January 5th, 2007
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Experience the Big Island
Circle of Fire plus Waterfalls
Tour the Kilauea Volcano, the most geologically active environment on earth, which has been continuously erupting since 1983. This tour emphasizes the most current areas of volcanic activity. View lava flows and black sand beaches, see tropical rain forests and small cascading waterfalls, all while learning about the history and culture of Hawaii.
Departs from Hilo Heliport. 45-50 minute flight.
$209.28/person
Departs from Waikoloa Heliport. 45-50 minute flight.
A-Star = $227.30/person Eco-Star = $248.50/person
Departs from Waikoloa Heliport. 2-hour event.
A-Star = $424.00/person Eco-Star = $477.00/person
For reservations for any of these tours, please contact Abby Lapointe at:
Phone: 1-800-843-8771 ext. 23; Email: abby@hawaii-aloha.com
Tour routes and sights visited may vary according to wind and weather conditions. Volcanic activity varies hourly.
Eco-Star vs A-Star Comparison
Since the late 1980s,the American Eurocopter “A-Star” has been the tour helicopter of choice for professional tour operations worldwide. In Hawaii it is the industry standard – favored by all the top helicopter tour companies for its open cabin design that affords a 180º sweeping view for each passenger.
This feature has been further enhanced in the revolutionary new American Eurocopter “ECO-Star” – the first touring helicopter of the 21st Century. But that’s just the beginning. Passenger comfort, interior space, and engineering have all been raised to state-of-the-art levels. Blue Hawaiian is the first helicopter tour company in the world to introduce the incredible new ECO-Star, plus we continue to proudly fly our superb fleet of A-Stars.
Advantages of the ECO-Star:
- 23% increase in cabin space over the A-Star affords significantly greater personal space for guests, along with improved visibility. All A-Stars use bench seating for every passenger.
- Superior comfort; individual seats for every passenger afford the kind of shoulder room and personal space found in airline "first class" seating.
- Raised rear seating and wrap-around glass cockpit, for greater visibility from every seat.
- ECO-Star has a $2.1 million price tag – 80% more than a standard A-Star.
- First helicopter specifically designed for touring.
- High-tech, enclosed "fenestron," or "fan in fin," replaces A-Star’s conventional tail rotor. Fenestron is: Safer, Quieter and More efficient – using 25% less engine horsepower, which can now be utilized by the main rotor system.
- State-of-the-art fuel control automatically optimizes main rotor speed for quietest operations and instant power response. Achieved with a "Full Authority Digital Electronic Control" (FADEC), utilizing a primary electronic channel with one electronic backup channel and a third hydro-mechanical backup control.
- Engine uses latest "Grown Crystal" technology for turbine blades – increasing power, heat tolerance and fuel efficiency. This, along with the FADEC, is the same technology used in state-of-the-art airline engines such those on the leading-edge Boeing 777.