THIS PAGE EXPLORES THE BEST KIT BUILT AND HOME BUILT HELICOPTERS ON THE MARKET
Long before I was transferred to my department's helicopter division I had deep interest in kit built and home built aircraft of all type. Whether fixed wing (I have many fixed wing favorites), or helicopters, the dream of building ones own flying machine was worthy of many hours of study and research. Kit Planes Magazine was a major source of information on the topic at the time. I waited anxiously for each new edition, pouring over it's pages for the latest news and information on anything Kit Built.
A Canadian Home Rotors, Safari Helicopter, photo Safarihelicopter.comFast forward 10 years and the lure of building a helicopter or airplane from a kit is as enticing as ever. One big difference however is that unlike before, I now hold a commercial rotorcraft rating with just over 1500 hours of flight time. That's not a lot by some standards, but it is quite enough to have a much more discerning eye or outlook on the idea of Kit Built or Home Built flying machines. I often find myself asking, "would I ever actually fly a helicopter I built myself?" The answer to which I do not really know at this time.
Without a doubt one of the greatest advantages to building your own helicopter from a kit, is the price. One of the first kit helicopters we will look at is the SAFARI Helicopter from Canadian Home Rotors, formerly known as the Baby Belle. The basic SAFARI 400 Quick Build Kit, which includes a Lycoming 0-360 certified engine and instruments, is currently priced at $149,800. Contrast that with a 2011 Sikorsky S-300CBi Standard Configuration which currently lists for $316,678, or the Sikorsky 300C which Currently Lists at $354,810 (prices from West Florida Helicopters- authorized dealer for Sikorsky Global helicopters.)
So you can see that for someone who has the time, patience, facilities, tools, mechanical skills, a kit built helicopter can be a wise choice from a financial standpoint.
SAFARI KIT BUILT HELICOPTER from Canadian Home Rotors:
Today the Safari Kit Built Helicopter could easily be mistaken for a Bell 47 helicopter for the untrained eye. In fact the Kit uses the same bubble canopy that was used on the Bell 47 giving it a very similar appearance. The Kit Helicopter was named Baby Belle until legal action by Bell helicopters forced a name change.
HISTORY: The original design for the Safari Kit Built Helicopter came from Aerospace Engineer Harold "POP" Emigh and his son back in 1953. It was originally designed as a one seat helicopter using a 150 HP Lycoming engine. This original design, named Helicom, had a much different looking cabin area. The design passed through several companies over the next 20 or so years before ending up in the hands of Murray Sweet, President of Canadian Home Rotors, in 1979. Murray also purchased the rights to market the design in Canada. At this time the design was known as the Commuter IIB. Murray built his first helicopter and began making modifications in an effort to save weight, reduce maintenance and increase both safety and dependability.
Eventually Sweet began manufacturing parts for customers who had bought earlier designs of the helicopter. Sweet's business began to grow bringing in new partners, investors, and employees along the way. Canadian Home Rotors became incorporated in 1986.
Safari Kit Helicopter, photo SafariHelicopter.comSAFARI KIT HELICOPTER: The Safari, as it appears today, made it's debut at the E.A.A. National Convention in Oshkosh Wisconsin in 1992 to the applause of home built helicopter fans everywhere.
If I were ever to build a kit helicopter, the Safari would have to be at the very top of the list of contenders. The Safari has a long list of features comparable to some certified, factory built aircraft. Features such as:
- Certified Factory Lycoming or Superior aircraft engine 160 or 180 horse power.
- Chip detectors in both transmissions.
- Sprag over-running clutch.
- Oil bath geared transmission with shaft driven tail rotor gearbox.
- Titanium spindles and transmission shafts.
- 4130 Chromoloy steel aircraft tubing airframe.
- Stainless steel tail rotor blades, optional Titanium Tail Rotor Blades.
- A cabin featuring 270 degree unobstructed view through a certified Bell 47 Bubble.
- Corrosion protection.
- Dual controls, doors, and cabin heat.
- Electric Cyclic trim.
- Rotor Speed Governor.
- Low hourly operating costs and extended maintenance schedule.
- Solid design proven over many years.
A pair of Safari Home Built Helicopters, photo- SafariHelicopter.comPERFORMANCE & SPECIFICATIONS: The Safari Kit Helicopter is not a speed demon or a high performance aircraft. It's design is more suitable for someone who wants to enjoy the dream of flight, low and slow. It has a maximum speed of 100 MPH (87 knots), a cruise speed of 85 MPH (74 knots), a maximum rate of climb of 1,000 fpm, and a service ceiling of 10,000 feet. The helicopters empty weight is 980-140 lbs (depending on engine), and gross weight is 1,500- 1,550 lbs, fuel capacity is 28 US gallons.
Options for the Safari Kit Built Helicopter include leather interior, Pontoons for water operations, Power Flow Tuned Exhaust, Carry-All racks for carrying cargo on the skids, and Kiwi Pods.
PRICING: We mentioned above that the a basic Safari Kit with the quick build option, could be purchased in it's entirety for $149,800. And that includes a certified engine and necessary instruments. The helicopter kit can also be purchased in three separate stages; The Quick Build Kit (consisting of much of the airframe, bubble flight control systems etc.) can be purchased for $55,100, The Engine Package for either $31,000 or $33,000 depending on whether you choose the 160 HP or the 180 HP, and lastly the Major Components Kit (main transmission, tail rotor, main rotors etc.) for $63,700.
It is possible to finance your purchase by working through Canadian Home Rotors and their finance partners.
BUILD TIME: Canadian Home Rotors estimated the Safari build time for a first time builder, is between 500 and 520 hours.
Check back for additional kit built helicopter reports!