Two visionary builders in an Alaskan hangar are on a mission to transform general aviation
- An American duo is planning to revive an old bush aircraft
- The Helio Courier was built from the 1950s to the 1970s
- The aim is to fill a gap in the bush aircraft market
Published on Apr 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Apr 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Henry Kelsall
Two Americans are on a mission to transform general aviation from a hangar in Alaska by recreating the Helio Courier.
Aviation fans Lucas and Abe have acquired a type certificate and 75-year-old blueprints for the Courier bush aircraft.
The pair plan on reviving the aircraft, which has been out of production for some time, to fill a gap in the aviation market for a certified bush aircraft.
This won’t be an easy task, as many have failed in similar ventures, however, they have a lot of drive and ambition to change this.
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Recreating a piece of aviation history
The aircraft they want to recreate is the Helio Courier, an aircraft that was originally produced in Kansas from 1954 to 1974.
Created as a Short Take Off or Landing aircraft, or STOL, only 500 Couriers were built in total.
They soon became famous for those short takeoff and landing distances.
In addition, as they could fly low and slow, they were perfect for operating in the bush.
In fact, they were so good at it that the military, including the US Army and Air Force, used them.
The two friends believe now is the perfect time to bring the Courier back to life.
How the Helio Courier will be resurrected
To resurrect the Courier, the two have acquired an unmarked hangar in Birchwood, Alaska, to begin a new production run.
The team has gone to extreme lengths to build the Courier.
They obtained almost all of the original blueprints for the aircraft to recreate it as accurately as possible.
Using those blueprints, they’ll also create new tooling for the Courier.
Doing it now comes with the bonus of modern production and construction methods.
But choosing what engine to use was also part of the process
The pair settled on a huge three-blade propeller, along with a direct-drive engine, and this combination will deliver huge amounts of thrust.
The team behind it has set itself quite a challenge, however.
Should everything go to plan, the aircraft will be flying at the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering in May 2025.
That’s going to be a big ask, but they clearly have the ambition to see this project take to the skies.
We can’t wait to see it take flight.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
