Helihome: The Insane 1970's Flying Camper

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In the late 1970s, the heads at Winnebago teamed up with a small avaition company to create the weirdest and most extravagant recreation vehicle ever: The Helihome. A fully furnished flying home based on the body of a surplus Sikorsky helicopter. Years later, the story of the helihome continues to captivate and I wanted to find the true story behind these bizarre machines.
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00:00 Introduction
02:25 The Winnebago Revolution
03:56 Surplus Sikorsky
05:07 Finding The Real Helihome Inventor
06:04 Why Use a Sikorsky?
06:28 Winnebgao Discovers the Heli-Camper
07:28 The Winnebago HeliHome
09:23 Uncovering Helihome Documents
10:54 What Happened to the Helihome?
11:39 Original heli-Camper Brochure
14:03 Magazine Articles From The Time
14:55 The Legacy of the Helihome

[@CalumRaasay]

Sponsored by the fine folks at Blinkist: Get your free 7 day trial with Blinkist and 25% off of a Premium membership blinkist.com/calum Also check out Part II - the Catalina Landseaire! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4XEc4egfburbKM&ab_channel=Calum

[@olivervision]

Hi, Im calling to purchase motorhome insurance on my new heli-home.. It's a helicopter motorhome.. hello? hello?

[@brianedwards7142]

Concept vehicles never sell a lot but that's not the point is it? I'm getting some 80s horror movie vibes like the vengeful ghost of a pilot who was killed is watching from the cockpit as the nuclear family (a man and a boy and a woman and a girl... convenient) play backgammon...

[@MonkeyJedi99]

You're filming in a hotel? Why not from the luxury of a Heli-Home?

[@olivervision]

Surprisingly, when I got my Heli-Home flyers license the hardest part of the test was still the parallel parking bit.

[@mattmarzula]

Insane? Only if insanity is genius that hasn't been realized.

[@end_ofthe_world2008]

The dude who actually used it for camping has got to be the coolest guy ever. Imagine he invites you camping and you have no idea he's got this.

[@CalumRaasay]

That's the kind of guy you want to be friends with!

[@militantcapitalist4606]

And you are also scared of flying.... 😆

[@espion2KX]

The kind of friend that says bring your passport and he's not joking 😂

[@levilowenherz4584]

I have a feeling that if you have a heli camper you‘re kind of guy who tells everyone you have a heli camper

[@El_Santo_De_Cerote]

Exhaust build up in the cabin, hydraulic leaks, and it’ll be hot as hell in there after you land

[@MustardChannel]

Wow! This is so wonderfully produced and presented!

[@underscore4505]

No way. A compliment from Mustard on presentation and production. Thats wild lmao. Love ur content.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks man, a great compliment from the OG himself!

[@merowark]

Your video really reminds me of the Mustard videos, and that's a compliment! Really good work, keep it up!

[@bobbyo4955]

Looks like he beat you to this one

[@CalumRaasay]

@@bobbyo4955 and the snow cruiser 😉

[@gabriela9044]

I can't help but imagine some distant alternate reality where instead of vanlife being a trend, everyone had a helicopter license and helilife was the trend.

[@donaldhobson8873]

Nope. That's a fairly nearby alternate reality. The distant ones are far weirder.

[@c0mpu73rguy]

@@donaldhobson8873Yeah, like the one where we have hands for feet and feet for hands, that one is weird.

[@Happymali10]

A lot of people are out of their depth with ground transportation, you want to add elevation to the variables?

[@gabriela9044]

@@Happymali10 Just a thought. I don't think it would work in our reality. We would probably be having building strikes every week.

[@Voodoo_Robot]

The future that never was.

[@alanbower1193]

Nicely put together video. I spent 18 months in Vietnam flying as a gunner/crew chief on the S-58/H34 helicopter in Medium Marine Helicopter Squadron 362. All of the time I spent in those things not once did I think it could made into a camper. That's pretty cool. Kudos to you for all the research you put into the video. Thank you.

[@JJtheJetPlane3612]

I appreciate your service sir

[@donalddodson7365]

@alanbower1193 Thank you for serving, Marine. I did 12 months in Vietnam as an Army REMF in II CORPS. [I Ain't Ready to be a Marine Yet 😅]

[@cleekmaker00]

I wear a POW/MIA bracelet with the name of HM3 Peter R. Bossman, who died on 9/25/1966 in Quang Tri Province, SVN. He was a member of HMM-265, MAG-16, 1st MAW, III MAF. He and his Crew died when their S-55 was hit by an outgoing Artillery Round just leaving for a MEDEVAC mission.

[@whitexicanat-large681]

One of my wild dreams is to convert a Chinook CH-47 into a heli-home. I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one to come up with such a crazy idea.

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha same, when I was wee I was obsessed with the idea!

[@F4Wildcat]

That would be quite a good pick for a helihome. You have one long space that can be acced by the sides AND the rear

[@anon_y_mousse]

That's been one of my dreams since I was a child, and that's my favorite helicopter. I would add some floats so it could land on water, have a kayak or some other smallish boat to come ashore with. Would be awesome.

