Helio Courier vs Something Else

[Fisherman]

Howdy!

I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country airplane I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs and performance?

Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.

Any ideas?

[Carl Ellis]

Roll your own.

http://www.bearhawkaircraft.com/
http://www.sherpaaircraft.com/intro.html

On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 18:53:22 +0100, Fisherman wrote:

> Howdy!
>
> I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country airplane
> I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems
> to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is
> there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs and
> performance?
>
> Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but
> the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a
> Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.
>
> Any ideas?

[Doug]

The Cessna 180 or 185 would be the closest competition.

[Mike Rapoport]

I bought a Courier last year for that reason... nothing comes close except
perhaps a Porter at 5x the price. Helios are few but they are fairly well
supported by numerous individuals. I think that there are a couple hundred
flying in the US. I doubt that the Courier will ever go back into
production. I would be very expensive to build with slats, fowler flaps,
spoilers ect. It would probably cost more to build than any current
production single. It basically employs all the tricks for slow flight.

One thing that you can't see from the numbers and is probably the most
important attribute of the Courier is controllability. Since the
stabilator is too small to stall the wing and you have positive roll control
with spoilers at any speed, you can fly the Courier right at the limit
without getting bitten. Naturally there are ways to screw things up, but
there are a lot fewer with a Courier than with competing airplanes.

I hope to revcieve my Murphy Moose this week and it will outperform just
about anything except the Courier for backcountry flying.

Keep in mind that there are numerous airplanes that can fly into just about
any strip in the US. The backcountry airstrips here in ID are almost all
suitable for airplanes like the C185, having the Courier just makes it
easier and that much more comfortable. Of course, it is pretty cool to be
able to stop *on* the numbers at paved airports too.

Mike
MU-2
H295 Helio Courier.

"Fisherman" > wrote in message
...
>
> Howdy!
>
> I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country airplane
> I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems
> to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is
> there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs and
> performance?
>
> Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but
> the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a
> Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
> --
> Fisherman

[Fisherman]

I bought a Courier last year for that reason... nothing comes close except perhaps a Porter at 5x the price. Helios are few but they are fairly well supported by numerous individuals. I think that there are a couple hundred flying in the US. I doubt that the Courier will ever go back into
production. I would be very expensive to build with slats, fowler flaps, spoilers ect. It would probably cost more to build than any current production single. It basically employs all the tricks for slow flight.

One thing that you can't see from the numbers and is probably the most
important attribute of the Courier is controllability. Since the
stabilator is too small to stall the wing and you have positive roll control
with spoilers at any speed, you can fly the Courier right at the limit
without getting bitten. Naturally there are ways to screw things up, but
there are a lot fewer with a Courier than with competing airplanes.

I hope to revcieve my Murphy Moose this week and it will outperform just
about anything except the Courier for backcountry flying.

Keep in mind that there are numerous airplanes that can fly into just about
any strip in the US. The backcountry airstrips here in ID are almost all
suitable for airplanes like the C185, having the Courier just makes it
easier and that much more comfortable. Of course, it is pretty cool to be
able to stop *on* the numbers at paved airports too.

Mike
MU-2
H295 Helio Courier.


They say they will produce them again but maybe they won't. It would be too bad if they didn't. It's a great airplane.

I've been looking at the Moose too and I like it but want a certified aircraft and not a homebuilt. Aren't there restrictions on homebuilts in certain airspace?

[[email protected]]

Yep, there are.
The Morane Saulnier Rallye series, now made by PZL in Poland.
check www.flyrallye.com
Altough is think the rallyes are a bit slower. :-(

-Kees
MS880B Rallye

[Marty Shapiro]

wrote in
oups.com:

> Yep, there are.
> The Morane Saulnier Rallye series, now made by PZL in Poland.
> check www.flyrallye.com
> Altough is think the rallyes are a bit slower. :-(
>
> -Kees
> MS880B Rallye
>
>

The heavy airframe Rallye's are a bit faster (Minerva or MS894, with
the Franklin 220 engine and the Rallye 235C (taildragger) or 235E
(tricycle), both with the Lycoming O-540-B4B5). The 235's climb like
homesick angels. And being able to fly with the canopy open is great in
hot weather, although at Furnace Creek last year in July, at 53C (127F),
even that didn't help.

---
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

[[email protected]]

Thanks for rubbing it in ;-)

-Kees

[[email protected]]

Thanks for rubbing it in ;-)

-Kees

[Michelle P]

How about a Maule?
Michelle ( Happy owner)

Fisherman wrote:

>Howdy!
>
>I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country airplane
>I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems
>to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is
>there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs and
>performance?
>
>Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but
>the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a
>Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.
>
>Any ideas?
>
>
>
>

[xyzzy]

Mike Rapoport wrote:
>
> I hope to revcieve my Murphy Moose this week and it will outperform just
> about anything except the Courier for backcountry flying.

Are you going to keep the Courier? IIRC you got it as a stopgap until
the Moose came.

