A FRIEND was so enamored of the helicopter scene that opens 'Apocalypse Now' he went to see the film more than 30 times.
And when a film entitled 'Chopper' was released, he rushed to the cinema. He was appalled to discover that it was actually about an Aussie criminal who cuts off both his ears.
Ever since Leonardo da Vinci sketched the first vision of the amazing flying device around 1493, people have been fascinated with whirlybirds. Aircraft can be fun, too, but the concept of hovering seems to have far greater appeal.
Now, having flown in a chopper over Phuket and Phang Nga, I can tell you that Da Vinci was definitely onto something. A flight in a whirlybird gives wonderful new meaning to the phrase ''hanging out.''
When the opportunity came for Phuketwan to take a promotional flight, we jumped at the chance. My friend will be envious.
A chopper service has been available on Phuket for about a year, but now Skydance Helicopters is offering locals and expats holding one-year visas the chance to discover the island and beyond from the air at 30 percent discount.
There are four different flights on offer, ranging from 3430 baht for a 10-minute beach thrill ride to 13,930 baht for one hour over Phuket and Phang Nga.
The deal is that you book a flight and are placed on standby, then Skydance tells you when you can fly, and updates you if somebody comes along who is prepared to pay full fare and bumps you out of your seat. You fly some other day.
We got bumped off the chopper one day, but we were notified nice and early and got to fly two days later.
The flight was, well, eye-opening. A 30-minute tour (discount price 7630 baht) took us up to Phang Nga Bay where we shimmered around the stilt floating village of Panyee and breezed over James Bond Island.
At 1000 feet, Phuket and Phang Nga become a natural landscape masterpiece of greens and blues. Nothing quite compares to the karsts and hongs of Phang Nga Bay as viewed from above . . . and almost alongside.
On Phuket we swept past the Splash Jungle waterpark, took in the awesome beauty of Nai Yang beach, spotted axed logs tumbling down a hillside and were impressed with the scale of some shrimp farms.
We had to hang out in midair going north while the pilot, Captain Burin Phongsuwan, waited for approval to cross the runway at Phuket International Airport. The same thing happened on the way back.
The bubble-window EC-130 seats the pilot plus six passengers, each fitted with headphones and mike, and the vistas surround you. From up here, it's possible to gain a sense of the landmark resorts and the terrain.
Captain Burin flies by sight, so on days when clouds close in or there's a risk of rain, the helicopter is grounded.
As part of the arrangement, Skydance takes the bookings and passengers fly from the Advance Aviation base in Nai Yang, not far from the airport.
The helicopter already shuttles between Phuket and some of the smaller islands where there are five-star resorts, Koh Lanta, Koh Raya and Koh Yao Noi, and a landing pad at Pak Weep in Phang Nga. It's available for charter, too.
Captain Burin, 38 and a former police pilot, alternates every 20 days with another pilot who is based in Bangkok and flies the twin-engined EC-135, mostly on the Bangkok- Hua Hin route.
No doubt there will be expat residents who quibble at the price, even with the discount, but as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's hard to beat.
While the noise was minimal on the flight, the buzz from the experience led to us floating back down the highway without a care in the world.
For the special offer or for regular services, contact Skydance by telephoning 081 787 2700 or e: info@skydance.aero Phuketwan flew as a guest of Skydance.
And when a film entitled 'Chopper' was released, he rushed to the cinema. He was appalled to discover that it was actually about an Aussie criminal who cuts off both his ears.
Ever since Leonardo da Vinci sketched the first vision of the amazing flying device around 1493, people have been fascinated with whirlybirds. Aircraft can be fun, too, but the concept of hovering seems to have far greater appeal.
Now, having flown in a chopper over Phuket and Phang Nga, I can tell you that Da Vinci was definitely onto something. A flight in a whirlybird gives wonderful new meaning to the phrase ''hanging out.''
When the opportunity came for Phuketwan to take a promotional flight, we jumped at the chance. My friend will be envious.
A chopper service has been available on Phuket for about a year, but now Skydance Helicopters is offering locals and expats holding one-year visas the chance to discover the island and beyond from the air at 30 percent discount.
There are four different flights on offer, ranging from 3430 baht for a 10-minute beach thrill ride to 13,930 baht for one hour over Phuket and Phang Nga.
The deal is that you book a flight and are placed on standby, then Skydance tells you when you can fly, and updates you if somebody comes along who is prepared to pay full fare and bumps you out of your seat. You fly some other day.
We got bumped off the chopper one day, but we were notified nice and early and got to fly two days later.
The flight was, well, eye-opening. A 30-minute tour (discount price 7630 baht) took us up to Phang Nga Bay where we shimmered around the stilt floating village of Panyee and breezed over James Bond Island.
At 1000 feet, Phuket and Phang Nga become a natural landscape masterpiece of greens and blues. Nothing quite compares to the karsts and hongs of Phang Nga Bay as viewed from above . . . and almost alongside.
On Phuket we swept past the Splash Jungle waterpark, took in the awesome beauty of Nai Yang beach, spotted axed logs tumbling down a hillside and were impressed with the scale of some shrimp farms.
We had to hang out in midair going north while the pilot, Captain Burin Phongsuwan, waited for approval to cross the runway at Phuket International Airport. The same thing happened on the way back.
The bubble-window EC-130 seats the pilot plus six passengers, each fitted with headphones and mike, and the vistas surround you. From up here, it's possible to gain a sense of the landmark resorts and the terrain.
Captain Burin flies by sight, so on days when clouds close in or there's a risk of rain, the helicopter is grounded.
As part of the arrangement, Skydance takes the bookings and passengers fly from the Advance Aviation base in Nai Yang, not far from the airport.
The helicopter already shuttles between Phuket and some of the smaller islands where there are five-star resorts, Koh Lanta, Koh Raya and Koh Yao Noi, and a landing pad at Pak Weep in Phang Nga. It's available for charter, too.
Captain Burin, 38 and a former police pilot, alternates every 20 days with another pilot who is based in Bangkok and flies the twin-engined EC-135, mostly on the Bangkok- Hua Hin route.
No doubt there will be expat residents who quibble at the price, even with the discount, but as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's hard to beat.
While the noise was minimal on the flight, the buzz from the experience led to us floating back down the highway without a care in the world.
For the special offer or for regular services, contact Skydance by telephoning 081 787 2700 or e: info@skydance.aero Phuketwan flew as a guest of Skydance.
