2009 Pikes Peak International Hill climb - chopper?

I'll be heading out to Pikes peak this year to shoot photo and video of our sponsored race car and I'd like to rent a chopper to shot from.

Can anyone recommend a good place to use? I am also open to possibly splitting the cost with a few other folks who might be interested....

Any info would be greatly appreciated, I can be reached by Rich @ amsperformance.com

Thank you

Sincerely

Rich

Do your homework. Beware if someone promises you everything you ask for.
Pikes is +13,000' - out of range for all but a very lightly loaded turbine-powered helicopter and WELL out of range for hover. Sharing costs with another person is going to be doubtful unless you keep it at low altitudes.

Charter time on a JetRanger (206) is going to be in the $1000-$2000 per hour, depending on model.

A google of "helicopter charter colorado" will get you several hits, but plan on being disapointed if you're looking for aerial shots of your car crossing the finish line at the top.

edit - I just did a little digging and Pikes is over 14,000'. Service ceiling of the biggest, meanest JetRanger is 13,500'.

Tin Kicker wrote in post #8166974
Do your homework. Beware if someone promises you everything you ask for.
Pikes is +13,000' - out of range for all but a very lightly loaded turbine-powered helicopter and WELL out of range for hover. Sharing costs with another person is going to be doubtful unless you keep it at low altitudes.

Charter time on a JetRanger (206) is going to be in the $1000-$2000 per hour, depending on model.

A google of "helicopter charter colorado" will get you several hits, but plan on being disapointed if you're looking for aerial shots of your car crossing the finish line at the top.

edit - I just did a little digging and Pikes is over 14,000'. Service ceiling of the biggest, meanest JetRanger is 13,500'.

Thank you for your e-mail and the info, I really appreciate it. Looks like the chopper might be scrapped.

Rich

At first I thought you meant a motorcycle AKA "chopper". What was I thinking?

Don't just give up - how about other alternatives.

For example, microlights can fly over Everest so they can have the ceiling necessary - how about looking for local clubs / flying associations in the local area and seeing if you can interest anyone in giving you a lift?

May even get interest from a fixed wing flyer. Doesn't have to be a professional hire does it - would be fun for the pilot as well.

If you are paying, it does have to be a professional and their plane has to be certified for it.

You could get someone to volunteer to do it but you couldn't pay them nor could you even go as far as paying all the costs for them.

That said, you might be able to find someone willing. People have been known to go out flying with less of an excuse. If I had the cash, I'd be in the air at the smallest excuse.

Actually its quite possible to do, takes the right equipment which may not be available at that location...

TO ME..... A Jet Ranger B or BIII isn't good for going too high. I used to have an AS350D which is the low powered one and we've flown it at 13,000' on cross country flights to catch some real tailwinds. But manouvering near the ground and chasing a car up Pike Peak would be a bit of a challenge. Been to PP and it must be a thrill to race since there aren't guard rails and to come to think about it no trees to catch you if you go off the edge.

Eurocopter AS350B3 would do it fine, one landed on the top of Mt. Everest a few years back (look at YouTube) at 29,035', They are around and should be at least one in Colorado.

Also a Eurcopter Lama, (another "high and hot") performer, is another utility chopper that can handle 14,000' without breathing hard. The H&H version of the MD500 is the F model and it should be able to do it too.

Also look for a Bell 47G3 (B1 or B2) model, if you can find one that still has the turbocharger on it (which they should leave on in CO), 14,000' no problem. It can hover out of ground effect at 20,000'. (I know I have one, had it to 12,000' (I didn't see a point in going higher)).

Small problem is oxygen, you need to be wearing it, and it will get in your way to a certain extent.

Mark H