Helicopter Flight schools in L.A.
 

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?

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.

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You might want to check out the following helicopter websites:

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

Thank you. I'll go check it out.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.