Missouri man who has a personal helicopter shares how much it costs to own

Owning a personal helicopter may sound like a billionaire’s indulgence, but one Missouri man says it’s actually more attainable than most people think.

In a recent video, Matt Lombard broke down the real costs of operating what he calls the world’s smallest and cheapest factory-built helicopter, the Robinson R22.

Far from being just a toy, this two-seat helicopter can be used for training, charter, or even commercial work.

But as the Missouri man explains, while it’s relatively affordable by aviation standards, it’s still far from cheap.

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Piloting your personal helicopter isn’t cheap

Matt Lombard shared his experience owning the world’s smallest and cheapest helicopter in a video posted to his YouTube channel MattyIp.

The R22 is tiny, with a cockpit that barely fits two adults shoulder-to-shoulder.

Next to the multi-million dollar presidential helicopter that even has a bathroom, it looks almost like a toy, but it gets the job done.

At 6 feet tall, the owner says he fits ‘comfortably enough,’ but taller passengers may find their heads brushing the ceiling.

Even fully fueled, the helicopter is sensitive to weight, meaning two heavier passengers can sometimes push its limits.

It also skips luxuries like air conditioning, so removing the doors is his version of climate control.

Of course, when you’re flying in a doorless helicopter, you may find that something strange may happen when you put your leg outside the aircraft.

As for cost, Lombard said that Robinson helicopters range between $60,000 and $350,000, depending on condition and remaining flight hours.

That wide range exists because these aircraft require a full overhaul after 2,200 hours of flying, which means every major component will need to be replaced.

For the R22, this works out to around $63 per hour in depreciation and parts, on top of fuel and other expenses.

Speaking of fuel, the R22 burns about 8.2 gallons per hour, which is comically little compared to how much fuel a Boeing 747 uses.

At roughly $6 a gallon, it comes to around $50 an hour just to keep it airborne.

Insurance adds another $8,900 a year (around $750 a month), covering both liability and damage.

Storage, meanwhile, is relatively modest, at about $200 a month thanks to sharing hangar space with other pilots.

The freedom is worth it

Then there’s the upfront cost of getting licensed, unless you happen to be piloting a helicopter that only requires your driver’s license to fly.

A private helicopter license in the US takes six months to a year to earn and typically costs $15,000 to $25,000.

For aspiring professional pilots, however, buying a personal helicopter can actually save money in the long run, since renting an R22 costs about $350 per hour, which is double what he spends flying his own.

Despite the costs, the Missouri man insists the freedom is worth it.

While many of us dream of splurging on our dream cars, this man takes it to a whole new level by piloting his own personal helicopter.

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