c/n 001, N242B

[Doug Johnson]

Time to begin a new thread.  A previous post http://flyhelio.com/smf/index.php?topic=37.msg1574#msg1574

The "H-391B Model" was the first model to continue to a production run and with its STOL control, crash-cage/fuselage and all aluminum tail cone the template for all later Helios.

Construction number 001, built 05/54, as model H-391B later modified to H-395A configuration, originally registered N242B (1^st of 529), The first production run was conceived as an H-391A with a tube and fabric tailcone after a board meeting and Fleet Mfg contract review 09/52 the design was changed to the new all aluminum monocoque tail-cone assembly and used composite construction to apply the tail-cone to the "crash-crash/fuselage" a/c was mfg and assembled at Canton MA, using component sub assemblies including the tail cone and Fiberglass parts built by Fleet mfg, it was certified 11/54 at Canton MA as a H-391B "Helio Courier", sold to 1^st customer Dudley Talcott CT who later installed exhaust mufflers inside cowling, flush side windows and 3000lb upgross (Helio mod #21) sold '58, to C. Davis who installed landing light sold '71, to Jaars as their (24^th Helio of 46) named “Ole no.1” removed augmenter exhaust tube (converted to H-395A configuration) install  Brown-line track and energy absorbing seats, install 1400 series instrument panel, install 101” HC-A2MV20-1A/V10133N prop sold '11, dereg export re-register C-GOOI special registry mark allocated for c/n 001 to Neil Bilodeau QC placed on AWB3500 wheel skis from c/n 1231 sold 05/14, Simon Drouin St-Georges, QC sold 12/18, Charles Ross TX, dereg export rereg as N100HC (for no. 1 Helio Courier) rereg 04/20 returned to original registry N242B
       
as N242B              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkiNYjOTT_s                           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sxQ52tgmI0
as C-GOOI            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8re8L2g2kWM                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiNIM_OBuro"










current photos






1^st magazine article







2^nd magazine article

[Doug Johnson]

another photo of c/n 001 located by Steve Wiliiams

[Doug Johnson]

another photo of c/n 001 located by Steve Wiliiams

and a magazine article Flying Sep 1955 1

[Doug Johnson]

Does anyone have a set of those optional mufflers shown in the last photo of this article.

I saw a set at Laramont Aviation in '94, always thought that would be the way to go If you needed mufflers on your airplane if you were having a noise abatement problem or were flying around over sports events or border patrol, instead of hanging automotive style mufflers on the outside of the fuselage.

[Doug Johnson]

added Factory hand out

[Doug Johnson]

.

just for the heck of it decided to re-size and automatically open Virgule's photos above as current photos

[virgule]

Same aircraft 61 years later

[Doug Johnson 1]

Helio c/n 001, "ol' no, 1" has changed hands again it has returned to the states as N100HC the new owner is Charles Ross of Cross Plains, TX. My understanding is that he is getting some Helio type training from Kevin Dunn, I'm impressed with Mr. Ross probably already a pretty good pilot.

EDIT to the History file: Simon Drouin QC sold 12/18, Charles Ross TX, dereg export rereg as N100HC (for c/n 001 Helio Courier)

I opened photo in the queue at top of the page

[Doug Johnson]

Found an early picture of 'ole no. 1' dated as late 50's at E-bay, the paint scheme is an upgrade from the factory H-391 scheme to a optional factory deluxe three color H-395 paint scheme.

The Helio was sold to its second owner in '58, so possibly at that time it was upgraded by the new owner to the new scheme.

I think this is the paint scheme I would use, if I was buying the first production Helio, including the extra larger registry mark on the underside of the left wing, might have to adjust the colors though.

Anyone by chance have a color photo of the original H-391 paint scheme? Was it white black and red also?

I opened the photo #4 in the queue at the top of the page.

[airshiptv]

Haven’t commented for a while but want to correct any impressions about the mufflers we use on occasion for aerial coverage of golf. We use the muffler setup that Steve Murray constructed for Pima County.  There was no approval necessary for a public use aircraft but we received a one time STC for 5387G and used that paperwork for 18JC.  The mufflers are not automotive, but aircraft mufflers design for the Polish built Wilga.  You can find pictures online of Wilga aircraft equipped with these mufflers. We continue to fly about 500 hours per year per aircraft.  Over the past 4 years we have added two Cessna 206H. Our four aircraft now provide aerial coverage for about 150 events per year. Thanks to all for keeping this site going.

[Doug Johnson]

I edited the history paragraph at top of page and resized and tried to opened the newest photo at the bottom of the picture queue but for some reason it rotates the picture when I atempt to open it.

surely someone has another photo with the registry mark painted on, when I come up with
a different photo I will put it at the bottom of the photos

[Doug Johnson]

Reposted the the latest pictures "Ol'e no. 1", as N242B 2nd time around.

Resized and opened them at the bottom of the pictue queue above.