As a Vancouver Island resident Helijet is definitely our preferred way to get to Vancouver but we usually find ourselves on the ferry. I laughed when you called it a "little island off the coast of Vancouver" so I looked it up. Google search says its roughly the size of Belgium, Taiwan and Jamaica...not so little!

@Tvsnumber1fan

2 жыл бұрын

If Noel wants to go to a true little Island then he needs to go to Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay. It’s a small island and home to an old federal prison. I think that his kids would like it too. The views of San Francisco and the surrounding bay are great as well. It would be a fun day out if Noel and his family ever comes to San Francisco for a holiday.

@philipf2705

Жыл бұрын

It's 1/3 the size of the UK

For those wondering, there's actually a shortcut through the SeaBus terminal adjacent to the heliport. You do need to go through the fare gates, then at the bottom of the stairs on the water side of the overpass there's a door you can go out to get to the Heliport.

@cumbriaavgeek

2 жыл бұрын

Came here to say that!

I've been on a helicopter twice and loved both flights. However, I'm disappointed that you didn't spend more time in Victoria. The city is really quaint and the Buchart Gardens are the best in the world. Go back, you'll love it.

@atherrien95

Жыл бұрын

I had a cruise that stopped there, and due to timing, wasn't able to make the second port in Seattle, so we had an entire day (instead of only a few hours) in Victoria. I love how walkable and beautiful the city is.

Noel, I can't believe you didn't stay the day in Victoria, nicer than Vancouver in my opinion and I have been to both 5 times from Toronto and the last time was in September. The Victoria waterfront, downtown, Beacon Hill park you could have easily seen in a few hours.

@lionsgate1959

Жыл бұрын

Born and raised in Vancouver and yes Victoria is absolutely the best Canadian city.

Victoria is such a beautiful place, it's too bad you didn't spend the day there.

@Andre_XX

2 жыл бұрын

But for such a relatively small city they have the most epic traffic jams.

@jameswhyte2404

2 жыл бұрын

@@Andre_XX Only between Downtown and the Malahat. Rest is pretty smooth sailing on most days.

@Mrtraveler01

2 жыл бұрын

Thought the same thing. At least he got to spend some time in Nanaimo.

Noel you should have taken the stop-over in Victoria and had lunch in the Sticky Wicket Pub, which is a helf hour walk round the headland from the heliport I've done Vancouver to Victoria by ferry (inforsed after 911 !) Seattle to Victoria by tourist ferry (go funny looks as I has booked a one way journey !) Flown back both times from Victoria International to Vancouver ( and onward to UK) and on both times I did this I was disrupted by a vist of Prince Charles on a visit to Vancouver Island (which is NOT a small island 283 miles long !)

I’m loving this series of flights to BC Noel, takes me right back to when I was there in 2019. It’s a great place for avgeeks. I’ve travelled between Victoria and Vancouver on the ferry, with Harbour Air and also Helijet. All are pretty cool if I’m honest but my favourite is on the Harbour Air seaplane service. Their bases in Victoria and Vancouver are better situated than Helijet’s, the fares are generally cheaper and I find departing from and alighting on water a special experience. As other people have said, you should spend a bit longer in Victoria, it’s a very nice city though I’m biased as my daughter lives there!

4:18 Helicopter engine spool sound amazing

Vancouver is Probably my favourite city, visited twice and it's a beautiful place. Victoria is a gorgeous place too. Took a sea plane to there and went whale watching from Victoria on a RIB boat.... fantastic

The float plane from Vancouver into Victoria is -far- more scenic, and it drops you off right downtown, seconds walking distance to the uber picturesque Empress hotel, government buildings. The adjacent museum is also worth a womder around.

@erik_griswold

10 ай бұрын

And if the engine fails on the floatplane, you glide to a landing.

Noel, you would have made it if you would have went back to the seabus terminal (Waterfront Station) there was an exit door at the bottom of escalator just before you get on the seabus that would have led you to the Helijet Terminal.

@casey6556

2 жыл бұрын

My thoughts as well. I guess it must not be advertised that clearly by Helijet? I only knew it from having taken the SeaBus a fair few times back when I lived there.

Noel I Agree with you Vancouver being the most beautiful city in North America it’s well worth a visit . Very cool S76 haulage too ! Great vlog 👍

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

I’ve been to Vancouver 7 times…it’s amazing and beautiful

Totally agree Noel. Any flight in a helicopter is an amazing experience!

Correction Vancouver Island is NOT a small island it is 283 miles long and visible from space

@seanfischer1351

2 жыл бұрын

yes hes pretty ignorant in facts. born and raised in Victoria, the island is over 32,000 kms. Bigger than some countries

Wow. Great video. I've flown on a Twin Otter on floats, a Dash 8 and Dash 7 between Vancouver and Victoria . I have even taken the ferry, but never a helicopter. Thanks for sharing.

