 compliant machine. None-the-less, very nice stick-work!
Thank you, and you are correct, it is not an ultralight and doesn’t fall under part 103. It is an amateur built, experimental aircraft and simply needs any license, nothing type specific unless you are carrying passengers.
Awesome video. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Jalles! Have a great day!
A little info on what this helo is powered by who designed it?
It is called the Helicycle by Eagle R&D. It is powered by a solar T-62 turbine engine. Thanks for watching!
You are Great pilot of Your Helicopter
Thanks!
Well done, enjoy your next one!
Thanks! It was really fun! Sunset flight here: th-cam.com/video/wjHaX2Oi7f4/w-d-xo.html
@@NateVolk Thanks for sharing this one too. I watch your videos in VR. Adds a certain feel to it.
@@OculusQuestFun Thanks, that sounds super cool! I'll have to try that someday soon. I wonder where a good spot would be to mount a 360 camera? Inside or outside?
curious why you take off and do "touch and go's" on the taxiway instead of the runway? I can see its an uncontrolled airport.
So while we can use the runway, the FAA asks helicopters to remain clear of fixed wing traffic when possible. So we use the taxiway instead. Not great in my opinion, but it works. A lot of time we have to side step taxiing traffic so we don't overfly them. AND its uncontrolled, so a lot of taxiing fixed wings do not use the radio while taxiing. Makes for fun helicopter approaches when the oncoming fixed wing looks up and sees a helicopter descending! The runway and pattern is quite crowded :)
Class video of an exceptional chopper..are they expensive if you don't mind me asking?
Thank you. I think the cost is relative. Way cheaper than a certified turbine, and still cheaper than an R-22 by far, with better performance to boot. You can get a nice flying example for about $60k.
Only $60,000 cars suv truck boats cost more tyen $60,000 kamghini daiblo. Cist $600,000
What type of machine do you have and how big of a person will it fly. I’m 6’2” in boots and 285#s
It is called a helicycle from Eagle R&D. I'm 6'1" and fit just fine. The max weight it can be is 850, including pilot and fuel. So you could fit, but wouldn't be able to take enough fuel to fly very long. If you are serious, I'd look into a Jet Exec from Rotorway, they can carry two passengers, so solo you could go with full fuel and have some fun!
@@NateVolk NICE BIRD!
My God So Good To See You
Glad you enjoyed it!
please be safe and always check your equiptment before and after flights.....awesome mate ..
Thank you, always do!
Master chef dse cheake a guages
Just sub to your channel Nate, nice flying, I know the area you flying in btw, live close by and my first time seeing it up bird’s eye view. Thanks to your flying skills!👍🏾👍🏾
Thanks for watching and the sub!
Cool video found it researching the same helicopter. Keep up the good work! Hopefully I'll build mine soon!
Thanks! Good luck on your build!
Where is that at it looks like southern California but I know it's not
It is So Cal. The airport is by Temecula, and the lake community is called Canyon Lake :)
Thanks for the lift. Watching on 4k monitor.
Sweeeeet! Thanks for coming along for the ride!
How many hours this engine till you overall or replace? What the cost 💲
I may see the piston engine more economic
Also is there Annual inspection cost ?
Last question; how many hours till you replace the blades? Are they expensive?
These engines run north of 25,000 hours before a rebuild is needed. Because of that and the experimental category, most if not all of the helicopter and components are "on condition" not a certain number of hours. Blades too, just on condition. Annual inspection is generally a few hundred dollars as you do change all of the fluids and spend about 10 hours on inspecting certain areas. If you are the builder, you can do it yourself. If you don't built the ship, any A&P can do the inspection.
I enjoyed your video... I see it's from 3 years ago so my comments might seem a little late or a little out of place. I was surprised that for your first flight you headed out on a long flight. If this was the first time flying this aircraft I would assume you would take off, do some flying above taxiways or possibly a circuit at an airport and then land and then physically check all the mechanicals.
I imagine I would land and check things over then possibly go out for another circuit.
I'm guessing maybe you bought the helicopter from someone who had already built up hours going through careful flights and tests. In any case I'm interested in hearing the story from before and after this flight.