[@richardhobson5995]

van-life in a Wokka!

[@saml7610]

Well man, I hope you can afford around $5,000 per flight hour (maintenance and fuel, more if you have to hire a pilot), as well as a few million to refit and re-certify it. Now, it would be VERY funny if you got a Chinook that isn't flight rated, and converted it into a road going motor home. Seeing a helicopter driving along the interstate would certainly be a sight to behold. This would be a lot cheaper, and unique in every way. Of course, if money is no object for you, then hell yeah, build that flight rated palace of the skies, and fly it everywhere. A billionaire could easily afford such a ridiculous (but awesome) luxury like that, but I think if you have less than a few billion, it wouldn't be feasible.

[@mastuve]

Fun fact, When I was a kid.... Waaaay back in the 80's, a Winnebago dealership near my home had one of these on display. It was 1989ish and my dad was looking into buying a Winne and at 6 or 7 years old they let me play in it to keep me distracted and out of the way.. lol... he ended up buying an old used Fleetwood...lol

[@CalumRaasay]

No way! What a great connection Lo, I’m hoping some people come out the woodwork with some photos they took. We’ll do a minecraft version 😂

[@gino41]

Lol rock on

[@greengoblin876]

Please tell me he called it Mac and used to blast " go your own way ... ( and get out of mine , this Fleetwood has a HEMI ) " I don't know if you're had a hemi but I know some did .

[@julianbrelsford]

@Jip Jackson I'll venture a guess that (like the vast majority of people over all) the vast majority of RV buyers aren't qualified or licensed to operate a helicopter

[@FilosophicalPharmer]

Fun fact - way back in the 90's when i was RV service manager, our best mechanic was a former A&P tech. Build one!

[@1D10CRACY]

I was just talking about the Helihome not that long ago to a friend who owned an RV dealership. Winnebago sent a Helihome to his dealership one weekend as a publicity stunt. They heavily advertised it and actually gave helicopter rides in it. The ride was nothing more than a trip straight up and back down, but they did allow visitors to ride it! Today the liability would be insane! :D

[@CalumRaasay]

Wow, that’s an amazing story. I wonder when that was?

[@toddjones1480]

Liability coverage for commercial passenger helicopters is actually shockingly cheap.

[@Jesus_Christ_is_Lord_]

​@@toddjones1480that doesn't surprise me actually, they only need to cover the amount of a funeral instead of injuries.

[@toddjones1480]

@@Jesus_Christ_is_Lord_ The families will sue. It’s just that millions in coverage is not that expensive.

[@randomstuffwithnofluff7472]

I'm glad to hear Fred, the original maker is alive and sounds well. What a great sport he is to cooperate and send all that information. I'm sure he'll be very happy to watch this. It would've been better if it was face to face interview though.

[@Voltaic_Fire]

I've got to admit, the idea of flying your camper anywhere you want sounds really, really amazing. Throw in some deployable solar panels, a long distance radio, and a water purifier then you'd have an exceedingly comfortable forward operating base for a camper.

[@CalumRaasay]

I know, what a dream! Flying cabin

[@DonOblivious]

It seems like a great idea until you find out that it's over $2,000 an hour to fly an S-58. With planes and helicopters, the cost per hour actually goes up if you use it less because there are fixed costs that you have to pay even if you only fly it a few times per year, like you would with a Helihome. Check out Trent Palmer and Mike Patey. They're youtubers that fly "bush planes" that can land in remote places to go camping or fishing. Mike's got electric dirtbikes he hangs from the wings, and solar panels on top of the wings to power camp.

[@julianbrelsford]

@@DonOblivious 2k an hour is not cheap ... not to me anyway. I could sell the only motorized transport I have & probably have 3 hours of operating costs for that camper

[@marcusborderlands6177]

@@julianbrelsford yeah, that was the point, aircraft are expensive as hell due to tight tolerances and narrow margins of safety requiring extensive upkeep

[@NikkiTheOtter]

@@DonOblivious I didn't know he hung bikes from the wings. How does that work?

[@meaninglesscog]

I used to know the guy that owned N62254 in Texas. That was amazing to see his name just randomly zip by in a video. Thing was based in Wylie for many years, and he would use it as a sky crane mostly lifting AC units onto roofs.

[@CalumRaasay]

Wow, what a cool coincidence! I wonder if he was aware of its heli-home days!

[@That-Mark-Guy]

Did Russ fly for them at that time ?

[@iamarizonaball2642]

I would like one.

[@edl617]

I remember that popular mechanics issue.

[@c827q]

I'm forwarding this to his son tomorrow

[@Damienvizuete]

I was 7 when this issue showed up in our mailbox. I spent hours pouring over the article and photos, dreaming of flying and camping in this magnificent machine. Then that TV show , Rip Tide in ‘84 used a similar ship as one of its co stars, Screaming Mimi. Thank you for this!!

[@jackjones3657]

Fascinating. My father was a Vietnam era UH-1 Huey pilot and said in a pinch they could land in tight spots and, if the trees and foliage were small enough, use the rotors like a saw blade to chop them up and clear some kind of a landing zone.

