Apparently the FAA rules are about to change soon. After that, you will be able to buy your very own personal fly-by-wire helicopter, without needing a full pilot’s license. At least in theory.
“Fly-by-wire” simply means that a computer sits between the controls that you manipulate and the controls that actually fly the vehicle. So if you screw up, you are less likely to crash the helicopter.
Still, you’ll need at least 30 hours of training to be allowed to fly your little civilian helicopter, at $300 of training time per hour. Then again, if you can afford the $188,000 you’ll need to buy one of these things, you won’t miss the $9000 it will cost you to not kill yourself.
When I was a little kid, I really wanted my own little personal helicopter. Now that I am a grownup, I am less sure that I want one.
Still, it’s nice to know that I will soon have the option. At least in theory.