Helicopter Circumnavigation | Robinson R-44 | Flight Plan

Helicopter circumnavigation around the world is unique opportunity to make the most exciting adventure in life of human flying by helicopter over 39 611 kilometers and visit 21 countries.

Helicopter circumnavigation around the world is considered complete if a helicopter fly more than 37 000 km equal to the length of Tropic of Cancer.

With the advent of helicopters of Bell and Robinson family the opportunity to carry out world tour in a helicopter became available for many travelers around the world.

From the existing helicopter models the most suitable for trip around the world are Bell 407, Robinson R66 and Robinson R44.

- Bell 407 maximum range is 624 km with cruise speed 246 km/hour
- Roninson R66 maximum range is 648 km with cruise speed 222 km/hour
- Roninson R44 maximum range is 555 km with cruise speed 202 km/hour

Update! Flight around the world by helicopter could be done in flight simulator as well!)

If you look at flight plan of helicopter circumnavigation around the world you will find that the longest journey above the water surface occurs between Iceland (Kulusuk Airport) and Greenland (Patreksfjordur Airport) and is about 600 km as well as between Canada (Pangnirtung Airport) and Greenland (Sisimiut Airport) - about 545 km. So there are limits on maximum range of a helicopter and it is necessary to install an additional fuel tank to cover such a distance.

Another important point to choose Bell 407, Robinson R66 and Robinson R44 is the possibility of piloting of a helicopter by two pilots at a time which reduces the overall level of fatigue and increases flight safety. High in the sky long distance flights create a great psycho-physiological stress which can easily be discharged if a nearby chair flying your friend. Simple human communication as well as the opportunity to share experiences with another person creates a pleasant atmosphere of flying helicopter.

The latest generation of Bell and Robinson helicopters comes with the option of automatic pilot. The presence of autopilot allows the helicopter flight optimally and reduces the physical burden on pilots. Autopilot also allows pilots to eat during the flight without the need for special landing.

The period of time that should be spent on helicopter circumnavigation around the world is about 250 flight hours or 45-60 days depending on the breaks between flights for sightseeing tours in different countries on the route of the flight.

To fly by helicopter 250 hours it is needed specific aviation fuel:

- Bell 407- jet fuel based on an unleaded kerosene known as Jet A-1
- Robinson R66 - jet fuel based on an unleaded kerosene known as Jet A-1
- Robinson R44 - aviation gasoline known as Avgas or 100-LL (low-lead)

The cost of aviation fuel varies of the country, the airport and distance of main network of fuel supplies. For September 2025 cost of aviation fuel:

Avgas or 100-LL (low-lead) - 1.72 US dollars per liter
Jet A-1 - 0.56 US dollars per liter

The average value for fuel consumption at cruising speed for helicopters:

- Bell 407 takes 190 litres per hour or 106.4 US dollars per hour (250 hours cost - 26 600 USD)
- Roninson R66 takes 87 litres per hour or 48.72 US dollars per hour (250 hours cost - 12 180 USD)
- Roninson R44 takes 57 litres per hour or 98.04 US dollars per hour (250 hours cost - 24 510 USD)

Thus the cost of fuel for helicopter circumnavigation around the world is about 13 000 - 27 000 US dollars. Additionally need payment services at airports, visas, cost of hotels, meals, sightseeing tours in the cities upon arrival - another 30 000 US dollars or more.

From a rough calculation shows that the greatest costs fall not on the journey itself but for the purchase of helicopter. The cost of new helicoptersaccording to the price of plant manufacturer of Bell Textron and Robinson Helicopter Company:

- Bell 407GX cost around 3 000 000 US dollars
- Roninson R66 cost around 1 387 000 US dollars
- Roninson R44 cost around 615 500 US dollars

In order to save money there is a possibility to buy used helicopter Robinson that made up to 500-1000 flight hours. In this case average cost of used helicopter:

- Bell 407GX cost around 2 000 000 US dollars
- Roninson R66 cost around 1 000 000 US dollars
- Roninson R44 cost around 500 000 US dollars

So minimal total cost of helicopter circumnavigation around the world is around 550 000 - 600 000 US dollars in case of purchase of used helicopter Roninson R44.