[@sqengineer]

The helicopter in your video still exists, it was rebuilt and all the camping business removed and turned into a museum helicopter at the aviation museum at Cocoa Beach executive airport. I remember when I looked at it I'm thinking damn this is the flying camper, repurposed as the unflying camper! :-)

[@johnscanlon2598]

That’s a damn shame they didn’t keep the camper configuration

[@auxencefromont1989]

more like flying uncamper no?

[@FiferSkipper]

@@auxencefromont1989 unflying uncamper

[@auxencefromont1989]

@@FiferSkipper this is correct

[@oswurth8774]

Really making some of the best content on KZbin Callum! Please keep going!

[@CalumRaasay]

Appreciate that Noah! Thank you.

[@PhantomLover007]

That is probably the most awesome use of a helicopter I think I’ve ever seen. It would be nice to know what the status is of the only one that was still around.

[@GavinFish]

The Riptide clip in the very beginning was perfect! I always wanted that helicopter. That and a 1950's Corvette.

[@TheFilmFatale]

It’s odd. Your content is not what I would be naturally drawn to but I’ve come to love your channel for communicating the pleasure of discovery in research. I particularly appreciate how you actively seek out and contact first level sources. The “meta” moments in your videos (receiving the package and showing yourself shooting the footage on holiday in Bavaria) drive home that personal touch that bring depth and humor to what could otherwise be a dry subject in less creative hands. Thank you…and hope you have yourself a great vacation!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! I really love comments that like the little inserts and “behind the scenes” elements to my videos because (I hope) it creates a more human element to it all!

[@TheFilmFatale]

@@CalumRaasay It definitely does and in less deft hands can come off as forced, quaint or just distracting but I honestly think your channel's underlying theme is not only these odd (and very fascinating) transport technologies but the joy and pleasure of boots-on-the-ground, hands-on, old-school research...which made all the added diegetic mouse-clicks in the video particularly funny🙃

[@C2K777]

Go back. Watch his entire back catalogue and prepare to have your mind both blown and opened to so many things you'd never even contemplated existed.

[@TheFilmFatale]

@@C2K777 heheh…already done. @Calum is one of my favorite channels🙃

[@ranggasaktibudiputra1547]

This is something that belongs in Discovery Channel and i'm totally loving it

[@saml7610]

This is super cool. I especially love how far out of your way you went to access primary sources, and put a real human touch on it by actually talking to the inventor. He clearly appreciated your interest in it, I hope he got to see the video and know just how many people his legacy has touched. Hell, he did something I think many of us DREAMED of doing as youngsters, and he made it work. That's awfully impressive right there.

[@isaiahc8390]

Pick up your cross and follow Jesus! The world is quickly headed for destruction, and sooner or later you will have to sit at the judgement seat and give an account for your actions. Belief in messiah alone is not enough to grant you salvation - Matthew 7:21-23, John 3:3, John 3:36 (ESV is the best translation for John 3:36). Call on the name of Jesus and pray for Him to intervene in your life! - Revelation 3:20. Contemplate how the Roman Empire fulfilled the role of the beast from the sea in Revelation 13. Revelation 17 confirms that it is in fact Rome. From this we can conclude that A) Jesus is the Son of God and can predict the future or make it happen, B) The world leaders/nations/governments etc have been conspiring together for the last 3000+ years going back to Babylon and before, C) History as we know it is fake. You don't really need to speculate once you start a relationship with God tho. Can't get a response from God? Fasting can help increase your perception and prayer can help initiate events. God will ignore you if your prayer does not align with His purpose (James 4:3) or if you are approaching Him when "unclean" (Isaiah 1:15, Isaiah 59:2, Micah 3:4). Stop eating food sacrificed to idols (McDonald's, Wendy's etc) stop glorifying yourself on social media or making other images of yourself (Second Commandment), stop gossiping about other people, stop watching obscene content etc and you should get a response. Have a blessed day!

[@MrKnutriis]

@@isaiahc8390 Take your delusional superstition elsewhere dude.

[@danandkiko]

I remember fantasizing with my friends in elementary school in the early 80's about building our own mini helicopter and flying it to Hawaii. There was definitely lots of buzz around this idea then.

[@liarspeaksthetruth]

I remember seeing this Helihome on static display (indoors) at an outdoor show in the 70s. It seemed more like a promotional stunt than an actual product, but it was real. As a kid I thought, "Cool, why not?"

[@stellamcwick8455]

:22 , thanks for throwing in the Riptide reference. As a kid I loved that show. Absolutely the first thing that I thought of when you video started.

[@CalumRaasay]

You can thank my brother in law for that, first thing he thought of!

[@prokesuk]

One of my favorite helicopters and I caught the "Riptide" reference. Also, "shut up Linda" made me laugh.

[@grumpycat5991]

Riptide was 80's gold!!!

