Illinois Helicopter - MB Aero

FAA Part 135 Certificate Search

2011-10-31T17:13:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a list of FAA Part 135 Certificates or Operators, you can search the FAA site at http://av-info.faa.gov/OpCert.asp?SrchBy=Location

First Harvest Heyworth, IL 9/10/2011

2011-09-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

Pictures of some early corn harvest in Heyworth, IL on 9/10/2011, about 3 miles east of town on US 136.

First Harvest 9/10/2011

Chambers' Farm pictures

2011-09-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

The new homestead.

Chambers' Farm

Where to fly

2011-07-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Taking a flight, don't know where to go. Doesn't matter as long as I'm in the air!

Marco Memorial Day Celebration

2011-06-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

We participated in our first fly-over of the season over Memorial Day in Marco, IN. The annual Memorial Day Celebration included singing, speeches by Veterans, the reading of the names of Veterans buried at the Marco Cemetery, and fly-overs by your's truly and Air Evac from Brazil, IN.

Parade flights

2011-04-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

We've still got some dates open for parade fly-overs for Illinois and Indiana. If you're looking for something special for a parade or special occasion, let us know. There's NO charge as we enjoy utilizing our helicopter to make your public event better!

Jerry Lay Aviation

2010-12-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

I recently traded emails with Jerry Lay. Jerry gave me my commercial helicopter checkride back in 2007. Jerry has started his own helicopter consulting and maintenance business. From his email:

"...I am no longer with OSF but started my own consulting business specializing in helicopters/EMS operations/heliport certification. A couple of years ago I started the Saints Flight Program at St. John’s and am presently working as a consultant for the State of Illinois on several of their heliport programs around the State. In addition to that I have expanded my maintenance operation to include the Robinsons and have 3 R44’s I am maintaining."

Jerry is a great guy with EMS and military experience. If you're looking for help with operations or maintenance, I'd recommend talking to him. He's based out of Minonk, IL in the north central part of the state.

Jerry Lay Aviation, LLC
(309) 310-8244
Heliport: IS18

Winter Helicopter Flying

2010-12-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

I'm surprised by the number of comments I get about "winterizing" the helicopter, or being done with flying until Spring. Wintertime does get very cold in Central Illinois - however flying in cold weather is both enjoyable and educational.

Our helicopter can be comfortably flown in temperatures down in the mid 20s F. Below 20 F, it is hard to keep the cabin at a temperature that doesn't require gloves. From a technical point of view, pre-heating the rotor hub and gear boxes is a good idea below 20 F in order to ensure that the rubber boots are not too rigid, allowing fluid weeps. It isn't unsafe to fly when it is really cold - it just may get a bit messy around the hub if the boots weep fluid.

Operationally, the warm-up time on the ground before flying takes an extra 2 to 3 minutes. The engine generates tons of extra heat, so this doesn't take long at all to warm everything up. We also have a oil pan pre-heater that we try to plug in 3 to 5 hours before flying. This makes engine starting easier, and ensures that oil flows freely at start-up.

So no, we haven't "winterized" the helicopter. We try to fly every week - and would love to every day, weather and time permitting!

2011 Illinois Parade Flyovers

2010-10-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for small parades in Central Illinois that would like a helicopter flyover. Our helicopter is relatively small, however a flyover is impressive none the less. If you're the planner for a parade in 2011 and would like me to consider visiting your parade, give me a call at 309-473-8505.

Summer flights over Central Illinois

2010-08-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

Nate's farm SE of Heyworth. This will soon include a bunch of windmills!

Aerial shot of Heyworth, IL looking to the south from old US 51.

Our farm, east of Heyworth, home of MB Aero (29IL)

ENG helicopter for Central Illinois

2010-08-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

Do you need footage or stills from the air for a news story in Central Illinois? We might be able to arrange a flight for you. We are also looking for businesses that want a unique opportunity to have a significant presence in every local newscast in Central Illinois. 309-473-8505

Building Helicopter Time in Illinois

2009-12-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

Back in 2007, I took what I thought was going to be my DREAM job. I started working for Rural King, a farm and home store with locations throughout the Midwest. I was hired as an IT manager, but the big benefit to me was that Rural King had two Robinson R44 helicopters.

I had already gotten my commercial helicopter rating back in 2006, and I had my own R22 for about a year before I figured out that I couldn't afford it. I ran across an old flying buddy, and he was building time by flying for Rural King.

Rural King uses its R44 fleet to fly regional managers to the various stores throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. They also have a store in Michigan and two in Ohio - those are some pretty good cross-country flights in an R44 though.

While I was there, I did a lot of work - it was one of the hardest if not the hardest IT jobs I ever had. We ran with a real skeleton crew, and I was living 100 miles away. After driving an hour and a half each way, my days turned out to be 12 to 13 hours long every day. We also worked every other Saturday. No free time at all.

But the flying...we'll it was a lot of fun for a while. We flew nearly every day. I flew across the state fixing computers, phones, and credit card machines. And on the good days, I was JUST a pilot ferrying around the big shots. We flew brand new R44s, with hydraulics and A/C. It was SWEET!

With the long hours, and the lackluster pay, I decided to take a better IT job and leave the flying to the kids that were headed on to the big leagues. Most of the past Rural King pilots have moved on to the Gulf of Mexico or to EMS flying.

If you are looking for a way to build time (500 hours a year maybe) and not take the flight instructor route, give Rural King a try. The main office is in Mattoon, IL, and you can address your CV/resume to the chief pilot.