Subscribe for more amazing videos! ► shorturl.at/uDLSW ◄

As a helicopter engineer. here's my one piece of crucial advice. if you're buying one. You must have it surveyed by a licensed engineer on your payroll. He works for your interests. It takes 3 days to go through everything. From paperwork to make sure all the mandatory inspections have been done and you're not due anything from an expensive gearbox overhaul, to a burnt compressor turbine. As its been over temped. This also applies if you buy a new one, as the factory will just want it out the door. The paint jobs are sometimes shocking and they bounce through the air like a jackhammer. Send an experienced pilot to fly it and check everything works in the air. I have just been working on a twin engine that was bought by a customer. Paid £800K for a turd and has since spent the same making it safe to fly. Its still a turd though. I would have only charged him a days rate, as I would have have spent 10 minutes on it before telling him to walk away. That's before we would have found the Main gearbox due its major overhaul and an engine with virtually zero hours left. You wouldn't buy a house without a survey and you would get your prospective Porsche plugged into the main dealer network, right?? Been warned.

People usually buy a helicopter with 2-3 other pilots to share the cost. It makes a huge difference. We have a turbine helicopter for 3 families (we're all pilots, so we fly it ourselves). It burns about 30 gallons of jet fuel per hour, so it's about $150-180/hr in fuel, plus we pay $400/hr + $2000/month to cover annual inspections and unexpected issues. Insurance is about $30k-$55k a year (it gets lower as you build hours). Hangars are another $600-$2500/month. We also have a smaller piston helicopter that's about 5x cheaper to operate overall (fuel cost is about 1/2).

I commuted to work daily on a helicopter. Take my word for it, buying a helicopter is the cheap part - owning one is the expensive part. Maintenance and parts on a helicopter are enormously expensive. Assume 3+ hours of maintenance for every flight hour. Insurance costs are also astronomical. Recurrent training and subscriptions are also very expensive. Helicopters also require extensive support equipment and a hangar facility large enough to house everything.

You missed 1 massive expense. Maintenance. That is one of the biggest costs of owning a whirly bird. They need constant maintenance before and after every flight. All work must be carried out at an approved maintenance organisation, by licensed engineers and mechanics.

The hourly flight cost also needs to factor in the cost of annual inspections, and the replacement/overhaul of engines and other parts at specified intervals.

In a nutshell, helicopters cost more than mass produced cars, but they can be cheaper than gold plated super yachts.

Experimental is the way to go. Bought my turbine helicopter for around $30k, built it myself, and now fly it for a something like $150/hr. The options shown in this video are what it costs if you're a rich person looking to just pay your way through all the hurdles. If you put the time and effort in, learn how it works, learn to fly it and maintain it yourself, and don't plan to fly to executive landing pads, you'll find it's nowhere near as expensive as you'd think.

My boss flew Hillers in the Korean War. He bought one and repaired it. He had his A/P license. He often flew it to work. He had a landing pad constructed out of steel.

MD 600N or a Bell 407 (same Rolls Royce C47M) 808shp 6-7 passenger is burning $300 per hour in fuel, maintenance and reserves $300-400 per hour, insurance $300 per hour, plus hangar and property tax, YUP property tax. Maintenance is simple as a pilot, do a quick pre-flight and probably add some oil. Benefits include landing in private back yards, mountains, private events, restaurants, ect.

"If you have to ask, you can't afford it"

A $5million helicopter will cost you $1,800 per hour if used 700 hrs. per yr. The price drops to $1,200 per hour at 1,200 hrs. per year. Yes there are many moving parts in a helicopter, but the swash plate, which cause the rotor blades to dip in the direction of flight are the main culprit. This results in the helicopter basically trying to rip itself apart, and without proper maintenance it will. Some of the new slow rotor EVTOL aircraft expect operating costs to be 40% lower, when compared to helicopters.

If I was using one to fly myself around while putting it to work occasionally, I’d definitely get a MD500E.