[@SilentSooYun]

I was looking for someone else who got it :D For as dog-ugly as these old Sikorskis are, they're extremely robust and versatile. You should look up how they could be converted into Mi-24 Hind mock-ups for war games

[@all.day.day-dreamer]

Very well done, presented and narrated. You could even hear the very subtle joy and wonderment in his voice as he shared this very unique story and product. For me, this is one of those rare KZbin gems that represents what the internet has always been about, and that is, new doors and windows into discovery. I really really enjoyed this one. Thank you Calum for your time and efforts in producing this video. And honestly, at this very moment, I find myself bored so much so, I wish I could quickly pack an overnight bag, gather some food from my deep freeze and cabinets and make my way to my heli-pad locking the door behind me. And without much fanfare or thought, I climb in, secure my cargo, climb my way into the cockpit, start the engine and gently lift off into blue sky and white clouds, and fly away to a yet unknown but exciting destination. What a dream!

[@92jurassic]

I was flying S58's two summers ago up in Brewster, Washington. One of the S58's was in the fleet, and it is still flying.

[@user-kn6sz8ji1j]

Calum, first let me say that during the 1970s I was on the crew of an American nuclear submarine that pulled into Scotland for several days. I have great memories from that visit...the excursions to Glasgow and historic Edinburgh, the incredible scenery in Scotland, and the wonderful Scottish people. That being said, I remember reading Popular Mechanics and other like-minded publications during my youth. Even so, I had never seen this issue with the Heli-Camper. Your video was extremely interesting and took me back to a time when everything was possible. It's also great that Fred shared some of his time and information with you in regards to converting a former military helicopter into a camper. With some of those heavy lift helicopters you could probably airlift an actual Winnebago camper to a camping spot. How about this for an idea? A few years ago, I had heard that my submarine had been decommissioned and who knows....the Navy may be ready to make it available for sale to the general public. Get on your transatlantic cell-phone Calum and tell Fred to dust off his #2 Pencil! With Fred's ideas and you in charge of promotions and finalizing a deal with Winnebago...this could be a great sequel...like that Top Gun movie. "Winnebago Nuclear-Powered Submarine Camper"...you and over a hundred of your friends can sale under the seven seas to your favorite Campsite-Port-of-Calls and never run out of gas. Well, it's a thought...I'll leave the details to you and Fred.

[@CalumRaasay]

Oh did you pull into Holy Loch near Glasgow on the Clyde? My gran lives in one of the houses that the US army used to use, I am obsessed with the whole setup there!

[@hufficag]

I want a decommissioned nuclear submarine camper.

[@glenpenrose1834]

M, you are on to it mate! lol. 😎

[@dtran1414]

I’m waiting for an aircraft carrier myself.

[@TractorMan104]

I knew Fred Clark and I worked for his son Brad in the 1990s. His son was converting S55s into Grand Canyon tour helicopters. I had heard about these campers while working there but never saw this much about them. Thank you for making this video.

[@TheKevinhaeb]

I just saw the brochure S58 (N506) last week in person. It’s owned by a cherry drying operator and sitting in a hangar at Anderson Field in Brewster WA. It’s painted red like the photo you show but unfortunately they are no longer flying it. I was told by the manager that when they removed the camper items for cherry drying it started to have too much flex in the structure and was unsafe to fly. They operate 10 other S58 helicopters though. I was fortunate to fly one for a couple hours while working there.

[@nwmacguy]

I like the inclusion of the Riptide intro on the telly. Very clever. That S-58T's paint job captivated me as a kid.

[@GallifreyanGunner]

I had the pleasure to see one of these in the flesh. In the 1970s, my dad owned a camper-trailer sales and rental company. We went to a trade show (possibly the Toronto Sportsmans Show - I was, maybe, 10 at the time). The was a heli-home there on display that you could go in. I have been telling people about this for years and they look at me like I have 3 heads)

[@CalumRaasay]

Bit of a different video! Hope you enjoy - this has been an amazing story to uncover, so glad I managed to track down Fred! I'll post all the scans & documents I found on my patreon: patreon.com/calumraasay Big question is though, would you take the smaller A-55 or the larger A-58 camper? Answers on the back of a postcard. PS. I've a discord! Come join if you want to share ideas/feedback: discord.gg/5bRu7CJG

[@BazilRat]

S58 here, hands down!

[@richkroberts]

Fascinating story Calum. Thank you for uncovering the details and sharing with the rest of us.

[@TheOtherBill]

The 55, the permanent bed makes a big difference in trailers so why not in helicopters.

[@tinglydingle]

Westland Wessex, British licence built S58 with a turboshaft engine rather than piston engine. I want the vastest RV on earth.

[@Mooza1]

The small one, the dunny's in a better spot too

[@greenmt1100]

I’ve never seen your videos before this popped into my recommended but half way through and wow it’s so well produced. I love that the creator of helihome said he enjoyed looking at your other projects and really got a laugh out of the warstock page for the helihome, so creative.

[@danieloxley607]

I really enjoyed watching this. It's presented in such a great way, even going to the extent of tracking down the original builder and having his original voice, it's just brilliant!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Daniel!

[@rob1971]

I always look forward to your videos Calum - each one is a well researched delight - thank you!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks Rob it's comments like these that make it all worth it!

