The SAFARI Helicopter has a reputation for durability and safety that is unmatched by many certified aircraft. To confirm the veracity of this belief, CHR International Inc. has taken two major steps to assure the ongoing safety of SAFARI owners and pilots.
SAFARI partnered with the Florida Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program and Central Technological Corporation (an engineering firm associated with this NASA sponsored program) to review the design, materials, and construction of the SAFARI Main Rotor Head. Their testing and computer modeling concluded that the design of the rotor head was robust and reliable, with ample safety factors, within the operating limits of a Lycoming 0360 engine.
Additionally, a SAFARI owner who is certified to test aircraft parts for fatigue cracking experienced a hard landing which collapsed the gear legs on his SAFARI. Rather than replace the titanium spindles and shafts, the main components were returned to the factory for removal and return of the titanium parts for testing. The owner also volunteered to examine a quantity of titanium parts from the factory "crash cabinet". The main rotor and tail rotor spindles provided for this testing had all been subjected to extraordinary forces in damaging accidents. Neither the parts involved in the recent hard landing nor the parts from older incidents exhibited any signs of fatigue cracking. The SAFARI owner's components have been reassembled using the original parts, at his request.
These actions are part of CHR's commitment to constant improvement - of materials and construction, communication, response to issues, availability of service and support, and to the experience of owning a SAFARI. There is only one model of SAFARI, and it evolves continually. Every improvement and upgrade is incorporated into the next SAFARI that is shipped.
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:
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!
With record setting rains just before the show, the AirVenture staff and those wonderful Volunteers scrambled to accomodate the crowds converging on Oshkosh. Even with a soggy start, aviation enthusiasts were out in force and ready to enjoy a great show!
O
nce again, SAFARI owners made us proud. Jimmy Benson's tangerine and black show-stopper from Pennsylvania was awarded the Gold Lindy Grand Champion Rotorcraft Award, following up on the Grand Champ award at SunNFun this year. Steve Michael's fascinating SAFARI from Tennessee was awarded Reserve Grand Champion and a Ken Brock Workmanship Award. This helicopter was built by Steve and his son Kevin in honor of A1C Kristopher Michael. Kris was Crew Chief on a C130, and died in an accident while on active duty. The Murphys brought their 2009 Oshkosh Grand Champ from Missouri, Al Rulton brought his 2008 Oshkosh Grand Champ down from Canada, the Johnstons brought their prize winning SAFARI from the 1,000 Islands region of New York, the Godwins brought the "Dixie Belle" from Georgia, and we brought a recently completed company ship along to round out the lineup.
Great weather, an exciting air show, lots of SAFARIs in the air, visiting with old friends, welcoming new members to the SAFARI family, and talking about helicopters for a week - what could be better??
Safari Sports New Water Wings
Helicopter enthusiasts are always looking for more ways to use their machines, to get the most enjoyment and the greatest freedom. With a helicopter, you control where you fly and how long you stop to watch what is happening around you. For years, pilots and passengers of the Safari helicopter have taken to nature to fly the canyons, lakes, deserts, and forests of the world to view the wonders of nature.
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.
**Arizona Accident 5/22/2009 - Updated July 8, 2010**
Rotor/Tach Alarm
Two Instruments in one; Fits Safari, Baby Belle, Commuter, Helicom and other helicopters
It has taken almost 2 years of research and testing, but CHR, manufacturers of the Safari Helicopter kit have now satisfied themselves with the quality, effectiveness and pricing, to announce a new product in their ever-improving inventory. CHR will now carry and include in their Safari kits, a new helicopter gauge that will replace two instruments formerly used in the Safari. About three years ago, CHR announced the development of a hi/low rotor alarm, for pilots of any helicopter. The alarm was enthusiastically received, especially for low-time pilots, as it gave them additional feed-back on their flying.
Second Training Facility for Safari
Canadian Training Center
CHR is proud to announce that Rotorworks Inc, of Whitecourt, Alberta, is now accepting applications to train pilots on flying the Safari helicopter.
Applicants should visit the Rotorworks website of call them direct at 780-778-6600.
Safari Dealer for Australia and New Zealand
CHR, manufacturers of the award winning Safari Helicopter Kit, is pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce Belfield as the Safari Dealer for Australia. Bruce has been the Dealer for New Zealand for several years and has been successful at guiding many builders through the building stages with the Safari. He is one of the most successful dealers to date, and sets the pace for others to follow. Throughout the years Bruce has assisted the Safari designers with carefully reasoned changes to enhance the performance of the Safari.
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