Seriously, I'm having trouble with these bogus numbers. My company owned a helicopter for 4 years about 10 years ago. The only numbers that have changed since then are consumable costs (e.g. fuel). I'm a commercial helicopter pilot but even so. 1. The cost of hiring a pilot is not $9,300/mo. That's absurd. The cost is per hour or per day depending on the use and schedule. Nobody pays $113K/yr to not fly, nor do they pay that much to fly daily. Pilots either are on salary (and $90K/yr is the rate to start) or hourly and that depends on advanced notice, distance, length of time away from home base, etc. 2. Helicopters don't cost any of the numbers you mention unless you're buying brand-new and paying MSP. We had our Robinson R44 for $260K and there are many Bell JetRangers (B06) models available in the $300-$450K range. Sure, they may need some work, but that won't carry up to be $3-$4M. 3. Insurance, hangaring, scheduling, depreciation, pilot, maintenace, and overhaul, and the occasional regulatory addons (e.g ADS-B) add on to this, but they are either time based of hour based. 4. Your overall cost is the cost of the aircraft (possibly amortized if you have a loan) and the hangar fees and insurance. These occur every month whether you fly or not. Then there are the hourly costs: pilot, fuel, oil, filters, amortized maintenance per hour, amortized overhaul per hour, etc. Finally one-time costs for things like landing fees at expensive airports (think Las Vegas or Teterboro), border crossing fees, paying security at sketchy fields (think Mexico) to guard your baby from wandering visitors, etc. Having done it for four years but ten years ago and adjusted for today's consumables' cost (fuel, oil, filters, mechanic time) and higher insurance rates, you can run a Robinson R44 for around $400/hr. You can run a Bell 206 (JetRanger) for around $1,200/hr. If you don't own them, add 20% because the owner isn't doing you a favor for free. Can you make it cheaper? Sure. But... the bulk of the cost is stuff you don't control. Insurance, fuel, and pilot will eat you alive. I'll fly you for free for a month in a helicopter of your choice, provided I deem it airworthy and the FAA agrees. Learn your lessons / master the numbers in real time. Fuel is a killer. E Tucson, Arizona, US Yes, Mexico is a destination No, I don't take this topic lightly. Been there, done that. Will do it again... when the numbers make sense.

Your fuel consumption per hour is a bit off. A ( 6 seat + pilot) AS350 B2 will drink 50 gallons A Robinson R44 will consume 15 gallons.

If Hill Helicopters really comes through, their HC50/HX50 will look better than the Bell 407 and will be King in class for VIP (at least I think so).

And there's also the fact that helicopters and many aircraft in general aviation are still nearly hand made. Some guy with a rivet gun not a robot has to drill, place rivets then secure them. There are plenty of machined parts in heli's but even the composite framed ones are laid up by hand. Sounds counterintuitive but there is a serious lack of automation in heli and GA production. It's very understandable given the low production numbers but it's still a massive factor in initial purchase cost. Massive high volume sales machines like the 777 or Dreamliner will have large amounts of tedious prep and initial drilling/riveting done by large specialized robots...robots that can check and verify their own work.

Well done. A video that's not drenched in background music 👍

Astar 32 gph B206 25 gph B 407 45 gph H 145 80 gph and that is just the one's I have been around for a long time. And just because they are new don't mean the won't break or have problems ! Cheaper to rent or lease.

I think Harrison Ford has a 407. I ve worked on helicopters for 20 years and even if i had 500 million dollars id just rent them as needed. If I had a love of flying and really wanted my own to be the owner. The H130 B4 Is the coolest/safest helicopter that id want. I met some rich private guys at a fly in fishing camp and a 206L, AS350 b2 , a blacked out B4 and a bell 429 showed up at once as a group. They were just out for a flight and stayed one night . It was a lot of money , buddy tipped me $100 for helping him fuel.

Would have been good if you totted up annual running costs for a private HC for average flight time for different size helicopters

Depending on the need renting one for occasions might be the way to go. Personally rather burn money in a yacht then a helicopter but the speed and efficiency is great plus.

I flew UH-1Hs and UH-60s in the Army. The operating costs were stupid-expensive.

You didn't mention maintenance can easily be 100K a year and more for a 12 year overhaul and an engine hot section can be 250K +

It’s depends on how much u use it. The more you save the less you pay. That’s all. 250-1000 Per hr

You missed maintenance costs. Also, the JR burns 25 gph, the L 30 gph, the EC130B4 48 gph...that's just for the singles. The info in the video was VERY misleading,

Unless it is cheap, it is pretty much believable.

Good video thank you

Helipad? Insurance? Maintenance? Phhh

This info is basically just rattling off things you can think of from memory.

You haven’t touched on maintenance or what happens if an AD comes out. Those can cost 10’s of thousands or you do t fly. Times components that have to be replaced when they are out of time and that can be hours or years.

neighbor said they cant sit idle, they have to be started every couple weeks to keep them legal.

How can I say lots of words in a video without actually saying anything.

My budget for helicopters that I do my job in is $25,000 per year.

16 gallons an hour isn't bad. Try a GIV SP that burns 500 gallons per hour....

Beautiful)

If you don't have a 7 figure income, then you better have a GOV contract or be very good at long lining and a power company contact.

And some still say, money is not everything 😂

That $30M helicopter must be one hell of a copter!

