Aviation Related Sites
Financing
I usually don't get into any product or service endorsements, but for financing and insurance I must say that in this case I had a very good experience with both.
NAFCO is a full service broker. They'll do all the legwork associated with getting you financed with the least amount of pain. Better than a trip to the dentist, NAFCO can do pretty much all legwork including FAA documentation, title search, etc. - all for a small fee. I personally dealt with Chuck Dimelar and in just a few days had my financing in order. Overall, a good experience for me.
Insurance
Again, another good experience with my insurance. I won't disclose my rates, but I can say that the cost was competitive with two other insurance companies and the options were much more flexible. Talk with Raymond Baril and he'll help you out. This company is located in Montreal, Canada and Raymond is a great guy to work with.
It's hard enough to insure anything that flies, let alone a helicopter (and again, let alone an experimental helicopter). It is comforting to know that you can get good coverage (both hull and liability) for this helicopter at a fairly reasonable price.
I chose this company because of the following options that the competition would not or could not offer:
1. Flexible payment options;
2. Agreed value for loss (if you want more hull coverage, you simply pay more);
3. Adding pilots to the policy did not increase the premium;
4. I was able to bind insurance over the phone in minutes;
5. Policy is pro-rated and transferrable.
Aircraft Related Sites
RotorWay International - Of course, the maker of this kit. There is quite a bit of information here. This page should answer 99% of all your questions. Has links to insurance, financing, other related wesite, etc. Get the video and info pack and you'll be hooked!
RotorWay International History Webpage - Not a professional affiliation with RotorWay, but accurate information on the history of the founder (BJ Schramm), the company, and of course - the helicopters. Great photos of the old stuff.
The Air & Space Smithsonian Magazine - VERY cool website. Not dedicated to helicopters, but one of my favorite web pages.
EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) - Self explanatory.
EAA Chapter 14, San Diego, CA - The local EAA Chapter to which I belong.
Otto Engineering - Manufacturers of good commercial and mil-spec swithces and controls. I used their switches in my grips including the 4-way thumb operated trim switch. Make sure you get to the grips and controls section.
Cleveland Tool - A place to find all those weird tools you'll need to do the weird things. You'll find tools like sheet metal hole drills, angle indicators, dial calipers, etc.
Kitplanes - Kitplanes Magazine on-line. There is an 8 page section on Jeff Dunham's Exec162F project that is already done and flying. Good information but not so good photos. They've updated this site recently and given it quite a facelift. Great looking site with a good bit of information.
Landings Aviation Search Engines FARs, N-Numbers, NTSBs, SDRs, ADs, AMEs, Pilots, Medical Examiners, Regulations - This is an all-exclusive site for aviation related information. A "must see" webpage.
Aircraft Spruce and Specialty - Everything under the sun for homebuilding, restoring, parts, etc. Get their catalog.
Flight Suits Flight Jackets, Flying Helmets, EMS & Tactical Uniforms - One of the better sites for Aviation helmets, suits and other great stuff! New, not surplus and all high quality. I bought my helmet, flightsuit and gloves here. Not cheap but only the best stuff.
http--www.aviationhelmets.com-helmet.htm - Helmets, mikes and other equipment - new and used and less expensive than others I've seen.
HELICOPTEROS THE PAGE,ALL ABOUT HELICOPTERS - ENGLISH-ESPAŅOL - This site is where I got my start. A great deal of information with lots of great pictures of helicopters.
Helicopters Only - Again, self explanatory.
Helispot - Home Page - Another one of the better Helicopter WebPages out there.
Popular Rotorcraft Assn Home Page - Lots of info on gyros. Also contains an unofficial RotorWay chat forum.
Sport Helicopter & Pilot Global Info. Exchange - Probably the best site on the web regarding information on the entire amateur built helicopters. Period. Every make, model, info, pics, the works. The webmaster has built, flown, maintained many types and has a very unbiased attitude toward the kit helicopter industry. Another "must see" site.
Pacific Coast Avionics - I got my radio, intercom, headsets, etc., here. You can get good deals on refurbished equipment too. Ask for Tom - he'll help you out.
Varga Enterprises - Like the Home Depot of aviation, this place is huge and has lots of goodies under one roof. Great site - definitely one to bookmark.
Official FAA/NTSB Websites
FAA Flight Standards District Locator Page (FSDO) - This is where you'll find the nearest FSDO to your location. Be nice to these people...they'll be "signing off" your aircraft and issuing it with a certificate of airwothiness.
FedWorld FAA Document-File Search - Search for FAA documents and get info on building your own kit airplane or helicopter.
FAA Flight Standards Home Page - The FAA Flight Standards Service (AFS) home page provides Aviation Safety Information and links to other FAA and U.S. Government aviation information locations on the Internet.
FAA Office of Regulation and Certification - Self explanatory, I would hope.
TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) Chapters I and III Federal Aviation Regulations - The official FAA site for the FAR's from Parts 1 through 199. Don't spend another nickle buying the FAR's book from your local flight school - they're all right here.
Official NTSB Website - I've shortened this link to point directly to the aviation crash look-up table index. That's where every morbid, twisted mind likes to go anyway so I made it easy.
Aftermarket RotorWay Helicopter Products and Services
Heliservices - John Pohlman's website. John has built, modified and flown his own 162F successfully and has also developed several aftermarket products for the RotorWay helicopters such as an electric clutch system. John also sells several special tools required for assembly that are not included in the kit.
Pro-Drive - An aftermarket belt drive system to replace the factory chain drive system. Less weight, less noise, better overall performance according to the manufacturer. John Spurling (an award winning Exec162F builder and owner) the president and designer, also has an electric clutch setup and a really nice tail rotor upgrade.
RotorWay Helicopter Insurance - There are others; this is just one of them. (If I can get the others to return my phone calls, maybe I'll post a link to their site). Ask for Raymond here and he'll help you out.
RotorWay Exec Series Canopy Covers - Custom covers for the canopy, fuselage, rotor head and more. Scroll down close to the bottom until you see the RotorWay listing.
Other Builders' sites
Ron Curry, John Rahn, J. Mark Wolf, Ron Spiker, Stan Maige - Other RotorWay Exec builders websites - just to name a few. A must to visit if you are considering building.
Wait...there's more...
Ramona Airport - Where me and my helicopter hang out...
Radyne ComStream - My ever-gracious employer. We do everything from Global Satellite Systems Market Research, design and manufacturing of satellite modems, earth stations, microwave modems, upconverters, etc., to doing global-scale satellite internet systems for major governments. I used to travel all over the world installing these systems, now I just push paper.
Peek'r Technologies - Custom built astronomy products. Buyers, sellers, traders of Dobsonian Telescopes, Newtonian Telescopes Accessories, Eye Pieces, Electronic Finders, Focusers, Solar Filters, Sun Finders, Mirrors, Spiders, Dollies, Vertical Posts, CCD Video Cameras and Monitors.