Cheers!
Well, both. The helicopter was well built, and I had a very good mechanic go over everything with me before I flew it. He actually hovered it and did a few circuits before I hopped in. I had 6 hours training, so I let him do the ops flight. This video was my first flight in it. Make sense?
This is nice! I have some questions:
- So no license is needed to fly this thing?
- Can you keep it at a private property, or you have to use the local airport? What is the monthly fee for the airport?
- what is the price of a new and used one and where you can buy it?
- is the maintenance expensive? what is the average cost of ownership for 1 year?
Thanks! You do need a license of some sort (fixed wing, hot air baloon, etc) and if you want to carry passengers, you need a helicopter license. You can keep it on private property, as long as your city or county does not have a rule against it. I land at my buddy's property quite a bit to say hi. I share a hangar at the airport just for convenience.
These are experimental, meaning that they have to be built by someone, not manufactured. You can buy a used one from a private party that is already flying. Expect to pay between $50-$75k for one in good shape.
Other than fuel, the cost of ownership is very minimal. You have an annual inspection (about $500) and simple maintenance besides that. I've spent less than $200 on maintenance in the last year.
Thanks for watching!
@@NateVolk dang..just when I figured I'd never be able to afford to fly, +TURBINE🤯
Get in tough w/Kenny Keller at Helicopter Online Groundschool.. he does a fantastic TH-cam channel & provides great groundschool packages. Even though your'e doing ultralight, good to be safer.. heli's have interesting dynamics which are very unforgiving if not understood & respected, I'd take all the rotorcraft time I could afford to bring back to that bird!
@@francisconti9085 its actually not an ultralight :) But yes, lots of studying done, and lots of training in robinsons as well. I'm working on my helicopter commercial certificate. Its the cheapest way to get helicopter and turbine time that I have found so far!
@@NateVolk Wow! I gotta start selling those! Haha, sounds like a nice bird, flying speeds/@ altitudes looked good in TH-cam vision, & indicated airspeed.. looked like you had a good head start on process😁👍 I fly RC bush planes, in confined off field locations, etc.. HOGS channel helped with additional safety protocals/awareness/site assessment as it overlapped in safety etc. I have one plane which comes in @ 10 Kts that I can fly safely in & out of a 75' area with max obstacle height of 40' with 10' clearance.. Heli offsite considerations like LOWFEET checklist insights hugely important to success/safety .. my little Eflight Timber is almost like a helicopter kept in ETL, love it so much I have 4! Ski, float, land, performance land😎👍
@@francisconti9085 Nice! RC is awesome!
Hey Nate, This video says it's located at French Valley Airport.
I'm in the Fallbrook area... Is your Overland Adventure Truck being built in the local area? If so, I'd love to checkout your build in person as I'm also planning on building an off-road RV.
Cheers, - John
Yep, responded on the other video :)
Master chef scholl this air port on the concirede scholl fild trip
looks like a little 1:1 lateral vibration Nate, little more tip cap weight on one side or the other...?
Thanks, the mains are .04ips, the vibration gets exacerbated from the 11" camera extension.
Have you still got the helicycle??? been two years since you showed it
I do! Been flying a little but also been busy building my 6x6 offload RV ;)
seems there is a lot of vibration on the supports for the windshield or is that the camera vibrating?
Its the camera mount vibrating. I had it attached to a piece of plastic on a longer arm and the wind was shaking it. Thanks for watching!
So can I legally take off in my back yard and land it in my other yard in a different city? what are my limitations for landing and takeoff, safely of course.
Over the shoulder check ride :-)
I am a SEL airplane pilot. How much of a transition is it to learn this helicopter and where could I get training??
I found a local airport with a helicopter school. It took me about 6 hours of transition training before this flight. I believe that the FFA requires 20 hours (not entirely sure) before you can take the practical test for your helicopter add on. The transition was fairly easy, navigation and radios are the same, and forward flight is pretty close to fixed wing. The hovering and approaches I found to be the most challenging. I wasn't used to slowing below 50 knots on final :)
@@NateVolk Oh yeah, I can relay to not liking low speed approaches. I know how to fly a helicopter, but have no practical experience. I know a man who has a Hiller. He is a helicopter flight instructor. Would that Hiller be good enough to learn in? Does it matter whether the engine is recip or turbine? I might prefer the turbine, but am not sure.
