subject: Maverick Helicopters - A Review Of My Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour [print this page] When you have merely 1 day to explore the National Park, do it by heli. In my view, air tours are the finest deal on the market. For this journey, I chose to fly Maverick Helicopters. Here is a report on my excursion:
Maverick Helicopters is about quality. It starts at the minute you get into their new, Alpine-like terminal. The building is gorgeous. There is a hearth in the lobby. The couches and chairs are overstuffed. I may have set up camp here.
Maverick's private heliport is situated at the south end of Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, the town just outside the main entrance of the South Rim. Check in is quick and efficient. The walk to the choppers is something like 25 feet!
The fleet consists of only EcoStar 130's. These would be the absolute best sightseeing choppers. The cabins are 25% greater than ordinary choppers, and are set up with theater-style seating, 180-degree wraparound windows, and Fenestron quiet-ride rotors.
Each traveler receives her or his individual headset. Port this to the digital communications system and hear to a pre-recorded excursion narration that comes in 10 languages. The identical headset also allows you to speak to your pilot as well as other passengers.
The airline flight is spectacular. The helicopter takes off over the Kaibab Plateau as well as the biggest Ponderosa Pine forest on earth. The rim drops off and now you are in the Dragoon Corridor, the widest, deepest section of the canyon. It's a remarkable sight. I specially loved the spires and buttes.
Turn back was at the North Rim. On the descent, I observed Grand Canyon Village, Hopi Point, as well as Mather Point. I eventually visited all on foot. By seeing them aerially, I felt my expertise was substantially improved.
Flight duration is about 30 minutes. I took the prolonged trip and obtained 50 minutes of airtime (I never desired to come down). I figure what I observed would from the heli would take a minimum of two days on the surface. Merely driving from the South Rim to the North Rim takes five hours!
Maverick is not a budget helicopter travel company. They're about quality and luxury and employing the finest helicopters available. They are also experts at accommodating groups as well as running charter flights. Don't allow this stop you from shopping the Internet for excellent deals. It's not uncommon to see web based promotions that save as much as 25 percent.
Book your chopper tour beforehand. In excess of 5 million people visit Grand Canyon National Park every year. Many reserve a chopper trip. Make an effort to reserve an early morning flight (best visibility) or a sunset trip. Make certain your camera batteries are fully energized (I captured 20 pictures and my digital camera powered off!)
Maverick Helicopters tours to the South Rim receive two thumbs up from me. The aviator -guide we had was amazing and really added significance to our airline flight. The EcoStar helicopter certainly is the way to go. I am a big guy as well as the additional leg room was ideal. Take off was right on schedule. In general, I really came to appreciate Maverick's care about detail as well as endorse them without hesitation.