Noel you should take a hotel in Victoria and take a day to experience the city. Take a whale watching tour-phenomenal experience. Your videos are amazing!

Most Excellent! In the 80's I was a flight medic and in the 90's I was a traffic reporter. Flew in Bell Jet Rangers. I could never get my fill of flying in helos. It's the ONLY way to fly!

Choppers are great fun, but there is something special with the sea-planes.

Hey mate. I've been following your channel for a few years now, so I know how well travelled you are. For you to say that Vancouver, (AKA Raincouver to us locals, hahaha), is amazing. Thank you so much. I do agree with you. Vancouver is an amazing place. Cheers, keep safe and stay healthy dude.

Absolutely agree that Vancouver is the most beautiful city in North America. In fact, there is a reason why the license plate of British Columbia is called "Beautiful British Columbia"

Nice soundtrack (music) for the helicopter take-off in Vancouver. :)

The view is amazing

Great to hear that signature gearbox whine in the S-76 A Model again. I have 5000 hours flying S-76s in offshore oil and onshore charter and its my favourite helicopter to fly, albeit the A Model is under powered as evidenced by the way it staggered off Victoria Island. Lots of familiar beep trim matching going on!

@adrianadrian255

2 жыл бұрын

If helicopters are your 'thing', you might enjoy this part of the world too! There are quite a variety used here, there is also a place on Vancouver Island that specializes in helicopter maintenance and refits, helicopters are actually sent there from around the world to be taken care of. The combination of distance, terrain and accessiblity means helicopters are used a lot.our electricity company, 'BC Hydro" can only maintain many of its lines from helicopters, with workers strung below them. Like other companies in remote or hard to reach areas, they will also make use of heavy lift helicopters - the island I work on renewed a whole lot of power line pylons a few years ago. Each one was flown over from the big island, fully made, and just requiring bolting down on arrival. As well as moving equipment, heavy lift helicopters and sky cranes are used in heli-logging as well as fighting forest fires. Where they have the advantage of being able to lift water out of something as small as a backyard pool, where planes require a large area to refill from.

@adrianadrian255

2 жыл бұрын

This is a bunch of helicopters firefighting - the Bambi bucket, used for carrying water was designed by an old customer of mine, he has a little four seater piston engine machine that he commutes to work in. kzread.info/dash/bejne/c4t-yaaSXdXfdKw.html

@adrianadrian255

2 жыл бұрын

And if you want to have some real fun, avalanche control can be fun, this done in all sorts of places in the mountains kzread.info/dash/bejne/pn6fvMmjot2wZJM.html

I live 1 hr east of Vancouver, and would never have thought to take the helijet over to Victoria . Thank you for taking me along, what a great way to travel. So glad you had a nice day to do it as well.

Wow thanks for that Noel . Amazing views from the helicopter . I would love the helicopter as never been in one so you doing this gives me the experience as though I'm in one for now . . Thanks I love being a patreon.

Glad you got the chance to fly on one of Helijet's Sikorsky S76's!!! It *is* THE BEST WAY to fly - way better than a floatplane! 😉 I've flow on the S76's many many times, including when they operated between Victoria Harbour (YWH) and Seattle King County International Airport (BFI). Next time you're out this way and if you get down to Victoria, you should spend a bit of time exploring the provincial capital and for another restaurant recommendation, check out Pagliacci's. Safe travels Noel!

BC ferries are far from rickety or old. They're quite a pleasant way to make the crossing.

So cool! Lord Bamfords helicopter is a regular over our house - always wanted to take a flight in an S76.

Great review Noel. We love helicopters and our favourite helicopter ride was in Cape Town, South Africa when we took the Vietnam era Huey "Combat Mission". We flew just above the waves and just offshore. Then over a simulated combat zone, low-level at high speed, then diving down cliff faces with high speed manoeuvres and the doors off the aircraft. When the plague has gone away you have to do it! We will be doing it again.

Absolutely wonderful. Thanks for sharing. My wife and I took this same trip round-trip to Victoria this summer. We didn't however get the additional stop at YVR - which BTW I would have really enjoyed.

wow gorgeous scenery

I love the way you will just fly somewhere and come straight back.))))) Great video, thanks. 😀👍👌

Lol...I must admit I thought the helicopter was flying extra fast ... until I realized your had sped up the film ! 🤣

Noel as always entertaining !

Really cool. Envious that you were able to take this trip but many thanks for sharing.

Always good for a bonus flight ✈️

Fantastic shot of the shadow hovering over the tarmac on lift off! Really gave that helicopter feeling.

