Scenic helicopter rides have become popular with travelers. Maybe you’ve taken one above the Grand Canyon, or over Maui or Alaska’s glaciers. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to take one above Niagara Falls or LA’s famous Hollywood sign. Or, maybe the thought of a helicopter absolutely terrifies you!
For RVers, a scenic helicopter ride can be the perfect contrast to life on the road. It’s a thrill to soar above it all and see the same landscapes from a completely different perspective. Some RVers plan helicopter tours as a “splurge” experience during their travels—one unforgettable moment to highlight a trip through national parks or coastal regions.
Then again, others may find it nerve-wracking or out of reach. Between cost, fear of heights, or concerns about safety, not everyone’s rushing to the heliport. And let’s face it—if your happy place is your cozy RV parked under a pine tree, the idea of climbing into a small aircraft and hovering hundreds (or thousands) of feet above the ground may not be your idea of a good time.
There’s also the question of whether it lives up to the hype. Some say the ride is smoother and quieter than they expected, and the views are worth every penny. Others might say it was over too quickly or felt too touristy.
Have you ever taken a scenic helicopter ride? If so, have you done it once or repeatedly? If you’ve never taken a ride, would you ever want to do it?
If you’ve ever taken one, please leave a comment and tell us where. Thanks!
MORE “SCENIC” POLLS
- How many countries have you visited outside the North American continent?
- Will you plan a special outing (or drive) this month to view flowers?
- Do you currently have a National Park Service America the Beautiful Pass?
- How often do you stay with your RV in a scenic location?
- What most often determines where you travel in your RV?
RVDT2888
I was on several helicopter rides when I was in the military, because I was a repairman on Chinooks for 1 year. In the mid 70’s, my 1st wife and I went on a ride at an amusement park. Now, my 2nd wife and I went on a ride at Pigeon Forge, Tn. last year. It’s absolutely amazing to see the earth from up above it.
I also worked on helicopters in the RCAF. Twin Hueys and the smaller Jet Ranger. The engines were my specialty. Lots of low flying with the doors off was my favourite. Loved the job and miss it daily even tho I have been retired for over 25 years.
I didn’t intend to but I was taken out of the Grand Canyon after I fell on a rim to rim hike and hurt my knee.
Got to ride in military choppers many times. No way will I step inside a civvy one just to see the sights.
When I was in the army, I often had to ride in helicopters, Hueys or OH58s. I was not flying, but was around in the aftermath of two crashes, one in which everyone on board walked away from the crash due to the pilot’s exceptional skills. The other, everyone on board was killed. After I retired from the military, I started referring to helicopters as “death machines.” Others may have different opinions, but I will never voluntarily fly in one again.
My wife and I took a sightseeing ride in the red rocks of Sedona, it was awesome seeing it from that perspecrive. It is a little choppy when first taking off but smooths out once you are up in the air.
We rode one in the Grand Canyon years ago. It was scary expensive then so I can assume it is much worse now. But if I get the chance I’ll do it again without hesitation.
Never been on a helicopter but when I was 8 years old in 1960 we took a tour of Florida’s west coast by blimp.
Now, that would be fun.
Taken scenic Air plane ride around Denali
Oh I bet that was amazing! Jealous!! We will get to Alaska one of these years I am thinking.
I guess a Huey does not count.
Looking at a “scenic” jungle? Have a great day, Tom. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Never a scenic one but for work as a photographer. No door, hanging out taking photos for an advertisement. Landed and realized my seat belt had come unfastened…
YIKES! Have a great day, Nanci. 😀 –Diane
I used to work on an oil exploration crew. We had 3 helicopters. A Hughes 500, a Llama, and an Alouette. Every ride was a scenic ride!
I have taken several scenic helicopter rides. One in Churchill Manitoba Canada to see the polar bears in the tundra in summer months. The others in Kauai to see the Napali coast/Mt Waialiali And on the big island of Hawaii to see the volcanoes. A great way to see things.
Royal Gorge CO. I puked up a Dairy Queen Blizzard all over the back seat of a Bell Jet Ranger.
Tried to puke out the little window but it all blew back in on me.
It was a spur of the moment thing, didn’t have time for any meds. I thought I could be a big boy…not!
I hunted out of a chopper in S. Africa in 2015. Great fun!
As a pilot and airplane owner, I have logged many hours in fixed wing …. but one time in a law enforcement helicopter (sight seeing for criminals). Loved it, despite it being a bit freaky when landing. Slowing down to 0 in the air, VS landing at 80 mph is a strange feeling.
That’s interesting, being a helo pilot I feel the same way when landing at 80 mph! 🙂
I only took one Helicopter ride in my life when I was transferred from my Destroyer to another Destroyer in our squadron. That was involuntary and I will never get into one again even if they paid me.
Did a helicopter ride at Bryce Canyon. It was GREAT.
