HELICOPTER MODELS - From Kits and Die-cast to Classic Toppings and Factory Model 'Copters!

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[@eduardof.8117]

Beautiful video! Congratulations!!!

[@naoakiooishi6823]

Bell 47s, what an upright sitting position in the cockpit as compared to that of the modern gliders

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Excellent point!

[@papadopp3870]

The G certainly could be a bit miserable for tall, slouching flyers. My first flight was at 10 in a 47G in the morning at an air show. We sadly waved goodbye. Then, a half-hour later a “new” Bell 47J, with it’s covered frame and more creature comforts appeared overhead and landed in the powdered lime circle in the grass by the taxiway-formerly occupied by the G. Even more thrilling was seeing the actual “Whirlybirds” logo on the forward bubble. It HAD to be the “new” chopper used in the show (photos and N-numbers later proved otherwise)! It was piloted by a stocky crew-cut guy in a baby-blue “Chuck and PT” jacket and cap with obligatory logos. Another $2 each of our lawn mowing money and I and two chopper-crazed buddies clambered in and buckled up in the rear seats. I remember every move that substitute Whirlybird made on the collective, cyclic and left rudder (I could only see one foot from my left-rear vantage). It was a highlight of my youth and I decide then and there-as If I hadn’t long before-I was going to fly rotary in the military. That, of course, is a complete other story!

[@JMChladek]

To me, one of the pioneers of helicopter operations in Bell 47s was Roland Barton, who helped to form Los Angeles County FDs air operations with a Bell 47 in the 50s. He pioneered the use of a water tank system to drop on wild fires and apparently had a hand in acquiring the first civilian Bell 204 Huey to use as both a water bomber and an air ambulance. This took quite a bit of work as at the time practically all Hueys leaving the assembly line were heading to Vietnam. He can be seen in a couple episodes of the 1970s TV show Emergency as a pilot on that particular 204, aka Copter 10. Unfortunately he died of a heart attack in 1975 I believe. But one of LACo FDs heliports is named after him.

[@johnaitken7430]

My retirement project wasn’t golf ..no. I qualified as hell pilot. Love them.

[@papadopp3870]

That is fantastic, and really something to be proud of and deserving of huge applause!! One CFI told me that older guys come in two categories: either they take to the skills with alacrity or they are like balancing hippos standing on beach balls, a drink in both hands. I pointed out to the instructor that those conditions prevailed amongst 20 year old students as well. Well done, keep it up!

[@garfieldsmith332]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you for anther walk down memory lane. I remember Whirlybirds and like most kids of the era wanted to fly a helicopter. At least your first helicopter had a "rotary thingy" on it. Mine resembled a large cardboard box. When I see the box art of picture of that big Sikorsky I keep thinking of a movie I enjoyed in the 1950s. It was called Battle Taxi and involved rescue operations with those really huge helicopters. They were big, fat, and looked awesome on the screen. Remarkable seeing that helicopters back then looked like a set of metal tubes held together by bailey wire. and today they are streamlined machines. Once again thanks for posting this.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks, and yes, I remember the movie "Battle Taxi!" First time I stood next to a Sikorsky S-55 was like standing next to a small building. That 'copter was huge!

[@maxsmodels]

My first helo ride was a Hughes 500 at the 1977 Lakeland Fly-in. 2 years later I was riding in UH-1Hs almost every other day in the 101st. ABN.

[@richardwillett]

Mr. Goofery is buried in Leesburg, Va. near by me! Eddie Rickenbacker GAVE him an Eastern Airlines DC-3 and he would fly it in and out of small field he called "The Leesburg International Cow Pasture!" And the name of the airport there now I think is Goofery Field!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for this information Richard, and I've visited that airport in Leesburg!

[@kennethkwilinski4899]

Your right about the helicopter landing on a roof in your video. But Amelia Earhart landed a autogiro Pitcairn PCA-2 on a rooftop in 1931. There is newsreel footage of when this happened. The footage was used in old movies of the time. You can see it in Sky Raiders (1941) serial. Whirlybirds is one of my favorite television shows. Thats Kenneth Tobey holding the copter model in the photo. Would you know what was the color of the Whirlybird copter. I plan on building a model based on the show and am not sure of the color of it. Bob Gilbreth was the actual pilot of the helicopter for the Whirlybirds show. Desilu Studios produced the show. Love this video.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for the comment Kenneth, and good point about Amelia's PCA-2. Whirlybirds was my favorite show back then, and although everything was in black-and-white, color photos of Bell 47G-2s of that era showed a white cabin, skids, ventral fin, and tail rotor guard, with red tailboom structure. Seats were black vinyl. 'Hope that helps and good luck with your model!

[@petebiddle7900]

I love your series. As a former part 135 driver and model builder it brings back memories. My 1st kit was in 1954 anagram speedy built kit. Am still building.

