When time is of the essence you need to fly over the disaster. This is the way to do it.
The ultra-wealthy keep a private helicopter gassed up, stocked, and ready to go at all times. Any escape plan made by wealthy politicians involves helicopter transport at some point. Why? Because they know their lives literally depend on it. If you’re a person of means who is concerned about nuclear attacks, natural disasters, and social unrest, it’s time for you to consider investing in a private helicopter.
What You Need to Know Before You Buy
First things first: let’s talk cost. You can find a range of single-engine turbine helicopters in the $3M to $4M range. Twin-engine models are available in the $5M to $10M range. Some of the most expensive helicopter models can go well up into the millions. One thing to keep in mind is the more you spend, the more people you can take with you, the father you can go, and the faster you can do it. More expensive models hold more fuel, and some will be able to take you as many as 350 miles before you have to stop to refuel.
The Airbus H155 will run you a cool $10M. For your investment you’ll be treated to refreshing air conditioning, supple leather seats, and an in-flight entertainment system. The AgustaWestland AW609 costs $14M, and it’s worth every penny because it flies twice as fast as a typical helicopter while giving the operator the ability to take off and land vertically. When your landing options are limited, this is incredibly important.
Stratford, Connecticut is the home of Lockheed-Martin’s airport manufacturer Sikorsky, who are innovators in autonomous flight technology. They have developed a pilotless helicopter that is capable of taking people with no helicopter flight experience on guided tours. While this technology is simply incredible, it’s also completely unrealistic in a crisis situation. Especially if an EMP attack is involved. Owning your helicopter outright is the ideal situation, because at TEOTWAWKI it’s not going to be possible to rent. However, for the time being, renting may be the way to go while you decide what your next move will be and which features work best for your needs.
You don’t have to buy a helicopter in order to learn how to fly one. Another option you may want to consider is a fractional corporate lease. For a few thousand a month, you’ll be allotted a certain number of hours to use the helicopter. This bundle deal offers convenience because it includes things owners have to worry about like fuel, oil, insurance, and landing fees.
If you’re primarily using a helicopter to avoid a long, crowded commute or to fly out to the islands for a weekend, then you will be able to decide whether you want to fly or be flown by a professional pilot. In a SHTF situation, it is highly likely that you will have no such luxury. The time it would spend to wait for your personal pilot to arrive could mean the difference between life and death—and what if he’s unable to arrive at all? This is why it is essential that you receive helicopter training.
What You’ll Need to Get Your Helicopter Pilot License
There are some requirements to get your license here in the United States, such as being at least 17 years old and being able to speak, read, and write in English. These shouldn’t be a problem for you. After all, you ascend to your financial position because you aren’t a quick thinker. To get your license you must:
- Pass a practical test
- Pass a written test
- Be endorsed by an instructor
- Meet the aeronautical experience requirements
- Hold a student pilot certificate
- Comply with Federal Aviation Regulations
Most areas have flying schools where you’ll be able to get the minimum required 40 hours of training (and possibly many more), which can easily take a year to complete. You’ll need 20 hours of training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training. This will include three hours of cross-country, three takeoffs and landings, and more. You can do home study, but spending time with an instructor is a much more valuable use of your time and resources. They are knowledgeable and you can ask them questions as they come up. There are other courses you may also want to consider, depending upon your unique needs and your location, such as open-water and winter survival courses.
What You’ll Need On-Board
Despite the luxury features and amenities that are available in today’s most upscale helicopters, the model you choose and what you bring onboard are a matter of survival. You’ll want to make sure you have everything you’ll need ready to go ahead of time, in case you need to take off in a hurry. In your helicopter survival kit, you’ll want to keep a sleeping bag, warm clothing, a first aid kit, an axe and a bow saw, your essential survival tools and personal items, and, of course, firearms and plenty of ammo. You’ll also want to make sure you have aircraft maps of your area and enough jet fuel on-hand to get to your final destination, wherever it may be.
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When you need to bug out in a hurry, you’ll want one of these.