During helicopter circumnavigation around the world there is a possibility to visit sights and attractions of UNESCO World Heritage list:

- St. Sophia Cathedral (Ukraine)
- Ancient City of Nessebar (Bulgaria)
- Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Geogria)
- Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Azerbaijan)
- State Historical and Cultural Park “Ancient Merv” (Turkmenistan)
- Historic Centre of Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
- Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures (Uzbekistan)
- Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (China)
- Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (Republic of Korea)
- Himeji-jo (Japan)
- Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (Japan)
- Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration (Japan)
- Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (United States of America)
- Olympic National Park (United States of America)
- Yosemite National Park (United States of America)
- Grand Canyon National Park (United States of America)
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park (United States of America)
- San Antonio Missions (United States of America)
- Everglades National Park (United States of America)
- Statue of Liberty (United States of America)
- Niagara Falls (not in UNESCO World Heritage) - Rideau Canal (Canada)
- Historic District of Old Québec (Canada)
- Þingvellir National Park (Iceland)
- Surtsey (Iceland)
- Heart of Neolithic Orkney (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- The Forth Bridge (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Durham Castle and Cathedral (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Tower of London (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Maritime Greenwich (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret (France)
- Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (France)
- Bordeaux, Port of the Moon (France)
- Vizcaya Bridge (Spain)
- Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain (Spain)
- Tower of Hercules (Spain)
- Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (Spain)
- Historic Centre of Guimarães (Portugal)
- Monastery of Batalha (Portugal)
- Cultural Landscape of Sintra (Portugal)
- Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (Portugal)
- Doñana National Park (Spain)
- Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada (Spain)
- Palmeral of Elche (Spain)
- La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia (Spain)
- Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona (Spain)
- Works of Antoni Gaudí (Spain)
- Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli (Italy)
- Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) (Italy)
- Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (Italy)
- Vatican City (Italy)
- Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura (Italy)
- 18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex (Italy)
- Historic Centre of Naples (Italy)
- Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata (Italy)
- Costiera Amalfitana (Italy)
- San Marino Historic Centre and Mount Titano (Italy)
- Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna (Italy)
- Venice and its Lagoon (Italy)
- Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue (Hungary)
- Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (Hungary)

For owners of private helicopters circumnavigation around the world is a unique opportunity to test pilot art of controlling the helicopter, see the best attractions around the world of UNESCO World Heritage just in 45 days and make a personal achievement.

Enjoy your life like Ross Perot Jr. and Jay Coburn (USA) who took helicopter Bell 206L-1 LongRanger "Spirit of Texas" to complete the first round-the-world flight (1982) or Dick Smith (Australia) who made the first solo circumnavigation by helicopter (1982–1983).

50 Safety Ideas for Helicopter Pilots to Discuss

1. Sunset - time to bed!
2. Be clear why you look here!
3. Wind is from here so flight path is clear!
4. Takeoff or land - headwind is scanned!
5. Variable wind over fifteen - passengers puke and it’s your job to clean!
6. Not fixed wing guy - slow down any time!
7. Visibility gets lower - flight speed is slower!
8. Five hundred feet - no wires to hit!
9. Look horizon and ground - do not fly upside down!
10. Entering cloud - crash with no doubt!
11. Over water Mr Hero - variometer over Zero!
12. More high in the sky - more decision time to fly!
13. When blades are standstill then leave stick and leave!
14. Dead man’s curve respect is a safety aspect!
15. Tiny move on stick lead to hover peak!
16. Right and left resistance - make it double distance!
17. If you want to keep the throttle - keep the people from tail rotor!
18. Covers in the air - helicopter scare!
19. Weather check preflight makes you stay alive!
20. The dew point cloak hangs - rain and fog is in your hands!
21. More fuel in any conditions - makes you sweat less on decisions!
22. Generator is on - hear the engine rhythmic tone!
23. Pilot without panic should know his engine like mechanic!
24. Pilot who limits achieve - sky will never forgive!
25. Descending mountain hill - overspeed is so real!
26. Mount range approach checkup - forty five degree backup!
27. Challenge incitement - go-around is your excitement!
28. Variometer up to five - engine longer be alive!
29. Horn high sound - collective full down!
30. For cross country flight - transfer wheels inside!
31. Top man push you make a flight - do as said or stay alive!
32. Only one super ability - understand your responsibility!
33. Keeping healthy way of life gives you many miles to fly!
34. Forecast your position with wind and decision!
35. Vuichard Autorotation - you never be news sensation!
36. Towers overfly - no need wires tie!
37. Slope landing lover - roll on ground hover!
38. Take-off in dirt or heavy snow - pull up collective very slow!
39. International airports just for stamp passport posts!
40. Airport check-up - having fuel fill-up!
41. Autopilot is your queen - in the clouds always win!
42. Air is unstable after helicopter fable!
43. Large birds fly - keep your distance high!
44. In icing condition - landing is right decision!
45. Helicopter puff - hour and half enough!
46. Passengers remain seat till blade spin is complete!
47. Sun right - wires left side, sun left - wires right heft!
48. Taxi lights blind when snowing at low visibility sign!
49. Left pedal takes power - feel fall of petal of flower!
50. Vuichard technique pray - vortex in... and get away!

Fly safe!

Helicopter Circumnavigation | Robinson R-44 | Flight Plan and Map

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