Tag: low flying helicopter experience

Levuka joy flight by helicopter

Helicopter River Runs – How low can we go?

Pterodactyl Helicopters is infamous for their broad range of Adrenalin Adventures; offers range from re-enacting historical aerial combat, pairing helicopter joy rides with laps in V8s and often we have a skydive thrown in.
As hard as this may be to believe, we have come up with something new that is guaranteed to raise your hair and put some butterflies in your stomach.
Brace yourselves….ready…Low Flying River Run!

Just in case you can’t quite picture what exactly this entails – and consequentially may not get why we are so excited about it – let us explain using the ancient art of visualization:

You know how many an action film features at the very least one scene in which a helicopter comes charging along very, very, very, VERY close to the ground? Often above highways or mountain paths? Yes?
Can you picture it, tilted every so slightly forward in case it needs to make a quick ascent?
Can you see the pilot, his face set in stony concentration?
Very good.
Now.
Instead of the road, picture a river – twisting and turning – and a helicopter zooming along so closely above it is practically skimming on the water’s surface.
Can you see the spray caused by the sheer force of the rotor blades?
Can you see YOURSELF and your favourite sidekick inside the helicopter, minds exploding with sensory overload and the sheer impact of awesome?

River runs are pretty much the ultimate experience when it comes to low helicopter flights and as we have the Brisbane River right at our doorstep, it seems an awful shame not to make use of it as the Gods of Helicoptering intended.

Pterodactyl Helicopters’ River Runs take off from our Kholo base, right by Lake Manchester; meaning that you get a good luck at D’Aguilar National Park as you leave, which is a nice bit of serene natural beauty before the adrenalin rush is on.

Following the river as low as we can go, means there will be some rapid turns as we go along the river bends. This calls for experienced pilots and agile equipment; in fact the weight limits for this sort of aerial adventuring are so stringent that we can’t take more than two passengers at a time, even though our R44 technically fits three.

When you book a Low Flying River Run you get to choose between two routes (alternatively, do not choose and do both); the Fernvale Run takes around 25 minutes and is a good option if you just wish to test the waters, the Wivenhoe Run is very close to an hour long.

Let us be very clear: Neither of the routes is for the faint-hearted. This is a seriously intense helicopter experience that will leave you breathless and gasping for more.

If you feel like you could do with a little more outrageous adventure in your life, contact Pterodactyl Helicopters today and make arrangements to be scared out of your pants!
Thrilled – sorry – we meant to say thrilled.
Come along for the ride…if you dare.