helicopter

[thecarguy]

anyone know how much i can expect to pay for renting one for a day or half a day? were going out to the desert this weekend and want to take some action shots of our trucks and bikes.

[BigBry]

Expect to pay around 400 an hour. May be more though.

[thecarguy]

thats not so bad. i was guessing arround 600 an hour. o well. hell, Ill just buy one and write it off LOL.

[Trader Ray]

Though I have never been to a dessert, would a truck that has a lift on the rear, such as a tree trimmers truck, or a cable installation truck with the one or two man lift serve you? It might save tons of cash and if I owned one, I would jump at the chance to see some good thrashing and would give a price break if asked. I have not been to California either.

[BigBry]

Yeah, a bucket truck would work pretty nicely if you are hanging around the same area the whole time. Need a camera with a long lens on it though.

[thecarguy]

well we want some shots and stuff of the trucks and a buddy of mine is majoring in a video production calss so thats basically our main pourpse. A helicopter would be best so we could swoop down and away form the trucks or follow the trucks, stuff like that. we actually got in touch with a company in barstow (CA desert) and they will do it for $450 and hour for the first person and an additional $150 for everyother person in the chopper. Plus a $50 fee for any materials brought on board weighing under 50lbs (cameras), and $10 for each additional pound.

[Trader Ray]

It sounds like it will be a great adventure, The tapes would be priceless when you are done.

[fotw]

For all that money, you better get an A

[BigBry]

I shot out of helicopters for many years when I was in news. Make sure your pilot has shot with video before. You get someone who doesn't know how to angle the chopper right with your subject and you could be throwing your cash away.

[Trader Ray]

My thoughts were in that general area too, I had wondered about the dust alone, Like I had said, I have never seen a desset except on TV. It seems that a good pilot and a good camera man will be a nessessety

[thecarguy]

yeah, he said somthing about flyig straight ahead but not facing the same direction. One of the people going with us just bought an 03 superduty on wed. went to load up the trucks this morning and hitch up the trailers and guess what...a 2 day old truck wont start. It turned out to be the battery but still, its a new truck. Its fixed now so if everything goes as planned we should be hitting the road by tomorow morning. If i can find someone who has server space to host the videos you should be able to see them by monday.


FYI...never assume things. We thought the trucks and bikes had fuel. NOPE. Thought our tanks had fuel. NOPE. Having to drop $1500 for 250 gallons of race fuel was not a good way to start packing for a trip.

[BigBry]

If the pilot is good he will fly at an angle so you can shoot out the window wasier. Also if they are good they can "crab" which is where they fly sideways rather than forward. It really all depends on the wind.

They also turn a lot easier to the left than the right (I think that's right, I may be opposite) so often times it's better to be on the left side so they have an easier time angling you toward the subject.

[Trader Ray]

carguy, keep things safe and get with us here to tell of any special moments, it sounds like a "whirlwind" of a time..lol Have fun and be safe, some people are not them selfs in front of a camera.