Helicopters, Choppers, Machines, Birds...

However you call them, no matter how good the powder, the weather or the scenery, most heli skiers will agree one of the biggest thrills of heli skiing is the chance to spend lots of time flying around in these amazing machines.

Where do we start?

The flying environment is one of the contributing reasons that Total Heliski specialise in small group heli skiing, because smaller helicopters can be more agile, fly faster and further and land in more interesting spots.  They create an amazingly exhilarating ride that is totally unsurpassed by any other mode of flying (except maybe a fighter jet).

So here are some of the machines that are most popularly flown by our operators:

Eurocopter AS350:

Eurocopter AS350 B2

• Capacity: 1 pilot + 5 passengers
• Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1D1
• Top Speed: 287km/h
• Cruise Speed: 226km/h
• Range: 666 km
• Endurance (at constant 100km/h):4.5 hours
• Maximum Altitude: 6,100m (20,000ft)
• Minimum Temperature: -40°C/-40°F
• Multipurpose, single engine upgrade of the AS350. A superb utility helicopter equipped for quick ascents.

Eurocopter AS350 B3 ‘Squirrel’

• Capacity: 1 pilot + 5/6 passengers
• Engine: Turboméca
• Arriel 2B or Arriel 2B1
• Top Speed: 290km/h
• Cruise Speed: 254km/h
• Range: 693km
• Endurance: 4.6 hours
• High performance helicopter of this range. This model of helicopter has been flown to the summit of Mount Everest at 8,500m, and has carried out alpine rescue operations in the Annapurna range at 7,100m.

Bell 407

• Capacity: 1 pilot + 6 passengers
• Top Speed: 285km/h
• Cruise Speed: 246km/h
• Range: 598 km
• Endurance: 612km
• A single engine helicopter, its multi-purpose design explains why it is used for several missions, ranging from civilian and leisure purposes, to law enforcement and military purposes.

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