Ultralight Helicopters

Some ultralight helicopters come fully assembled, most are available in kit form, and must be pieced together before taking it to the air. Many can fly at speeds up to 90 miles per hour and reach altitudes of 10,000 feet and more. With numbers like that, ultralight helicopters are sure to become a highly sought after aircraft for those longing for the experience and the excitement of flight.

No two models are the same. Typical models bear names such as The Kestrel and The Mosquito. These efficient flyers are roughly 12 feet in length, 5 1/2 feet in width, and have a height of 5 1/2 feet. In addition to the kit form, many of the ultralight helicopters are classified as "experimental" and are build from "scratch". Many enthusiasts just purchase ultralight helicopter plans and build their experimental helicopters without using a kit.

As the use of helicopters in commercial operations police, air ambulance, crop spraying, unmanned aerial vehicles, cattle mustering and game counting increases without necessarily an increased budget, companies are looking for ways of getting the same service for less money, hence the growing interest in using small, economic ultralight helicopters where possible.

The reasons for this are not only economic, they are also logistical; small helicopters tend to be nippier in their actions, turn more quickly and safely, are able to land in smaller areas, easily transportable by trailer if necessary as well as using up less hangar or parking space. The majority of ultralight companies whether producing kits or complete helicopters are interested in the commercial market and most ultralight helicopters have some characteristics that make them particularly attractive to potential buyers.

In various vacation destinations throughout the United States, standard plane and helicopter rides are available to vacationers. For those who find they enjoy this hands-on feel of flying, an ultralight helicopter may provide just the thrill you need to keep that love of flying going.

Most ultralights carry gas tanks of five to ten gallons and burn fuel at a rate of four gallons per hour. Although you will not be able to take lengthy ventures in this tiny helicopter, less you stop repeatedly to fill the gas tank, you will have plenty of time to see many fantastic views.

There are, however, disadvantages in using smaller, lighter helicopters. One is the reduced amount of weight it is possible to carry; therefore less spraying material for crop dusters, or fewer medicines and no patients in the case of Air Ambulance Helicopters.

Another is a possible safety angle. Since ultralight helicopters have hardly been tested in commercial use there is very little knowledge of their limits. What those are may still be shown in the years to come. This leads to a third problem; that of certification. In many countries it is only possible to get certification for private use of ultralight helicopters and while this may be sufficient for example, for cattle herding on private properties in Australia, it is severely restricting for the police or air ambulance associations.

However, there are places where all these disadvantages have been overcome and the ultralight helicopter is already working in a commercial manner.

And then there's the future... a year doesn't go by that someone comes up with a better way to fly about in the air. The latest innovation of ultralight helicopter is the AirScooter. Because it uses counter-rotating blades, it doesn't require a tail boom and rotor, which enormously simplifies what the pilot had to learn in order to fly it. It's a pretty cool idea.

These ultralight helicopters aren't cheap, either. Most kits start around $20,000 and go up from there, whereas you can buy a very capable and already built ultralight aircraft for around $7,000.