Also, when I was still racing, I got a quick ride around the race track I considered “home”. The track was a “Road Course” and not a simple oval.
Got a ride from the ship to shore and then back again a long time ago but nothing since.
Never taken a scenic helicopter ride but have taken rides in a military helicopter and it was fun as the pilots were doing some training maneuvers.
Over Niagara Falls & surrounding area. Plus numerous times during my 40+ yr career with the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force).
Heli-skiing about four decades ago. What a blast!🇨🇦
Flew around the Statue of Liberty years ago. Awesome experience! Wouldn’t do it again – don’t ride motorcycles anymore either.
Any helicopter ride I take will likely be without my spouse due to her fear of heights. The only exception might be a medical evacuation flight where she is unconscious.
I was thoroughly amazed by the helicopter ride above and around Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills in South Dakota. It was fascinating to see the four guys from above and also to admire the skill it took to create them. Plus the landscape around Keystone SD is breathtaking.
Just one ride but less than a month ago at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and I got the co-pilot seat with the plastic bubble for a floor.
My first ride was the scenic tour over Kauai, Hawaii to view waterfalls, breaching whales, and thousands of seals. A few short years later, I enjoyed numerous night flights with my law enforcement helicopter pilot husband. I was allowed to operate its LEER spotlight which was instrumental in locating and tracking nighttime offenders fleeing the scene of accidents. I once located a felon trying to hide underneath a child’s round plastic pool. (PS: My father owned a single-engine J3 Piper Cub and I obtained my pilot’s license when I was just 18 yrs old. I’ve always been a “I can do anything I want if I try hard enough” woman!)
Having a fixed wing commercial pilot certif. with an instrument rating – I have always said – “I’m not riding in anything that has the wings going around in circles!” So far – no chopper rides!
Took two~ both with my sister and her hubby~ lots of pressure to go!
Never again~ first time was over Grand Coulee walls. We tip on the open door side I was on and I looked strait down as we flew over the Coulee cliffs, 1200 feet strait down.
Second time in Hawaii. I had a clicking in my ear protection and could not hear any of the descriptions from the pilot. Also hearing of wrecked touring helicopters, NEVER again!
I’ve taken three helicopter rides (LAX to Disney port, Hawaii and Grand Tetons) and enjoyed them all. Something amusing happened before the one at the Grand Tetons. The male passenger asked me whether I would like to ride in the front seat. As a photography nut, I jumped at the chance. The man’s face told me that I had given him the wrong answer. I suggested that he flip a coin three times and, if I called at least two of them correctly, I would get the front seat. He agreed. As my good luck, and his not so good luck, had it, I guessed all three of them correctly!
As a fixed wing commercial pilot, I’d be too worried about that Jesus nut on top that holds all that monkey motion together…
😎
I’m a Sport Pilot and have done a lot of sight-seeing flights in fixed wing aircraft but never in a helicopter, I did take a short ride in a gyrocopter once and that was a blast!
Not been on a paid scenic ride but flew several times on medical flights in Greenland that were very scenic.
I answered “no”, but have flown many hours in military & civilian helicopters in the Army and for my job, including all over Alaska south of the Brooks Range. Have flown in Hueys, Chinooks, Jet Rangers, and Alouettes. Also in single-engine aircraft for the same purposes. But my wife and I have taken flightseeing tours in single-engine aircraft, including around Denali. But I also prefer fixed-wing to rotary-wing aircraft in emergencies!
I haven’t taken a tourist helo ride but I took many helo rides when performing drug enforcement patrols while in the Coast Guard off south and central America
We fought in the Mekong Delta Jungles of Vietnam in the war. Our missions were by Air Assault Insertions by Huey Choppers. It was beautiful from the air, however when coming down into the Landing Zone, they would pop smoke to let us know the actions; white smoke signified a cool LZ and red smoke would signify being fired on by the enemy. Heck, half of the time we drew fire landing with the white smoke! We averaged 3- 5 air assault insertions each day, then set up combat ambush from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM where we captured any enemy until 10:00 PM and initiated combat on anyone from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. We fought 3 weeks in the field, then 72 hours back to base camp for rest &resupply!
Never taken a scenic tour per se but I was a helicopter pilot for 47 years and have about 10,300 flight hours in one so have seen a lot of scenery.
A helicopter tour over Glacier Park is on our bucket list. We love Glacier, live in Montana so you would think we would see it as often as we want. We went last summer & the traffic was awful. We couldn’t pull over at any of the pullouts as they were jam packed with cars. Never again, it was stressful & really not very enjoyable. A helicopter tour sounds much better & we’ve always wanted to do it.
I flew US Army helicopters for 30 years. I also flew commercial helos. Had my share of scares. Would not ever fly in one again unless I was on the controls.
I had one helicopter ride associated with my work. After we took off the pilot said “you can see more with your eyes open…”