[@andreasheld2362]

As always I'm sitting here, with a smile, slightly shaking my head, thinking how on earth you always manage to dig out (and flesh out amazingly) such wonderful, kinda obscure topics, Calum. I so like your stuff! Entertainment at its best! :-)

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Andreas! What a lovely comment, it's always fun feeling like you're discovering some thing new to share!

[@andrewheld2475]

Just thought I'd say hello. Perhaps we're distantly related??

[@petermorse1331]

What an ....... interesting ..... idea. So many logistical issues to consider. But if you can afford of these, logistics are not a problem! Thanks for this article.

[@thormod1248]

I stumbled across you a couple days ago, and am absolutely in love with the work you do and leads you track down. Great videos and amazingly informative and fun for someone like me, who just loves to learn and know random things.

[@Brandeena233]

This is the kind of obscure, interesting shit I love to see on youtube. Another fantastic video, man. You clearly put a ton of work into your research.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks man! Appreciate it.

[@ericcherry4184]

What fun!! As a kid back in the late 60's and early 70's, I was an avid model builder. I was always wanting to convert seaplanes and helicopters into vacation get away aircraft. I suppose that I was just a few years ahead of my time! Thanks so much for pulling this information together ;)

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha funnily enough I had planned on building a model of this but I ran out of time!

[@1DEADBEEF1]

He just made a video about flying boats as camperd 9 days ago- look it up

[@liquidtopaz6903]

I dreamed of this as a kid which carried on into adulthood. I built a 4wd motor home to travel round for 3 years. Many a time I got strange looks talking about this exact concept...it's great too know I wasn't crazy and others actually made it happen🤘

[@joshbrall8711]

You're videos are so amazing! Editing, commentary, and the vast amount of research you put into them is so awesome!

[@alexduncan9941]

I absolutely LOVED watching this video. All the little audio and visual cues, like the sound of a fridge opening (and the slightly less visible toilet), made it extremely engaging and satisfying to watch.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Alex, I realy appreciate that! Takes ages but I think makes the edit a lot more fun. Spending 2 hours figuring out the bass fishing magazine cover to edit in might have been overkill, mind.

[@kiiiisu]

Calum! u blessed my boring night!

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha I'm glad! Been a long edit but so happy to finally have it done!

[@enscroggs]

My university roommate was the son of one of Sikorsky's test pilots. He was the first helicopter pilot to fly across the Pyrenees, which points to one of the problems of using a helihome to vacation in remote areas like the Canadian Rockies -- altitude. Even in the long Afghan war helicopter operations were sometimes sharply constrained by the Taliban taking refuge in remote valleys surrounded by peaks that were difficult or impossible to fly over by helicopters carrying a useful complement of troops and equipment.

[@Dinsdale2020]

$300,000? Shut up Linda! That’s priceless. 😂 13:10

[@_autoverse]

As ever it’s the quality of the research that makes your vids stand out, the fact that you actually spoke to the chap behind it made this video that bit more interesting.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! So glad I was able to find Fred, made the story really come alive.

[@mikedrop4421]

I was so lucky to have a popular mechanics subscription for most of my childhood. It filled me with knowledge but also wonder and a love for engineering, building and fixing things. Edit: also Spaceballs was my favorite movie from the age of 5 on so I really wanted a flying Winnebago lol

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha I know I can't believe I didn't inlcude a spaceball reference 🤦

[@AustinJFerret]

@@CalumRaasay Wait, so the bit at 3:05 wasn't pointing out that the "Winnebago" from Spaceballs wasn't actually a Winnebago without coming out and saying it?

[@leftoverthoughts2275]

@@AustinJFerret Is it a model they bought from someone else?

[@dawsongurule7754]

Dang, I was just scrolling through KZbin and came across this video. Thought I remembered seeing the heli-camper somewhere. Clicked on the video and realized I have definitely seen it. Fred Clark is my great grandfather and I have all of those brochures and magazines from him as well. Very cool video !

[@jcollif]

So thorough. Nicely done. The connection to Fred was the icing on the cake.

[@CalumRaasay]

Agreed! I'm so glad I was able to talk to him

[@carbon4454]

Honestly this sounds like a crazy but very cool idea, if I had the money (and the pilot's license) I would love to have a something like that

[@paulbriggs3072]

I would find it much more compelling if a boxy 1970's Winnebago complete with tasteless paneling and upholstery had a folding set of rotor blades on top which allowed you to either drive it or fly it to remote areas. Or maybe could become a space-ship. Like on Space Balls. Do that one.

[@CalumRaasay]

I’ll ask Fred for a quote!

[@davidbarnsley8486]

What crazy ideas we had back in the day Fantastic that Fred is still with us and had all that amazing information and let you have it to share Thanks Calum 👍👍

[@Kai_Peters]

Considering how loud helicopters are, i am glad that Sikorsky's vision of hordes of families, flying into the wilderness every weekend, never came to pass Fascinating video!

[@CalumRaasay]

You and me both!