@@randallgarrison8653 the Hiller is a great machine! I wouldn't worry about the eninge for the first dozen or more hours. Recip are cheap to operate and pretty reliable! The turbines burn a ton of fuel and are pretty expensive. Learn however you can!
I just kept watching this relaxing video :) How do you do the maintenance, cost etc. What are risks?
Thanks! As an experimental, I can do the maintenance (pretty detailed in the manual) and I have and A&P that does the annual with me. The most expensive thing is the 13 gal/hr of jet a, but its a lot cheaper than avgas. Risks are about the same as any type of flying. Know your machine is good, maintain it, keep good personal minimums, and always prepare. Those few things help manage the risks inherent in flying.
@@NateVolk safety clothing fireproof a chute flares,phone water fuel..a fire ex.,solo flight mabye in tandem safer,i.e flyer and spotter.
Army colours desert storm vids ♤
The really great thing the FAA did with experimental aviation and aircraft is they granted the builder of said experimental aircraft an A&P and IA rating and signoff privileges......BUT! only for the aircraft he or she built.....AND!.... the signoff privileges DO NOT transfer with the sale of the aircraft! You get to maintain and signoff all work on your aircraft,but if you purchase an experimental aircraft,you will have to pay an A&P and IA for all work on your aircraft.....yipeee!!!!!
So do you need a helicopter license to fly this one? I’m looking to buy one. I was told by by the maker of this aircraft the xel is the only one I can fly without a license. They said I can remove the pontoons after I fill out a form to the ffa. But I want a XE with a turbine engine. What do you suggest? I’m in no where Oklahoma and would just fly rivers and pasture land.
This is a helicycle, not a Mosquito. You do need some sort of license to fly one, a fixed wing or balloon is sufficient. But if you don't have a license, you might get pulled over by the sky police :)
That thing is sweet!
Thanks! It is super fun to fly!
@@NateVolk i bet! You have your helicopter license? You need one for this?
@@johnnyg177 You need a license, but only a helicopter license if you want to carry a passenger. So, a fixed wing license is sufficient for this. Obviously, you need training too ;)
@@NateVolk ok bud got it, thanks! 🤘🏼
That was amazing.
Thanks, she's a blast to fly!
This was not your first time you flown,? Do you have a certain break in, schedule, like alitude, speed, distance. It is probably cheaper being a single seater. I would need lessons in one. Just the start up was alot od swithes to operate!
Hey David! I had taken lessons before with an instructor on board in a different helicopter, plus I’ve been flying airplanes for a while. This was just the first time solo, in any helicopter, and the first time in this one. Getting some lessons so you don’t kill yourself or others is always a good idea!
Seems to have a rotor balance issue. They look like fun though.
More like a camera balance issue. They are a ton of fun!
There is significant vibrations visible in this video. Maybe you may need to fine-tune the balance of the blades?
Thanks, its mostly the camera mount. It was extended about 11" from the rear of the cockpit in the wind, mounted to a plastic piece. It moved a lot :)
Electronic Stabilisation? Looks like a FBL Head.
Just a goPro hero 8 with its own stabilization amazingly enough!
Very cool! Silly question but can you let go of either the cyclic or collective for any amount of time if you need/want to? In the air I mean....😎
Not silly at all! The collective (up and down) has a friction control knob on it, so you can tighten it up and fly without holding it constantly. The cyclic you don't really want to let go of as helicopters are inherently unstable, meaning that they want to do anything but stay straight and level. Thanks for watching!
Why only 2 rotors, wouldn't 4 be better?
Great question! The 2 rotor system is super simple in design and maintenance. The more blades, the more mechanically difficult it is to maintain and the ore complicated the system. For an experimental, the trade off in performance is worth the simplify and low maintenance of a 2 blade system.
