Downtown Detroit Helicopter Tours Coming Soon!

**coracle** · July-09-13, 05:39 PM

It's an anti-social noisy idea for people living on the flight path. If they live on the water of course it may get drowned out by the Speedboat tours and the Double Decker Buses.

**marshamusic** · July-09-13, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by coracle

It's an anti-social noisy idea for people living on the flight path.

Guess that's what I was sayin' - but nicer.

**Downriviera** · July-09-13, 05:52 PM

The first customer will be EM Kevin Orr, giving the creditors an aerial view of the devastation.

**jw101** · July-09-13, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Downriviera

My zip line tour I'm planning from the Ren Cen to Fisher building will cut into your business.

lol, that sounds really fun. a bit over your head though.

**Meddle** · July-09-13, 06:59 PM

Will your birds have armor plating?

Will they be able to return ground fire?

**jw101** · July-09-13, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Meddle

Will your birds have armor plating?

Will they be able to return ground fire?

lol what? idk what that means

**Gannon** · July-10-13, 10:37 AM

You must not be from around here.

**downtownguy** · July-10-13, 12:49 PM

Several years ago [[2007?) they offered helicopter rides during River Days from the area just east of Rivard Plaza. I popped for one at $35. We went in a counter-clockwise circle ascending over Lafayette Park through lower Midtown to Tiger Stadium and back. Lasted 15-20 minutes and I thought it was well worth it. Marsha, I was living in one of the Lafayette Park hi-rises at the time and they went right overhead all weekend. I never felt they were a nuisance.

jw101, if you haven't already, you might see who you can contact that was associated with those tours, and see if they would share any info on it's profitability and/or viability as a continuing operation.

**poobert** · July-10-13, 04:12 PM

Some of you act like you would take a flying machine as a sign the gods are angry. Sometimes I wonder what century Michiganders are living in.

As if we didn't already have helicopters. There are the news helos, police helos, USCG helos, and numerous other ones constantly buzzing around. And if the new big thing to worry about in Detroit is helo noise, well, then you probably haven't been paying attention.

There is also virtually nowhere in the metro area where you can't hear the constant din of freeways. Go somewhere that doesn't jam freeways through everything and the difference is startling. Again, I'm not quite sure what paradise is being lost here.

I'm not convinced Detroit is a big time tourist destination [[once you rule out dreary auto industry folks and Canadians coming to work or school I'm sure the numbers plummet) but I can't really find fault with this idea. I think people would pay money for helo tours and it could be a profitable enterprise. Good luck.

**jw101** · July-11-13, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by poobert

Some of you act like you would take a flying machine as a sign the gods are angry. Sometimes I wonder what century Michiganders are living in.

As if we didn't already have helicopters. There are the news helos, police helos, USCG helos, and numerous other ones constantly buzzing around. And if the new big thing to worry about in Detroit is helo noise, well, then you probably haven't been paying attention.

There is also virtually nowhere in the metro area where you can't hear the constant din of freeways. Go somewhere that doesn't jam freeways through everything and the difference is startling. Again, I'm not quite sure what paradise is being lost here.

I'm not convinced Detroit is a big time tourist destination [[once you rule out dreary auto industry folks and Canadians coming to work or school I'm sure the numbers plummet) but I can't really find fault with this idea. I think people would pay money for helo tours and it could be a profitable enterprise. Good luck.

AMEN! So well said, thank you, I appreciate it.

**Honky Tonk** · July-11-13, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by poobert

Some of you act like you would take a flying machine as a sign the gods are angry. Sometimes I wonder what century Michiganders are living in.

As if we didn't already have helicopters. There are the news helos, police helos, USCG helos, and numerous other ones constantly buzzing around. And if the new big thing to worry about in Detroit is helo noise, well, then you probably haven't been paying attention.

There is also virtually nowhere in the metro area where you can't hear the constant din of freeways. Go somewhere that doesn't jam freeways through everything and the difference is startling. Again, I'm not quite sure what paradise is being lost here.

I'm not convinced Detroit is a big time tourist destination [[once you rule out dreary auto industry folks and Canadians coming to work or school I'm sure the numbers plummet) but I can't really find fault with this idea. I think people would pay money for helo tours and it could be a profitable enterprise. Good luck.