[@pierolovatto6044]

Excellent Mr. Machat!, your videos take me back in time, they are real time traveling experiences to my first love stories with aviation as a kid. Now at 61, your well documented presentations take me back in a very vividly manner to those wonder years!. Keep up the good work. All the best Mike. Capt.Lovatto.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thank you Piero - appreciate your great comment. I think aviation was very different for kids like us - so many exciting new airplanes flying each year (26 new types in 1956 alone!), plus all the wonderful models, movies, and magazines. I grew-up on Long Island, 20-minutes east of what is now JFK, and watched Connies, DC-7s, Stratocruisers, and all the early jets flying over our backyard departing for Europe. Best to you in 2021!

[@davidgreen5099]

I loved "Whirlybird" when i was young. also loved "Ripcord". thanks.

[@hertzair1186]

Most of the episodes you can see on KZbin

[@davidgreen5099]

@@hertzair1186 thanks!

[@Corsario-ud1du]

Interesting video about model choppers. Thanks for sharing.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@maxsmodels]

I have a re-pop of the S-55/H-19 in the stash.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Revell did so many versions of that kit - Olive Drab USAF, silver rescue version on floats, orange "Operation Deep Freeze", dark blue US Marine Corps, and even a SABENA passenger version from Revell of Germany. Which kit do you have?

[@maxsmodels]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Still one of my favorite helos. Kermit Weeks got a couple not too long ago. Old tour helos.

[@davidgreen5099]

i have one with the floats.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@maxsmodels 'Saw one of them at his Museum in Florida (on a tour there with Kodera), and it was ex-New York Airways. Engine doors were open just like the boxtop!

[@maxsmodels]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 except they can close without removing the engine 😜

[@jimbower9268]

Thanks for a great trip down memory lane. I watched Whirlybirds as a kid and even had a couple of their Bell 47 models. I built a couple of those S-55s, and never noticed the backwards rotor blade. Sadly, I’ve never been in a helicopter, but I do have a Private SEL license.

[@danielcarlson800]

GREAT video, Mike. If we were to EVER meet up, my throat will be dryer than a desert road from my gift of gab. BEAUTIFUL models!!!! I LOVE that 1/24th Hughes 300, as WELL as that 1/20 Bell 47G-2 from G-Mark you built!!!!!!!!

[@mh53j]

Liked your comment about not being able to get the doors closed on Revell's S-55 model. My grandfather got me the orange Navy "Operation Deep Freeze" kit in 1969 (I was 9, already having 3 years building 'experience' under my belt!) and was totally frustrated with that! Liked that it had pilot figures in 'action' poses rather than identical, stiff, mangled ape- looking creatures. Have always wanted to do another one to ' show' Grandpa how much my skills have progressed in 50 years. He was always getting me kits my parents (or I) couldn't afford.

[@57boomer44]

The shadow in the Douglass photo was awesome! Really entertaining channel.

[@jimmbbo]

Another great video, Mike... I went to work at NASA-Ames as a student intern in the 40x80 ft wind tunnel after the #3 Cheyenne had crashed due to a "half P hop" rotor instability. Lockheed applied a fix and took it into the wind tunnel to confirm the results... Unfortunately, the solid connection between the aircraft and the wind tunnel's balance frame resulted in different rotor dynamics from in flight and the half p hop instability returned during a high speed run. The rotor struck the tail boom, destroying the helicopter and dropping it like a crushed bug downstream at the turning vanes while throwing shrapnel through the wind tunnel walls. Armor plating was being installed just as I was beginning my internship...

[@jackstem475]

Loved this show! It started my lifelong obsession with helicopters and aviation. Thanks for jarring these memories!

[@jetsons101]

Mike, It looks like your first helicopter was from the same manufacture as mine was. I think the name, if I remember right, was "Backyard Bombers Inc."

[@terrymichitsch6069]

VERY nice documentary. Have built copter models for years. What I saw here brings back many happy memories. My favorites are the Bell 47G-2 Trooper and the Bell 47J Ranger. I hope to see more videos from you.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@jameswsomers]

I got a Bell 47 model through a promo for Whirlybirds by Laura Scutters potato chips in Fresno,Ca, sponsors for the show.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

That's got to be a pretty rare model today!

[@danf321]

Arthur Godfrey is host of a fantastic video on KZbin about flying the Connie.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

I vividly remember watching that episode on Godfrey's morning show as a kid in the early 1950s! It was an Eastern flight between Miami and New York, and he showed how the Constellation could fly with some of its engines shut down. Fabulous!

[@martinpennock9430]

Wonderful video Mike thanks once again. The only helicopter model I ever built I think was the Sikorsky ho4s. It was really neat I believe it was a coast guard model but I can't be sure it was so long ago. Thanks again for all the videos God bless and take care.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thank you Martin, and if that Sikorsky helicopter was orange, that would have been the Revell Antarctic series - very cool model!

[@martinpennock9430]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Yes! It was orange. Thanks for jogging my memory.

[@fucqtheworld]

Nicely done, Mike! I like your connection between real aircraft and the models of them.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Richard, and 'glad you liked it. So much wonderful history to share about these rotary-wing machaines!