Jump to content

Helicopter hire...


Ynot

Recommended Posts

Not quite the most bizarre requests I've had late at night but up there with the best :)

Been asked about hiring a prop helicopter for a Miss Saigon themed carnival float next month. I've never seen anywhere doing such, but the hive mind might have some ideas.

It's a Warwickshire carnival, so something in Scotland or south Cornwall probably isn't going to be practical, but the husband of the enquirer is a trucker so transport MIGHT be feasible within reason.

 

So - thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Might sound daft, but would a real one work? Have a word with Helijet Aviation in Leeds (just next to the airport). They certainly used to have the fuselage of a Huey in their front yard. Don't think it had an engine, or much else for that matter, so it might not be that much heavier than a prop one. If it was insured and collected and returned, they may be up for renting you a real one! No rotor blades but I suspect they'd get in the way of the procession anyway! Guess it all depends if your friendly trucker has a big hiab! Edited by cedd
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've just been out to our fire training ground to check up on the state of one of our training aids. We had the fuselage of a Robinson 44 helicopter that our firefighters would occasionally practice with. It would appear that since the last time I saw it they've been practising "cutting helicopters open" - there's not much left!

 

Try some of the companies that provide replica aircraft to the film industry. They have fibreglass shells of lots of aircraft types.

 

Alternatively, see if you can persuade the RAF to lend you their recruitment caravan for the day; https://www.neatvehicles.com/our-products/raf-chinook-replica-aircraft-recruitment-trailer/

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Artem.com may have or be aware of something.

 

Try colleges that do aeronautical engineering courses. I know I have seen a helicopter being used for demonstrating training aprentices at some shows. It arrived on a trailer, and was presumably a decomissioned airframe that they are used to loading up and delivering to site. A Gazelle I think from memory. Can't recall which college/ organisation I'm afraid.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We convinced a wedding party that the bride and groom had arrived by helicopter.

 

Sequence of bright lights outside a marquee moving across the space, accompanied by a panning sound effect file and some large fans to make the marquee linings shake a little. Thirty seconds after the engines “wound down” they appeared through a door in the marquee.

 

Some people got the trick, some people were annoyed that they weren’t allowed outside to see them land!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We convinced a wedding party that the bride and groom had arrived by helicopter.

Sequence of bright lights outside a marquee moving across the space, accompanied by a panning sound effect file and some large fans to make the marquee linings shake a little.  Thirty seconds after the engines "wound down" they appeared through a door in the marquee.

Some people got the trick, some people were annoyed that they weren't allowed outside to see them land!

 

Nice

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thinking more laterally, think about magic/illusion suppliers; they'll have gutted helicopters, I'd have thought.

 

You might find that The Twins will hire you their helicopter (even if you don't want the flying/illusion side of things). They might have another helicopter shell knocking around for helicopter appearance/disappearance illusions, too:

 

Flying helicopter

 

There are other magic/illusion warehouses around the country, and I suspect a bit of a chat with one of them them might help you source one that's designed for moving around easily in a theatrical context (rather than being a 'real' one, as it were).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was going to suggest The Twins, but I wasn’t sure an R22 screamed Miss Saigon. Are you bothered about it looking like a ‘naam helicopter Tony? Or is it just the novelty of having a helicopter on the float?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You might have some luck with RAF Cosford - about an hour away and I'm sure they've got a spare fuselage you could hire for a small donation (I know Station Commanders are allowed to use the camps resources to make money - usually buildings and grounds for filming locations - but this is a bit more bizarre that they might actually say yes!).

 

EDIT - or there's the Museum at Cosford - could also be worth a try!

Edited by ninjadingle
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.