I read a quote that said 'Helicopters torture metal!' 😬

Minimum in an R44 you're paying 350 dollars an hour, and considering that an H125 or any helicopter for that matter will also need a LOT of maintainance you will be going at around 700 to 4000 dollars per hour, depends on which one tho

Wow, you take such a long time to get to the point. I was able to make it through by selecting 2x normal speed. I guess you get paid more for longer videos?

I think the reason they are expensive is so that common ppl won’t acquire them and fill the sky with the traffic

i know the video is about maintenance but why didn't you mention the hill helicopters....they making some really beautiful luxury Choppers for relatively a bargain

Honestly, I'm shocked that owning a helicopter would be expensive. Shocked.

I really appreciate Sokarsky- S92 it very comfortable helicopter

Have you made a vid on owning a private jet?

Never liked the look of any of the Robinson helicopter models. You build and design a lower cost helicopter while still making it look really good. Not saying the Robinson helicopters are bad just not my style.

Would be free if it were electric. Technology is there, they're just not on top of things.

thank you for the video

Yea i think i'll stick to Groupon helicopters tours instead 🤧🤧🤧

First question, do you actually OWN a one? (rhetorical question)

Save money and buy a Gyrocopter, more frugal on juice etc, and cheaper to buy,only way cheaper than that is a paraglider. Unless you’re amazingly rich and more money than sense, just hire one instead for your that rich ou can afford an accountant to work out how you can claim and write off the flight as a tax deductible. Rich get richer, while everyone else gets poorer.

Ah, the life of the one percenters!

If you're in the market for a helicopter, you shouldn't really be concerned with all these petty costs...

The initial cost of a helicopter is cheap compared to the maintenance.

It has manny parts fastened to gether, and when running, it trying to fling them selves apart

This video doesn’t give very good info on operating costs. The information is very vague.

I'm buying one

clicked curious about maintenance. oh well.

Okay, I've changed my mind 🙄🤣

Do a video on electric helicopters.

Why no mention of Hughes ?

If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

$800 an hour for a decent B206.

if you are actually buying a helicopter. Don't watch this video.

Well for now I just need a plastic helicopter 🚁 😅

Landing fees are stupid

my budget is $500, which helicopter?

Having done a LOT of flying in helicopters.... there are a lot of things you missed. Also, some of your facts are incorrect. It seems like you just did some google searches and then made a video. I'd encourage you to go do a demo flight with a flight school.

I thought I would buy a helicopter but now after watching this video I am giving up this idea...so much expensive !!!

So what is the cost??...

How much are the slightly wrecked ones that still fly?😂😂😂😂 I've been looking for a helicopter for a minute now.😂😂😂😂

This sounds like written by AI.

what if its an expeiramental helicopter,do u still need a license to fly it

I just lazy to fly mine, any volunteer?😂 bought in from a home made Nigerian

Too bad you didn't actually tell us the cost of it but you sort of did but you still didn't. But you didn't tell the price of the cheapest brand new helicopters that are made which are two seaters and usually sell an awful lot of those and if you start and if you let go of the stick the helicopter will stop in midair and stay right there that's one helicopter you forgot to talk about or even really show but you sort of did but you didn't either.

useful part of video starts at 1.44

My suski sx4 turbo 4 cylinder mods to the t...😮os faster then most helicopters 167 mph scary

the information is rather vague and wildly skewed.

And that's why i don't buy helicopter.too many moving parts and too low income in my account.

What a waste of time .1/4 of the way in and the only thing we learn helicopters can be very expensive.

I have an old model helicopter 💎💎☹️💎💎

Waaaayyy too much filler in this video. It makes it difficult to stay engaged

Can you please do the bell 525🙏

Their expensvice ..... Very expensive

using ai to read the txt ?

Also, just remember it will tryn kill you ev'ry time you get in it and YEET you to Nonyiah just for 💩💩💩 and Giggles...😊😊

Save your time, this video is useless. He talks about what hes going to talk about for 3/4 of the video and then misses all kinds of components of variable and fixed costs

Still does not get the woman who falls in love with you, you need to tweek your behaviour for that.

Never post anything ever again if you can't even get to the point.

Make it free…not getting in it.

@0:11 I have many hours in that bird

dangerous

Blah blah blah. A lot of words but nothing said. And oh the new Hill HX50 will be selling for approximately $648,000.

most inaccurate helicopter video I've ever seen in my life

It's all about $$$GREED, $$$GREED, $$$ GREED, $$$GREED, $$$GREED, & ONLY for the filthy, stinking, greedy, rich

Does this dude EVER get to the point?

A waste of time. More talking about what you need more than the Indepth cost of owning. Not to mention the types.

gave up 3 mins in. couldn't listen to you say the same thing over and over trying to pad it out.