[@willymakeit5172]

I remember that article. As a kid I was always reading Popular Science and Popular Mechanics. I thought he idea was great, and I even think about it to this day. I eventually became a fixed wing pilot though, and some pilots are flying into remote ares and setting up tents. Though I’ve never done it, the idea of flying off somewhere remote and camping has its appeal. Thanks for this video.

[@More_Row]

Thank you Calum. The topics you cover are always so interesting. And align very closely to my interests

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! Much appreciated.

[@Fredfredbug4]

The beauty of imagination and creativity on full display. I hope Sikorsky and Fred’s vision for the helicopter becomes a reality someday.

[@gglen2141]

When I was a kid my Dad bought 30 years worth of Popular Mechanics magazines, in mint condition, at an estate sale. He brought them home and I read each and every one from front to back. LOVED them. I remember this one. It had hydrofoil boats you could buy the plans for and build out of plywood, in the back.

[@chibani-]

Awesome research! The idea of flying homes popped up often, there's was a company refurbishing PBY Catalina seaplanes as yacht/home but I didn't found much about them Will this subject potentially interests you for a video?

[@Airbournjack]

Mmm Glenn Odekirk's company or a different one?

[@CalumRaasay]

Yes! Was going to mention it here but ran out of time.

[@chibani-]

@@Airbournjack yup it's him

[@s.marcus3669]

Someone also converted a Grumman SA-16 Albatross for the same purpose; there is a lot of info on the web about it.

[@elanthys]

The converted Cats were called Landseaire, they had a redesigned nose, redesigned observation blisters and they could carry dinghies under the wings. The company was headed by Glenn Odekirk, who had previously worked under Howard Hughes. There was a famous article about Landseaires in LIFE magazine, from which most of the photos can be found online.

[@chrisjfinlay]

Yet another incredible dive into a weird and wonderful vehicle! Superbly done, even on holiday. Can't believe you got someone on the inside to help you out too. I feel you gotta do what you can to help archive these brochures.

[@HayK47]

Nice Riptide Easter egg on the TV there. The Screaming Mimi is actually still flying.

[@WTDoorley]

Thank you for this interesting and entertaining look at the HeliHome. I saw it in Popular Science magazine when I was twelve or thirteen years old. I'm an aviation nut anyway, and the idea of a giant helicopter that was also a recreation vehicle became imprinted in my memory. I've since learned that the S-55, powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine (also used on the Tri-Motor Ford), created so much noise and vibration that passengers feared their teeth would be rattled out of their mouths. The S-58T in the brochure was converted from a similar, but more powerful, Wright Cyclone engine to a pair of P&W PT-6 turbine engines, which weren't much quieter but ran much more smoothly. "Screaming Mimi," from the "Riptide" TV show was an S-58T. Oh, and somebody has probably pointed this out already, but "N62254" was the FAA registration number, not the Winnebago model number. I checked the FAA Aircraft Registry online, and that number is now assigned to a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron. (Yes, I'm "that guy," I'm afraid.) Thanks again!

[@CamelRage279]

Amazing.. simply amazing that you were able to repeatedly show that image of the family in the helicopter and resist the urge to make even a single Helicopter-Parenting joke!

[@TheUncleRuckus]

This is so cool, I'm definitely making a scale model of this, I just need to find the right scale kit to make it. 👍👍

[@CalumRaasay]

Let me know if you do!

[@harrylloyd6955]

Glad someone did a video on this as my father worked on the R&D for this project with his American counterparts and has a S-67 Blackhawk propeller wrapped up in his garage with Winnebago's signature.

[@bc-guy852]

What a great documentary. Thank you for putting the effort into making this come together. The original pics and phone call with the inventor/creator was magic!

[@allawa]

Brilliant!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you!

[@CullenCraft]

WOWWWWW!!!!! Absolutely amazing machine made for an audience that basically doesn't exist. Love these kinds of machines. Reminds me of the BoaterHome. Maybe fodder for a future video.....

[@PieBoy4242]

Hearing you pronounce "recreational vehicle" just had me thinking back to the movie "Hunt for the Red October" when the first mate says, "I would own a pickup truck, or perhaps a recreational vehicle". That conversation is one of the most memorable in any movie for me

[@ashakydd1]

Let's just acknowledge that the fact that both the safe operation and maintenance of a helicopter is beyond a lot of people. If someone doesn't keep up on the maintenance of a regular motorhome, they just end up broken down at the side of the road. With a flying motorhome, you now have that performing an emergency landing 'somewhere' which could mean it could be crashing into the side of a building or on top of people.

[@MelioraCogito]

15:54 _"Equipped with floats instead of wheels, it can rise from your door and, if necessary, land in swamp or lake, river or savannah. The vast and beautiful Canadian north country with its thousands of gem-like lakes will be visited by helicopter tourists who will look upon breathless scenes never before, perhaps, seen by eye of man."_ In the early '80s while I was at college in Vancouver, my dad worked as a comptroller during the construction of the Key Lake [Uranium] Mine in the boreal forests of north central Saskatchewan (he would be at the mine site for a about three weeks, then out for a week at home in Vancouver). An avid sport fisher, while there, he would routinely visit many of the remote lakes (by bush/float plane) to try his luck fishing. It was not uncommon for him to pull lake trout the size of Pacific Chinook salmon (a metre or more in length and upwards of 40+ kg in weight) out of the pristine lakes - lakes, likely, never before fished by anyone else (including our First Nations). The lakes of the Canadian Shield number in the hundreds of thousands from northern Québec west across the northern parts of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, into the territories (Nunavut/Northwest Territories/Yukon). All of them with fish the size legends are made of.