Helicycle ? Thanks
Yessir!
This is French Valley, F70 Murrieta, CA. I worked out if this airport for several years. I knew it as soon as you passed the fuel pit 😂.
You are correct!
Very cool, congrats!
Thanks! Its super fun and challenging to learn!
nice little chopper. However the blades seem to be a bit out of balance. This shaking irritates..
Thank you for the compliment. Its actually the camera mount that is shaking. The blades are tracked and balanced well. Sorry about the vibration!
@@NateVolk Always stay safe. Have lots of fun!
@@ghlscitel6714 Thank you! Safety first :) I have zero desire to have too much fun in the air ;)
is that consisted an ultralight, where you don't have to have a pilot's license?
It is actually classified as an experimental, so you have to have some sort of license to fly. If you want to take a passenger in an experimental, you need a license that fits that type. Since I have only one seat, my fixed wing license suffices for me :)
Thanks for watching!
@@NateVolk I have a fixed wing...but I've never tried flying a helicopter.....spend a lot of time riding in military....lol
@@johnnybumpous9108 thanks for your service and sacrifice! Other than the hover, helicopters are pretty easy to fly.
thats cool. I noticed this video was in 2020. Do you still have this helicopter? Sure looks like fun.. Where abouts are you located .?? Cheers My friend.
Thank you! I do and the heli is in Southern California. Thanks for watching!
Nothing beats the sound of a turbine spooling up.
It is pretty incredible!
How long does it take to build something like that, in terms of total manhours and weeks/months?
Hey David! Most people generally plan about 2 years of part time work. You can do it faster the second time around :)
@@NateVolk Thanks for answering my questions about that chopper, it looks like a load of fun.
@@davidburton4582 Anytime, fire away with any questions! Its probably the greatest toy I've ever had :)
What was your helicopter flight experience level at this time?
I had about 5 hours of dual r-22 time.
@@NateVolk Wow, that's impressive!
@@deatz8997 thanks! Had about 200hrs fixed wing so that helps a bunch too.
Super nice instrument panel 👍🏼
Thank you! I wish I had an attitude indicator, but I do love the panel layout.
@@NateVolk What's that to your right @3- o'clock ? my brother Alt ? lol
@@ne14lov22002 Yes, the farthest to the right is the altitude, and above that, the compass.
Buy. Poratsl neclace altimeter hand geld gracing nit oermet instslerd
Nice! I want one!
Do it!
kool,, can you just run diesel in it ?.. why are you taking off on a taxi way?
Thanks! Yes, it will run diesel, kerosene, Jet-a, and a few others. The turbine is from a military application, so they wanted it to run off as much as possible. Jet-A is actually cheaper here than diesel though.
Our local airport wants fixed wing and helicopters to be separated, so helicopters use the taxiway if possible. We can use the runway, but we don't need to, so why be in the way of the fixed wing guys. Plus we can stop mid air :) Our traffic pattern is right turns, while the fixed wing pattern is left turns. Its pretty crazy out there sometimes as we have a long runway that accomodates jets, and no tower to control everyone :)
@@NateVolk haha, we have a remote tower for KART (Watertown Intnl.), Class E airspace covered by local military base, Ft Drum NY.. about 10 miles away!👍
that turbine startup even from a tiny APU sounds so juicy. You still flying this thing?
Yeah it does, and the power is amazing! Currently the heli is waiting on a new bearing for the swashplate, but other than that, she is flying great!
do they offer a three or four bladed system?
No, only the two bladed system
Wow starts right up !!!
The beauty of a turbine! No waiting and fires right up everytime :)
What types of flying do you use it for?
I just fly for fun and to build hours. I've been considering getting my commercial license, and the turbine time is a huge bonus. A friend of mine has a long line mount on his, and he practices that with it!
I'm curious how difficult this is to fly compared to the R22? Would you feel it's easier to fly?
I feel it is easier to fly. It is more precise, has a ton more power, and a higher inertia rotor system. Helicopters are are basically the same as far as difficulty, but this one solves some limitations that you encounter with an R-22.
was curious as to how feasible it would be to convert that to a honda 4 stroke 4cyl or 2 cylinder as they are light weight and more power
I love this ......I wonder how much does insurance cost....? And do you need to mix your fuel....?