Nice little bonus heading to the airport.

Thanks for saying that my hometown of Vancouver (well I live just on the outskirts) is the most beautiful city! That was a cool ride to Victoria and back! You would love Victoria so you should make it a plan to visit there sometime. I've been in a helicopter but it was up in Alaska and we landed on the Mendenhall Glacier which was a really great experience. It was a much smaller helicopter and I got to sit in the front with the pilot! Glad to see you are enjoying your time in our beautiful province!

Great seat choice on the second leg. Fantastic!

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Lovely Noel, as per usual 👍

As some others said, the BC ferries service between Vancouver (Tsawassen) and Victoria are amazing and way different experience than Seattle to Van. I think it's about a 1 to 1.5 hours ride

The float plane into Victoria harbor is a much more scenic landing and drops you off right downtown. But there's always something very cool about taking the helicopter and Helijet runs a top notch service.

It's not just cool. It is Bloody Cool. When you said it was an airline with no aircraft I thought "Oh No. Not American intercity bus service." But you are right! It is BLOODY COOL!!!

What a lovely journey, you never disappoint Noel. Cheers!

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks!

Victoria has some neat castles that I'm sure would look amazing by air.

Very cool. I live in Vancouver and you just convinced me to try it out. It will probably give Helijet some extra business. Thanks for the information on pricing as well. I watched with interest your video on the overnight train from Moscow to St Petersberg flights

Harbour Air has a more convenient drop off point for me.

Great video thanks for sharing

You know what, that place, bc, reminds me back on 1997 to 2003, when i still worked on board one of the famous cruise line company, unforgetable memory to be honest, specialy when we did alaska trip, bc is one of the beautiful place i ve ever seen beside the other places that i ve ever visited, really admire, once again, really really beautiful bc, hopefully one day i can come to visit there again, hopefully, thanks noel for this video

I should have done this when I visited Vancouver few years back

The Blue and Red seats in that helicopter look a bit similar to the seats on Delta Airlines if you noticed that!

Brilliant as always. You do really bring something different to your channel. Keep the good work up!!! Keith

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks!

Vancouver and the surrounding area is so beautiful. What a great trip, Noel, and I'm sure you enjoyed sitting right behind the pilot for an amazing view of the controls! I would take the float plane because that is another form of transport I have yet to try.

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

It really is!

Hear me out, Emirates is cool and all, but flying to Vancouver with a Helijet, is even better :D

Really cool! Great editing

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot!

I used to love flying between Penzance and St Mary's, I.O.S on the Sikorsky S61.

Victoria was my family trip each summer, except via ferry from Port Angeles, Washington. I’m looking forward to going back soon.

I’m so jealous of those that live around Vancouver/ Pacific Northwest. It’s so beautiful. Here in flat Norfolk uk I can literally see to the horizon in every direction.

@seanfischer1351

2 жыл бұрын

I live in Victoria, and noel called Vancouver Island " a little island" by was he WRONG!

so cool watching you fly around my hometown of Vancouver in a helicopter

Incredible. What views of our city!

Love your channel Noel. You are making me love aviation more and more. Amazing job 👍👍👍

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoy it!

I have taken a few helicopter trips, but I've never flown on HeliJet. Thank you for providing the virtual experience of flying in and out of my hometown. I second the commenter about not spending time here. Victoria is a pretty cool small city and the Inner Harbour was only moments away by taxi.

Awsesome soundtrack on this video, Noel!!

I have to say, Noel, this has to be one of the coolest things you have done so far 😎!!

We did the ferry in August, but we did drive from Calgary, a great trip we had

Helijet does have fixed-aircraft in their fleet but they are currently used for charters. They have offered scheduled fixed-wing service in the past, notably to Boeing Field.

Banger Video!

So nice ... Thanks for sharing...

@noelphilips

Жыл бұрын

Most welcome 😊

Love this guy!

The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, not surprised they have Heli Service. I love both cities, Vancouver and Victoria, used to take the Princess Marguerite from Seattle to Victoria once a year until they replaced it with a modern craft. Loved the boat and the city, didn't love the city enough to go once a year without Marguerite lol. It is a great adventure island, camping, fishing, exploring, visits to indian villages. "Alone" was filmed there several times with different versions. Thanks for taking on this ride!

Missed the fighting map.. and I wish you explored in the between fights.. but still a wonderful video

At 4:56, that is the ATC tower for all of the waterfront aircraft movements, right on top of a building in downtown Vancouver!

Yes, Vancouver is pretty. Vancouver Island is very beautiful. Was in both many years ago. Enjoy your travels. ✈🛫🛥⛴⛵🛤

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will do!