[@MrBluebeard3]

Exellent film Calum, ( and Fred, of course! ) Never heard of this before, now I want one.Thanks, for the great films.

[@chrisdooley1184]

This was a brilliant film. The editing and production value was some of the best I’ve seen. I’m so glad people were still around to talk to about this fascinating helicopter camper. Certainly a lot of money in the seventies though especially with the oil crisis and those thirsty engines

[@1SqueakyWheel]

Who else noticed the "Riptide" reference early on in the video? (the OP superimposed the first logo shot of the opening credits to the 80's show onto the little tv in the 70's illustration. Obviously a nod to the fact that an S-58 was one of the oft-used vehicles in the show, since Joe Penny's character owned one, but with a big angry face painted into the nose of it. I enjoyed the tv show when I was a kid. Boz, the nerdy electronics wizard of the show, was my favorite character. Oh, and Joe Penny was from my hometown too, part of why my family paid so much attention to the show. I know that's all a tangent from the main topic, but I enjoyed this video quite a bit, even without the Riptide blurb.

[@EVEngineering]

I was at Valiant Air Command, Inc. Warbird Museum in the fall and they have a former S55 helihome on display. It's been repainted to it's former military livery but they had a bunch of the same promotional materials in the helicopter talking about it's former configuration.

[@Naviss]

Such a cool idea!

[@CalumRaasay]

Agreed!

[@mikesmusicden]

Really interesting video; thank you for taking the time to make it - and for interviewing Fred!

[@chickenychickens5154]

I love how this wacky product can make people happy and satisfied.

[@FilipBarbu]

Great video, mate! Thw research work and passion for these unknown projects are on another level. Keep going! 👍

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks Filip I really appreciate that!

[@thelol1759]

What a lucky catch, can’t wait to watch!

[@DevonLadd]

Loved the camera work as you were flipping through documents and old papers. Super well put together documentary on the topic

[@idigbebop]

Great documentary on the Helicamper, Calum. So glad I found this. I worked for Orlando Helicopter Airways in 1985/86. The Clark family were wonderful employers and interesting people to work for. They had a very professional and FAA approved operation. I did structural and interior work with them. When I was there we did one S-55 interior for casual passenger seating and two S-58 for a Caribbean gov in gray military drab. There were other projects and rework on spares and avionics etc. The surplus airframes were disassembled and cleaned, inspected then refurbished to pristine condition. They had a beautiful engine and transmission shop for powertrain overhaul. The P&W 1350 Wasp piston engine the S-55 used was a beast. Most of the technicians were ex-military. Good bunch of guys. Just a comment, the Sikorsky airframes were made out of magnesium skins which have a different handling process than aluminum skins. I remember going up on a few test flights over the local central Florida swamp areas. That was very fun. If you ever visit The Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum outside DC, you will see a beautiful reconditioned vintage S-55 on the floor with a placard that reads: "Donated by the Clark family, Orlando Helicopter Airways". Hello, Brad and Fred if you see this. It was a privilege to work there.

[@200degrees]

I can't watch the whole thing yet since I'm on lunch and don't have enough time aha But I am very excited to see it through since I've always wanted to know more about these flying homes!

[@CalumRaasay]

Enjoy your lunch!

[@200degrees]

@@CalumRaasay Just watched it through! Awesome video! I’ve read a couple articles on these before but like you said none had the detail of this! Great job!

[@petergibbs]

Brilliant, I had seen a copy of the magazine cover years ago and always thought it was someone's flight of fantasy never thinking they had really been made. Thanks Calum for making a great video that showed it really happened.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Peter! Heard from lots of people who saw it on the original magazine, so cool

[@mileshigh1321]

The detail of information and photos and research as well as finding Fred and getting the story directly from him, made my decision to subscribe easy Calum!

[@87MookTV]

I love this, it's so whimsical and full of charm. This is something I could even see in Johnny Quest.

[@stevenhoman2253]

Conceptually a very interesting idea, with one considerable downside. That is of course, the fact that one or more family members would need to gain a Helicopter license and keep current on their medical checks and flight hours. The expenses thus incurred would present as a considerable challenge to the entire project. Practically anything is within reach given enough money.

