Fisherman wrote:Here's a Yahoo Helio forum. Not too active though. Maybe you could stir 'em up!

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/heliocourier/info

Fixed your link You forgot to include the "https://"...

CapnMike wrote:

Fisherman wrote:Here's a Yahoo Helio forum. Not too active though. Maybe you could stir 'em up!

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/heliocourier/info

Fixed your link You forgot to include the "https://"...

Thanks Mike.

Thank you everyone for the places to look. I'll go spend some time looking around!

I posted on the Flyhelio forum and had several informed and helpful responses. The founder, Gordon Cragg, was extra helpful and has spent about 45 minutes on the phone with me chatting.

You have to love the kindness of strangers on the internet sometimes.

To summarize the post and conversation, not an airplane for a new pilot even though they are a very safe construction. Unless you are learning to fly on floats, but that is a separate thread...

Our Helios that shared a hangar. The coin flip was a win either way.




Edited with help for posting pics--thanks!

fartsinpublic wrote:Test post to see if I can share a pic.

Unfortunately you can't cross post from another forum like that - it's password locked on the old forum and won't link here.

Are Helio's generally considered tame or difficult taildraggers? They seem to have the mains pretty far forward, which seems like it would give the tailwheel good authority, but it also means the CG is that much farther behind the mains. Probably more dependent on rudder authority than anything, I guess....

I don't think any one has ever call them tame. I won't be the first. There is a lot of weight on the tail and there isn't a lot of rudder authority at lower speeds. Rudder authority alone will not keep it straight on the ground at landing speeds.

Brakes are a mandatory flight control when landing and are used constantly. I don't think a Helio exists that hasn't been ground looped. Once the tail starts moving sideways it takes an act of Congress to stop it. Lots of weight at a long moment arm. Because of that though, a nose over from over braking pretty much can't happen. A plus for every minus.

They have a very low crosswind component listed in the book and there is a good reason they came with Goodyear catering crosswind gear.

That said, good training, fast feet, and judicious use of the interceptors on the wings makes the airplane manageable and capable of handling crosswinds in excess of the books paltry 10mph component.

They aren't difficult to fly, just different. Ground handling is certainly the area that could use the most improvement. Depending on loads there is between 400-800+ lbs on the tail wheel. It handles accordingly.

My buddy has a 391b, I'm not an experienced tailwheel pilot, so keep that in mind, in my opinion his plane is hard to land when it's windy. It's a handful. Visibility is poor! With the gear so far forward it doesn't take much to start it coming around. The main gear really soaks up sinking it in quickly.. very nice absorption. Not real impressed with it's STOL performance (we are at 6600ft). Does have a nice envelope speed wise though which is nice. Amazing machine for it's time, and probably the coolest plane I've ever gotten to fly! But don't kid yourself it will keep you working! ...my $.02, again coming from a guy who owns something that is very easy to fly and I'm spoiled!

Excellent summation of Helio characteristics. You get used the visibility in time, but it stays a handful.

At 6600 DA performance will suffer more than a light weight plane at the same DA. Extrapolating from my H295 performamce charts, for a 391b I would guess 750ft of ground run for takeoff and 350ft of ground run for landing at full gross. This assumes a pilot very competent and proficient in the plane. Add 10% to those numbers if you fly like me. Subtract 10% if you are one of the Helio wizards out there.

There is a turbo option. My late friend Lowell Thomas Jr has the record here on Denali for 13 landings and takeoffs at 14,200' in his turboed H-295 Helio Courier. He told me the turbo installation leaked a fair bit of oil, which is why he took it off when he didn't need it.
He also fell firmly in that 10% range that qualify as "Helio Wizards".
-DP

Lowell Thomas Jr was a true master with the Helio. His abilities with the plane leave me in near constant awe.

I have heard similar stories regarding the turbo set up. Can't speak to it myself as I have zero experience with them.

It is a long term goal of mine to work with the Aviation Heritage Museum in Anchorage to get his plane back in the air and doing fly-bys at events.

Helio295 wrote:Lowell Thomas Jr was a true master with the Helio. His abilities with the plane leave me in near constant awe.

I have heard similar stories regarding the turbo set up. Can't speak to it myself as I have zero experience with them.

It is a long term goal of mine to work with the Aviation Heritage Museum in Anchorage to get his plane back in the air and doing fly-bys at events.

PM sent

-DP