I was on the milk run on Harbour Air which included a few stops on the way. I was extremely fortunate to be seated in the "co-pilot position". You've provided AMAZING from the S76. It's now on my list.

Hi Noel, brilliant video. Here could be a new video idea for a future trip. From Nice International Airport to Monaco there is a helicopter service similar to this.

We cruised to Vancouver in May 2008 and we'll be there again for another cruise next May. Visit well overdue!

My first choice to get to Victoria is a Cessna 172. I earned my instrument rating in Bellingham, Washington, and took several trips to Victoria, both for training and for fun. Victoria is a GREAT place for a day or weekend trip. If you tried the ferries, many of the BC ferries out of Tsawwassen have quiet, buffet style restaurants over the stern. Beautiful views of the islands and water as you make a comfortable crossing. However, between a long wait to board the ferry then a two hour ride, Helijet looks like the way to go if I can't fly myself.

You had me convinced to visit Vancouver with the seaplane video this finalises it. And yes diversions are great 😀 as are go-around

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

You should!

I live in Vancouver and I gotta say, this city always looks prettier in videos. Maybe it's the rose coloured glasses

Fantastic one Noel Try Iskwew air to Qualicum beach

We travelled via Vancouver to Vancouver Island a few years ago, and did use the ferry. I think I would still do so, I like my travel to be relaxing and peaceful where possible. And the scenery, chugging among the islands was stunning.

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

Noel...awesome, you're in Vancouver. Have never been on Helijet, but I heard them fly out of Coal Harbour quite a few times when I used to live in Kits and was always going Downtown for something.

great video noel

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

I got to fly Air Spur back in the early 80s, a scheduled copter airline. Took it from John Wayne (SNA) to LAX and back on the return leg of a flight out of LAX to EWR. The cool thing about it was it went out of John Wayne sort of like it was departing the short GA runway (south) but took a really aggressive 2 loop spiral up to about 4000' then up to LAX. On arrival in that airspace, they came in and went down the south runway approach with a similar spiral. But when they arrived about mid field, they "taxied" about 10' in the air up the taxiways (mostly) but across some grass over to the terminal, and we went up some stairs into about Terminal 5 or 6 or so. Went over to American which was at the time Terminal 2, so a hike. This looks like a fun adventure, and not outrageously priced to do just for a thing you don't get to do a lot.

Worked in a news chopper for twenty odd years, nothing really compares…..

Have done the flight to Tofino yet with Pacific Coastal. Tofino is a must see for anyone coming to Vancouver.

Noel....you messed up. You should have spent at least part of the day in Victoria. If not an overnight. Wander Government St, go to any one of the great restaurants. Maybe visit the Royal British Columbia Museum

I love helicopters and I have flown on them several times. Had a job where had to visit remote locations and helicopters were the only way. Loved it on those days that I got to fly.

Yep thats fifty shades of grey material right there 😜😘

just loved the flight i enjoyed it very much

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Ive been to Washington state, Vancouver Island and Alaska, my favorite area to visit

If I had the choice I would do both. I have flown the seaplane over to Victoria twice. Harbour Air and West Coast Air. The ferry is not that rickety. You would also enjoy it. Sometimes you might get to see some Whales.

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@egpx

2 жыл бұрын

You are right about the ferry, it’s a pretty slick operation and the route through the Gulf Islands from Tawwassen to Swartz Bay through the Gulf Islands is incredibly scenic. If you don’t need to take the car though, the Harbour Air service is my favourite method of travel between BC’s largest city and the province’s capital.

Just Subscribed...Love your videos, Noel! Keep it up 👏💙

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the sub! Appreciate it!

@showupnur1947

2 жыл бұрын

@@noelphilips No worries!

Hey Noel you could access the heliport on foot in about 5 minutes by walking through Waterfront station. When you said you would have had to walk for 30minutes you could have simply turned around to access Waterfront station.

Love flying in a helicopter, and that looked like fun, I will have to try it next time I am in Vancouver, you should have got off and spent some time on the island though, never mind, next time.

What, no loo review!!!😂🤣. I have not flown by helicopter! The scenery really is beautiful. The ground staff and pilots seem very pleasant and polite! A really cool way to get around. Cheers!

I would like to experience both Heli and float options, if I had to choose then float plane, it's such a rare opportunity. Really enjoying the Canada series thanks Noel. More please, also enjoy the location reports too, you visit and show us places we will never get to our selves. Keep it up.

@noelphilips

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Sikorsky S76 is definetly the best looking utility/vip/passenger helicopter out there, thanks to, among other things, retractable landing gear. I've wanted to fly on one since I saw Jurassic Park as a kid. Well hopefully one day I'll be able to travel to Canada and use this service.