SAFARI owner Alan Coubray wins New Zealand Helicopter Competition
With stiff competition from experienced professional pilots in million dollar commercial helicopters, SAFARI owner and pilot Alan Coubray and his navigator Glen Maulcay walked (or flew) away as Champions at the annual New Zealand Helicopter Championship. No competitor had ever scored a perfect finish until Alan aced a complex, timed exercise of navigation skills and precision flying. Alan scored well in the remaining segments as well, which included dropping objects into a target at speed from a specific height, and a "water bucket" event requiring precise control of the helicopter.

An interesting challenge was provided by an exercise completed with a 2' chain attached to one skid, and a 3' chain attached to the other Keeping only the longer chain touching the ground while maneuvering through 360° turns and backward, forward, and diagonal movements proved a true test of piloting skill. While SAFARI dealer Bruce Belfield of South Pacific Home Rotors competed in the event also, Alan and his SAFARI stole the show! More information about this event is available here:

Sun n Fun April 2010

 

WOW! What a great show! Our thanks to all of you who came out to support aviation in general and rotorcraft in particular. Choppertown was a busy place, with 7 SAFARI owners showing off their helos and winning the 3 prizes awarded for rotorcraft.

Jimmy Benson's SAFARI, with a custom tangerine and black paint job and interior won top honors. Photos of this Grand Champion can be seen here. Mike Smolek's white, black and red "pride and joy" took a well deserved award for Best Helicopter. Have a look at the ingenious use of space in this winning helicopter here. Al Rulton, who took the Gold Lindy Grand Champion award at Oshkosh in 2008, carried another honor for Outstanding Helicopter back to Canada for his black and candy apple red "dream machine". Photos of Al's helo can be seen here.

If you weren't able to join us at SunNFun, please make your plans now to attend Oshkosh. We are going to have even more fun there!

2011 Oshkosh Winners

 

 Congratulations to Dan Suddeth and Steve Michael on their awards at Airventure 2011 at Oshkosh Wisconsin. 

Dan Suddeth - Silver Lindy- Reserve Grand Champion

Steve Michael- Ken Brock Workmanship Award for the hard work that went into repairs after his helicopter was damaged earlier this year at Sun-N-Fun.

 

 

Recent News

SAFARI Helicopter Acquired by CHR International Inc.

MARIANNA, FLORIDA  USA   August 18, 2009 – CHR International Inc., a US corporation previously involved in aviation, announces the acquisition of SAFARI Helicopter.  The SAFARI is an “Experimental” class helicopter sold Flight Ready or as a Kit for homebuilding.  Formerly called a “Baby Belle”, it bears a striking resemblance to a Bell 47.

Murray Sweet, one of the original developers of the SAFARI, will remain involved with the new company as a technical consultant, as will other long time members of the SAFARI team. The owners of CHR International Inc., Bobby and Delane Baker, anticipate providing the support that SAFARI owners expect through the development of a worldwide dealer network, including North America.

“Having worked with SAFARI for some time, we appreciate the quality and durability of the helicopter.  SAFARI owners are our most valuable resource, and we look to them for ideas for continual improvement of the SAFARI.  We have also reduced the dealership requirements in most parts of the world to increase sales and provide local support to owners and builders”, states Delane Baker.

For additional information about the SAFARI visit www.acehelicopter.com, call 850.482.4141, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or write SAFARI Helicopter, PO Box 1546, Marianna, Florida  32447  USA.