"Montblack" wrote in message
...
("Mike Rapoport" wrote)
snip
The Helio is like an onion in that there are layers of performance which
make it rewarding to fly. Each time you master one layer, you find
another. It is easy to get better performance than is even possible with
other planes like C182 or C185 but that is very different than being able
to use all the capability that is built into the airplane.


If you'd like to talk some more about your plane... :-)

What missions are you looking forward to with your Helio Courier? Missions
that might be out of reach for a C182 or C185?

I am going to be flying into more of the backcountry strips here in ID. I
went to a few of the easier ones last fall to go fishing but the practical
season ended just as I was getting competent.. I would also like to go to
Alaska on an extended trip.

The advantages that I think the Helio has over the competition are that it
will fly much slower while retaining very positive control (it has spoilers
in addition to ailerons) and it doesn't stall so you can fly closer to the
limits. At the other end of the spectum, it will cruise about 140kts which
is a reasonable speed for getting places.

Are most of the Helio's advantages over the 182/185 STOL, or is there
more?

What's your breakdown of the plane's attributes? Thanks.


Everything on a Helio is designed for STOL. Low wing loading, fowler
flaps, slats, spoilers, very forward gear location, reasonably powerful ect.
All of this complexity was probably very expensive to build and that
probably led to the company's demise but it makes for a great special
purpose machine. The only negative is that it bounces around a lot in even
minor turbulence because of the low wing loading. The ultimate STOL machine
(excluding harriers and gyroplanes) is a Helio with an Allison turbine. I
met a guy that just bought back the only one in existance (he also did the
conversion) and he claims that it will get airborn in 80' and climb over
3000fpm.

Mike
Helio Courier H295