I think you're hearing things. It's one thing to have a 'copter fly by once in a while, and another to have it flying by day in day out over and over, same pattern, or hanging there hovering while people gawk. Go visit a friend either in Dearborn, or Romulan Territory. You'll hear what I mean.

**night-timer** · July-12-13, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by jw101

Hello! I am working on starting a helicopter tour business in Downtown soon. Detroit attracts over 19 million tourists a year, and it's growing! But, they're getting tired of the current options. Everything is going good, but I need YOUR help! This DOES NOT require any monetary support, just a simple click. if you go to http://www.startgarden.com/ ,you will need to sign in using Facebook. after that, go to the Ideas page [[Ideas tab should be at top of page) then find XOGI Tours. Simply click the picture, and click "endorse". It means a lot to me! I really want this in Detroit, and if this succeeds, I will personally continue to grow the tourist market in Detroit, by adding speedboat tours, double-decker bus tours, and eventually, Detroit's first SkyDeck. Thanks so much!

I have done a lot of aerial photography from helicopters. I fly with the door removed as it creates more possibility of shooting angles and just better freedom of movement in general. A bigger chopper, like the Bell Jet Ranger, gives a more stable platform. It seems you are looking for a funding grant to start your Detroit-based tourism business. That's what I noticed when I visited the Start Garden website in your link. You sound very entrepreneurial, yet you are doing a business start-up with none of your own money? I don't think of speedboat tours when I think of Detroit. It also surprises me that you want to start multiple tourism-based businesses in Detroit, yet you have never heard of "ghetto gawkers" nor know what the term means. Don't get me wrong, Detroit has a lot to offer. I'd rather see ruin porn or people ghetto-gawking than those reality TV shows about pawn stores, antique bargain hunters or tow-truck repo outfits.

**jw101** · July-13-13, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by night-timer

I have done a lot of aerial photography from helicopters. I fly with the door removed as it creates more possibility of shooting angles and just better freedom of movement in general. A bigger chopper, like the Bell Jet Ranger, gives a more stable platform. It seems you are looking for a funding grant to start your Detroit-based tourism business. That's what I noticed when I visited the Start Garden website in your link. You sound very entrepreneurial, yet you are doing a business start-up with none of your own money? I don't think of speedboat tours when I think of Detroit. It also surprises me that you want to start multiple tourism-based businesses in Detroit, yet you have never heard of "ghetto gawkers" nor know what the term means. Don't get me wrong, Detroit has a lot to offer. I'd rather see ruin porn or people ghetto-gawking than those reality TV shows about pawn stores, antique bargain hunters or tow-truck repo outfits.

Thanks for the tip! Everyone please remember to head to http://www.startgarden.com/ and endorse XOGI Tours!

**marshamusic** · July-14-13, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I think you're hearing things. It's one thing to have a 'copter fly by once in a while, and another to have it flying by day in day out over and over, same pattern, or hanging there hovering while people gawk. Go visit a friend either in Dearborn, or Romulan Territory. You'll hear what I mean.

Thank you.

**Zacha341** · July-14-13, 08:05 AM

There's no amount of money that could put me up in a helicopter outside of a medic transfer where of course I know they save lives. I am just too scared otherwise... I have seen the tours before and folks seems to love it.

**marshamusic** · July-14-13, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by jw101

Thanks for the tip! Everyone please remember to head to http://www.startgarden.com/ and endorse XOGI Tours!

I will join my community in doing what we can to prevent you from flying tours over our quiet, peaceful neighborhood of Lafayette Park.

Detroit is not a blank slate.

**jw101** · July-14-13, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by marshamusic

I will join my community in doing what we can to prevent you from flying tours over our quiet, peaceful neighborhood of Lafayette Park.

Detroit is not a blank slate.

weren't cities meant to be loud? Since when is a quiet downtown normal? I could come up with another activity, but just saying.

**Zacha341** · July-14-13, 10:56 AM

Hmm, that's a point -- I live not too far from a hospital and we get buzzed by medic helicopters sometimes. It's tolerable as you know someones life is being saved. Day in and day out for entertainment. Not sure if I'd be feeling that.

Originally Posted by marshamusic

I will join my community in doing what we can to prevent you from flying tours over our quiet, peaceful neighborhood of Lafayette Park.