[Mike Rapoport]

The slow flight performance numbers given on this site for the Rallye aren't
even close to a Helio although the demonstrated crosswind capibility is a
lot better.

Mike
MU-2


> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Yep, there are.
> The Morane Saulnier Rallye series, now made by PZL in Poland.
> check www.flyrallye.com
> Altough is think the rallyes are a bit slower. :-(
>
> -Kees
> MS880B Rallye
>

[Mike Rapoport]

"xyzzy" > wrote in message
...
> Mike Rapoport wrote:
>>
>> I hope to revcieve my Murphy Moose this week and it will outperform just
>> about anything except the Courier for backcountry flying.
>
> Are you going to keep the Courier? IIRC you got it as a stopgap until the
> Moose came.
>

No sure yet. It is a long way from recieving the kit to flying the
airplane!

Mike
MU-2

[Fisherman]

A Maule is an excellent airplane and I was looking at them. How do you like yours? Do you have any good tales about short field or bush flying?

How about a Maule?
Michelle ( Happy owner)

Fisherman wrote:

Howdy!

I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country airplane
I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems
to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is
there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs and
performance?

Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but
the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a
Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.

Any ideas?

[[email protected]]

They are still producing these aircraft and they are certified.
check
http://www.eads.net/frame/lang/en/1024/content/OF00000000400004/2/89/517892.html
There is more info on this page for the various models and their
capabilities.

-Kees

[Michelle P]

I do not have any great or exciting stories. I have flown the airplane
all over the US and into Canada.
It is a sturdy well built easy to work on airplane. Not as much room as
the Helio Courier but a little faster.
I do land it in my friend's back yard regularly though. The field is
under 1000 feet long.
Michelle

Fisherman wrote:

>A Maule is an excellent airplane and I was looking at them. How do you
>like yours? Do you have any good tales about short field or bush
>flying?
>
>Michelle P Wrote:
>
>
>>How about a Maule?
>>Michelle ( Happy owner)
>>
>>Fisherman wrote:
>>-
>>Howdy!
>>
>>I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country airplane
>>I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems
>>to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is
>>there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs and
>>performance?
>>
>>Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but
>>the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a
>>Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.
>>
>>Any ideas?
>>
>>
>>
>>-
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

[kmh1]

Hi Fisherman,

Your criteria is not too specific, so here's a suggestion;

The GA-8 Airvan

http://www.gippsaero.com/

Mal


"Fisherman" > wrote in message
...
>
> Howdy!
>
> I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country airplane
> I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems
> to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is
> there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs and
> performance?
>
> Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but
> the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a
> Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
> --
> Fisherman

[Fisherman]

Thanks K but I think I was pretty speeecific. :D LOL "Specs like the Helio Courier" I don't think there is one that can compare. There's one that comes close but I can't remember the name. Helio's are supposed to be very easy to work on too.

Mike, I think I've seen pics of yours. Wasn't it refurbished about a year or two ago and has a blue color scheme? I same pics of Couriers and the couple of Stallions that still exsist. I even made Helio Courier wall paper for my computer. LOL

Hi Fisherman,

Your criteria is not too specific, so here's a suggestion;

The GA-8 Airvan

http://www.gippsaero.com/

Mal


"Fisherman" wrote in message
...

Howdy!

I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country airplane
I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems
to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is
there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs and
performance?

Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but
the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a
Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.

Any ideas?


--
Fisherman

[Mike Rapoport]

There are pictures of mine on Jay Honeck's site:

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/rogue's_gallery_q_-_z.htm

Mike
MU-2


"Fisherman" > wrote in message
...
>
> Thanks K but I think I was pretty speeecific. :D LOL "Specs like the
> Helio Courier" I don't think there is one that can compare. There's one
> that comes close but I can't remember the name. Helio's are supposed to
> be very easy to work on too.
>
> Mike, I think I've seen pics of yours. Wasn't it refurbished about a
> year or two ago and has a blue color scheme? I same pics of Couriers
> and the couple of Stallions that still exsist. I even made Helio
> Courier wall paper for my computer. LOL
>
> kmh1 Wrote:
>> Hi Fisherman,
>>
>> Your criteria is not too specific, so here's a suggestion;
>>
>> The GA-8 Airvan
>>
>> http://www.gippsaero.com/
>>
>> Mal
>>
>>
>> "Fisherman" wrote in message
>> ...-
>>
>> Howdy!
>>
>> I think the Helio Courier is just about the best back country
>> airplane
>> I've ever heard of but there are so few of them and the company seems
>> to be taking it's sweet time getting them back into production. Is
>> there anything out there that even compares to the Courier's specs
>> and
>> performance?
>>
>> Please don't suggest a 206 or a Piper Cub. These are fine planes but
>> the 206 can't even have a dream about going into the places that a
>> Helio can and the Cub can't haul as much.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>>
>> --
>> Fisherman-
>
>
> --
> Fisherman