Knowing which helicopter to buy
Are you really getting ready to buy a helicopter for the first time? Wow, that is a huge step and there are a lot of things to think about before your purchase. One thing you should think about is where you would keep your new chopper. Hangar fees can be expensive and if you are not going to be getting that much air time, it might not be worth it. Insurance is another factor. Licensing is yet another. Will you pilot it yourself, or Is this a corporate venture where a pilot will be hired? Yes, those are things to think about but they are not the only things involved.
Once you get those worked out you still need to contemplate the type of helicopter you want. There are quite a few options out there. They range from lightweight piston engine models that only have a 2-3 person capacity to the heavier but still light turbine helicopters which are sportier but have a seating capacity of up to 5. Then there are the twin engine helicopters. These are the largest and most expensive, but can carry up to 9 passengers depending on the model you choose.
Now the light piston engine helicopters run on a more expensive fuel. The offset to this is that they get better mileage than the kerosene powered heavier models.
Another thing about both the light piston engines and the light turbine helicopters is that they are both too light to be airborne during inclement weather whereas the twin engine helicopters are more versatile in that area.
Whatever kind of helicopter you are looking for, just be sure that you thoroughly so your research so that you get exactly the kind of helicopter you are looking for and it does more than just sit in a hangar.