[@isaiahc8390]

Pick up your cross and follow Jesus! The world is quickly headed for destruction, and sooner or later you will have to sit at the judgement seat and give an account for your actions. Belief in messiah alone is not enough to grant you salvation - Matthew 7:21-23, John 3:3, John 3:36 (ESV is the best translation for John 3:36). Call on the name of Jesus and pray for Him to intervene in your life! - Revelation 3:20. Contemplate how the Roman Empire fulfilled the role of the beast from the sea in Revelation 13. Revelation 17 confirms that it is in fact Rome. From this we can conclude that A) Jesus is the Son of God and can predict the future or make it happen, B) The world leaders/nations/governments etc have been conspiring together for the last 3000+ years going back to Babylon and before, C) History as we know it is fake. You don't really need to speculate once you start a relationship with God tho. Can't get a response from God? Fasting can help increase your perception and prayer can help initiate events. God will ignore you if your prayer does not align with His purpose (James 4:3) or if you are approaching Him when "unclean" (Isaiah 1:15, Isaiah 59:2, Micah 3:4). Stop eating food sacrificed to idols (McDonald's, Wendy's etc) stop glorifying yourself on social media or making other images of yourself (Second Commandment), stop gossiping about other people, stop watching obscene content etc and you should get a response. Have a blessed day!

[@stevenhoman2253]

@@isaiahc8390 Hello, has there been some mistake? you do not appear to be responding to any comment which i may have written. Your showing up as a response to a comment of mine is bizzare in the extreme, and equally troubling. Please do not contact me again.

[@tCCZebra70]

So awesome! That airframe appears to still be flying under N506 as shown in the re-painted photograph. Running the N-number with the FAA shows it to be currently valid registration on a Sikorsky S-58H with expiration /30/2024! Owner is VI 1 LLC out of Brewster, WA. I'd love to see an update if you happen to fly to the USA and visit the actual helicopter.

[@JungleJayAdventures]

Haha! Love the Riptide reference! Screaming Meemie ftw!

[@torigriggs1694]

I’ve never subbed to a new to me account so quickly 😅 the quality is so quality! And Fred was such a gem, hope he knows how much his work is still appreciated

[@Airbournjack]

Once again Calum a lovely piece on a incredibly cool incredibly obscure bit of engineering. That is definitely the most outrageous version of my retirement dream of owning a home that is mobile, and potentially also my source of income. (My plan is a large schooner sail the Caribbean and charter her out when I want some extra money coming in)

[@CalumRaasay]

Oh I like your retirement ideas! Been traveling europe this last month and I think I'd go for a small cabin in the Austrian alps haha, tbh Helicopter might be the eaiest way to each some of those (or Suzuki Jimny)

[@Airbournjack]

@@CalumRaasay convient but the av gas cost has gotta be murder specially now

[@CalumRaasay]

Funnily enugh, one of the things I saw in the Brochure is that the S-55 was the only helicopter of it's kind available on sale that was approved to run on regular automotive fuel!

[@Airbournjack]

@@CalumRaasay really? was not aware the S-55 could do that, rather impressive from a radial engine of that size. Definitely makes those a far more valuable craft for operating in regions with low logistical supply for aviation. Very neat and always enjoy speaking with you my man. Have yourself a good one

[@cliftonmassey3143]

There's a good chance you could find the current owner and location of that helicopter if you research the Identification number on the side of it.

[@tonyfletcher2541]

Great presentation. I had that issue of PM back in the day. Always wondered if they had sold very many. Thanks for the run down memory lane.

[@johnwhitley2898]

Wow! It's funny as we had subscriptions to both "Popular's", and Mechanix Illustrated magazines and I remember that cover! My parents were checking out "RV" and I tossed the mag to Dad ( pilot courtesy of WWII, and other things..) Laughing he said "This is a great thing, but though I can afford it, I don't want that helicopter maintenance bill!!". Got to have really DEEP pockets for any aircraft maintenance, let alone a helicopter!!! The Old Man really liked it, but... One of his Post War military jobs was cost effective sustainability management. I understand it They, my parents, believe it or not, actually bought a Winnebago Brave. We all loved it!

[@bjw4859]

What an amazing video, the idea of a flying camper is definitely up there on my top10 wish list, & the fact some were actually made is even more impressive. Although, if we are doing a fantasy wish list, I would have gone for a CH-47 Chinook, when size is important & you could bring transport with you as well.

[@rockchan1063]

imagine having like 6 dudes just sleeping above your house

[@jl6569]

What great content! This channel is gonna blow up. Just wait…

[@Lego6980]

Great vlog. Thanks. Well done for getting Fred on board too, which was the icing on the cake

[@chrisboyington3176]

Bonus points for the Riptide Easter egg. I loved that show as a kid. Even had a toy screaming Mimi

[@alanaldpal950]

Well you did such a good job with this video, I would love to see you do a video on the Grumman Albatross (seaplane) that was converted to an RV interior and flown around the world. Or the one or more Catalina PBY float planes that have been made into camper/planes. I believe the small 4 place “sea bee” plane has been used as a micro camper too?

[@CalumRaasay]

Great suggestion! I was actually going to mention the Catalina planes in this but decided to cut it for time. Facinating story.

[@portnuefflyer]

It makes perfect sense to me. I got a flight in Dean Wilson's Explorer years ago, it was like a Sprinter van camper inside, and I also modded my RANS S-7 kitplane so I had 6' of flat level sleeping area, and spent many nights in it.

[@DIEGhostfish]

Oh my god, upgrading to designer interviews.