Thanks! Fuel is straight Jet-A fuel, but it will also burn diesel or kerosene. Insurance is about $750/year :)
Not too bad
How much the helicopter?
You can generally find a good one for about $60k
Where do you buy these and how much?
You can buy them as a kit from the manufacturer, or a flying one like this for $60k
Where did you buy it from and how much?
I bought it private party. A good example goes for about $60k. Thanks!
on that flight, how much fuel did it take or do use gas
I plan on burning 13 gallons an hour of jet A. That is the one downside of turbine engines, they are thirsty!
Did you construct it or did you buy it from a builder?
I bought it already flying. It was built in 2010. I did spend a few weeks going through everything closely though before I flew it :)
Putting your life into the hands of a stranger takes guts.
@@extremerecluse2095 I guess unless you build your own everything, that is true to a point no matter what you fly or drive ;) I took a lot of time to go through it before I flew it.
Main rotor needs balancing?
Thanks for the comment. The majority of the shake was in the camera mount itself being buffeted by the wind.
How did you get insurance for this?
Just went to a broker and bought a policy.
Nate did you purchase ur helicycle prebuilt?
I did. I also spent months going through every inch of it to make sure it was exactly how I wanted it before I flew it.
And I have a question you need a flight license for this helicopter right, or you can drive this only from 18 years old?
Thank you, for this helicopter, you need some sort of license. Fixed wing, balloon, etc. You only need a helicopter license if you are taking a passenger
Great video.... would've been way better with audio... but congrats!!!!
Thanks, I didn't have a way at that time to capture the audio from the mic. Next time ;)
that was awesome..
How much fuel did you burn flying around like that
I generally burn about 13 gallons an hour, regardless of speed or performance.
I want to see him fly with the windows closed. Is there heat and air conditioner in that helicopter I hope
Nah, only nature's A/C and heat. Flying with the doors off is the best experience!
@@NateVolk okay thanks
Why so stingy with frames of the outside of the bird? There are like 3 frames.
Triangulation and weight. Its all you need. Most larger helicopters also have the same frame designs, just wrapped in aluminum skin.
@@NateVolk I meant video frames. A walk around of the outside either before or after the flight would have been nice. Outside of the thumbnail added later, there are only literally a few frames of footage of the outside of the bird at the very start of the video.
Oh. Lol. Sounds like a video I should make :). Thanks!
Dam that looks like fun
Its way more fun than it looks!
have you ever considered flying a gyrocopter? to see how it compares.
I have not actually.... Maybe I should look into it? I'll ask around and see if anyone nearby has one that I could take a lap in. Thanks!
Esse mosquito é muito bom, parabéns a vocês
Thank you!
I come from a family of aviation. My grandfather's brothers who served in World War 2, piloted the P-51 Mustangs. My uncle's along with some family friends are all licensed fixed wing pilots. Unfortunately im physically disabled born with a disease called arthrygroposis. I apologize for spelling, however it effects the joints.
My love is with rotory fixed aircraft. I am a pretty good helicopter pilot in Battlefield, a PC game as I am told, LOL. I would love to rig an experimental craft to pilot. It's a dream out of my reach. Thanks for sharing you look like a pro!
Hi Jason, thank you for the nice words! There is a lot to love about rotary wing craft! I'm glad you enjoyed the video, I'll be flying more soon and will post some new updates. Have a great day :)
Master chef ware war 2 f14. Tomatoes finanal count down time storm
45:30 Could have sworn you said you've never flown a helicopter before. Must have misspoken there. I rewound that part a few times thinking I hallucinated it due to lack of sleep. 😅
Yeah, I needed to enunciate that better. "I had never flown this helicopter before" was the garbled thing I said. Thanks for watching!
Hello my friend love your Heli. I live in Australia can you buy this machine ready built ex factory? Cant make any sense of the Helicycle website. Can you be of assistance please?
I think they are available as a kit only at this point.