Friday, May 23, 2014

Aussie Heli Adventure!

Have you seen this amazing rig on your travels?

Over the last six years, Graeme Harrison has spent a lot of time and money to realise a dream of travelling around Australia in a slightly different style.

“I've been around Australia twice before. Once when I was 20 and again when I was 30, and I always figured that for the third time I would like to do  it by boat or by helicopter,” Mr Harrison said. “But the idea of pulling up in a town and flying when the weather was appropriate appealed more than flying everywhere.”

So over the last six years Mr Harrison built the American-designed Rotorway kit helicopter to precision specifications, and to cart it around the 19-metre long truck and trailer set up, which houses not only the helicopter, but living quarters  complete with a double bed, full kitchen and air conditioning which runs on solar power.

“All up I've spent somewhere north of half a million dollars on the rig and trip, and I’m funding the trip entirely myself,” Mr Harrison said.
A mechanical engineer by trade, Mr Harrison said he always loved helicopters, and that he had around 80 hours flight time in small choppers before he decided  to build his own.

“Anyone can build one, technically. But not just anyone can take on the task,” he said.
“They’re not a Meccano set to build... if you don’t know what you’re doing what you put together isn't going to fly or it’s going to kill you.”

To keep himself occupied along the circumnavigation of the country, Mr Harrison has also been filming while flying with five XD Replay cameras mounted on his chopper, two quad-copter remote control drones with GoPro’s attached and while on foot around wherever he has parked.

Follow Graeme's adventure at his blog and Facebook page.
www.aussieheliadventure.blogspot.com
Written by Sandy Powell from the Augusta-Margaret River Mail

3 comments :

  1. Thank you for sharing valuable information. Nice post. I enjoyed reading this post. The whole blog is very nice found some good stuff and good information here Thanks..Also visit my page  boat show australia The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) is an annual four-day event which attracts buyers and marine industry representatives from across Australia and around the globe.

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  2. I sure have noticed it. I own it. If you see me on your travels feel free to come and say high and I ll show you through it.

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  3. Ah Graeme you lucky man! Love that you have found my blog and hope you don't mind me using Sandy's article. Safe travels :)

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