Former Coast Guard pilot turns military chopper into a motorhome
Published on Apr 11, 2023 at 5:44 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Apr 16, 2023 at 1:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Meet the Helicamper, a retired US Coast Guard helicopter that’s been converted into a cozy RV.
Blake Morris and his wife Maggie Morton, both former US Coast Guard pilots, found the chopper on Facebook Marketplace and decided to turn it into a ‘little’ project.
It took over 900 hours of work but the end result is spectacular.
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When Morris found this SA 330 J Puma Helicopter for sale, a light bulb went on in his brain.
The first thing he did was replace the tail at the back with a vertical window to give the interior extra light.
The cold, hard metal panels you’d find in a standard Army chooper are gone and the entire cabin is now finished in polished wood.
There’s a fridge, a toilet, a fully-equipped kitchen with a sink and a bedroom.
He even converted the circuit panels into storage units.
The Helicamper also features a lounge area with a TV, a coffee table and enough room for a couch or even an extra bed.
Originally built in France, the SA 330 Puma isn’t a small chopper.
A 1970s model such as this is longer a transit bus and taller than a van.
It’s designed to accommodate and transport up to 20 passengers.
It’s rare, too.
The manufacturer only built 697 of these and most were destroyed or dismantled a long time ago.
Blake Morris and Maggie have no intention of selling it after all the hard work they put it to build it.
Mind you, if they did, they’d probably get their money back… and change.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
