scorpion611

My dad used to fly for the Army in a OH 58D helicopter until 96 and has since retired. I often hear him mentioning that he misses flying. His birthday is coming up in august and I was thinking that would be a great gift for him to be able to fly again.
He is currently on medication that would prevent him form flying alone so I think the only way to make this possible is for him to fly with an instructor. I have been looking into some helicopter flight schools and they all use Robinson type helicopters. But I think he would enjoy it even more if he could fly an OH 58D or the civilian version of it (206A JetRanger).
Any suggestions on where I might be able to find a flight school with this type of helicopter in the Los Angeles area?

Slice

Hope you have deep pockets! The quotes are for a Co in Aspen so LA may be cheaper but still not cheap I'm sure.

Helicopter Charter Prices

mswmsw

You might want to check out the following helicopter websites:

Verticalreference Home
HOME

They both have Forums and you might get more info from a helicopter specific Forum.

scorpion611

Thank you. I'll go check it out.

scorpion611

Wow I didn't expect such a big price difference between Robinson and Bell helicopters. I thought it might be 1 or 2 hundred max price difference.

Slice

Your next question is to find out your Dad's opinion on recip helos. I know a few guys who won't get in anything not turbine when in comes to flying in them. I hope it works out for you though. It's a cool gift idea.

Scout

Check with the sheriff departments and local law enforcement flight departments. Lots of former Army Aviators are flying for law enforcement and there are hundreds of OH-58's (A and C models) were sold to law enforcement in the last 10 years. I flew OH-58's also and I have tracked down a few that I flew in the 101st back in the 80's that are in central Florida now. I bet if you get with the right folks they would be willing to take you dad for a flight since he is retired Army. Best of luck!

__________________
In the land of the blind.....the one-eyed man is king.

mswmsw

I suppose that there is a small chance that you might find a local LE outfit who would take him for a ride, but it'd be in the back seat...... very unlikely he could be up front, and would certainly not get his hands on the controls. OTOH, if you got him a flight (or "lesson") with a CFI in an R-22, R-44, or 300 (typical civ training helos and all recips), he would probably get a lot of "stick time" in, and he'd have a blast. Be a LOT cheaper than renting a turbine helo too.

scorpion611

He would definitely prefer a turbine helo. And would love it even more if it were an OH58D or civilian equivalent. But he wouldn't complain if we couldn't find/afford one either.
I don't want to start asking him questions about it though because he would figure it out what we (my 3 sisters, mom and me) were up to.