Helijet
Heliman
Location: B.C. Canada
| I read your post and initially thought it was a bit of a joke but after re reading it a couple of times you are right....purchasing a turbine heli for $6000 plus should NOT be taken lightly. Here are some points to ponder:
1) Do the research, spend some time and money traveling to events
and really looking into the technology.
2) Run the idea past the spouse and seriously consider whether you
can afford or justify such a large purchase.
3)Ask yourself why you are buying it. Is it to impress the local flying
buddys because if it is then at the end of the day you are still the
only one left with the bills and that excuse wears out pretty quick.
4)Is this truly just a hobby or are you making R/C helicopter flying a
major part of your life.
Unless you have an incredible amount of disposable income ( even then ...) you are going to have some post purchase remorse, guilt, second thoughts - whatever you want to call it. That is normal with any large purchase ( ie cars, electronics, boats etc....ever do the research thing before hand then do it again to afterwards just to be sure you " got the best deal " )
In my case - this is a dream that started in 1976 with my first Helibaby K&B .40 powered Kraft 4 channel controlled heli. I always dream't of the day that I could OWN and FLY my very own turbine powered Bell 206. I never did get my full size heli license and never did get a chance to own my own full size heli. BUT over the years I have had the good fortune of owning and flying my own Cobra, Bell 222, Bell 47, Lama, Vertol albeit in model form! Now 27 years later I am one step closer to realizing that dream....the mechanics, powerplant and electronics have evolved - now all thats left is the fuselage construction.
For me the reasons of owning a turbine heli are not because - it impresses the guys, makes me special, the only one on the block, its cool. No...its much more than that and I would have found a way to pay for it but on my terms...it still must be fun ( not stressful flying ), must be affordable ( can I pay the bills, feed the kids ), practical ( does it work as advertised - sound engineering etc ) and above all it must be something that I WILL ENJOY LONGTERM.
Yes...I could have bought a motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, membership at an exclusive golf club, big screen plasma TV or Rolex watch BUT for the same money I invested in something I have been passionate about for many, many years and will for ... many to come!
Dean Wichmann
( turbine heli operator )
and proud of it! |
I mean I'm almost depressed and as weird as it sounds, the only thing keeping me afloat is the very thought of it arriving here soon. Don't get me wrong I still want the turbine, I just feel guilty about it as though I'm taking food from my childrens mouth although I'm not. I hate to be bringing this up and I hope the person I'm about to talk about doesn't get mad however, I'll say it anyway. I know this guy who was head-over-hills about buying a turbine and even went to the extent of selling all of his high-end helicopters to fund the project, but now it seems that although he accomplished his mission in selling all his heli equipment and has finally got the $5000.00 that he now can't bring his self to grips to even write out the check (we'll call that pre Turbine Anonymous). I think for a normal person you would have to literally not think about what your are doing in order to buy this kind of machine, because if you get to thinking you'll find every which reason of why you need that money for something else including maybe buying 3 nice high-end helicopters instead or 2 nice scale helicopters and still having a few dollars to treat yourself to Red Lobster afterwards. Anyway give me your thoughts. Maybe starting it up and smelling that jet fuel will bring things into perspective. By the way if your planing on getting a turbine I suggest you do it now as the price is about to go back up via March 30 12:00 midnight after that you'll really be depressed 
