What is a helicopter tour of Los Angeles like? — featuring Drift0r (Adventure Helicopter Tours)

In this video: Helicopter Tour of Los Angeles During E3

Drift0r · 13 years ago

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How long is a typical helicopter tour with Adventure Helicopter Tours?

While the video doesn't specify an exact duration, the pilot flew passengers for longer than they paid for, suggesting flexibility with flight times. Contact the company directly to confirm standard tour lengths and pricing tiers.

At a glance

Length
4 min
Channel
Drift0r
Video from
Jun 2013
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
LA visitors wanting an aerial city perspective and adventurous spirit.

What this video answers

  • How long is a typical helicopter tour with Adventure Helicopter Tours?
  • What is the visibility like from the helicopter?
  • Can groups book together?
  • Is the pilot experienced and personable?
  • What should I do if I'm stranded after the tour?
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Overview of This Los Angeles Helicopter Tour from Adventure Helicopter Tours

This video captures a scenic helicopter flight over Los Angeles during E3, departing from San Fernando Valley and offering aerial views of downtown LA and surrounding areas. The experience is hosted by Adventure Helicopter Tours with pilot Rob, a enthusiastic and generous guide who goes above and beyond standard tour expectations. The flight showcases the sprawling cityscape from a bird's-eye perspective, making it an ideal outing for visitors wanting to see more of LA in a short, memorable way.

This tour suits travelers visiting Los Angeles who want an unconventional city experience, photographers seeking aerial perspectives, and anyone comfortable with small aircraft who craves a quick adrenaline boost during their stay. It's particularly appealing for groups—the video features multiple passengers enjoying the ride together—and for those pressed for time but wanting maximum visual impact.

Key Moments

Highlights of the Flight Route and Experience

  • Aerial views of downtown Los Angeles from above, showcasing the urban skyline and layout of the city center
  • Flights over various neighborhoods and geographic features visible from altitude across the greater LA area
  • A largely glass cockpit offering unobstructed views for passengers throughout the tour
  • Pilot Rob's exceptional service, including freshly washed windows for optimal visibility and an extended flight beyond the scheduled time
  • An unexpected bonus ride to the subway station after landing when the group found themselves stranded without transportation in a remote area
  • The pilot's personable nature—he drives a 1996 Honda Civic and treats passengers as friends rather than customers
Featured image for the guide to Helicopter Tour of Los Angeles During E3 by Drift0r

What to Know Before Booking Your Adventure Helicopter Tour Flight

  • Book with Adventure Helicopter Tours, which operates from San Fernando Valley with well-maintained helicopters and experienced pilots
  • Expect a largely glass cockpit design that maximizes viewing opportunities for all passengers
  • Arrive prepared for a flight that may extend beyond your booked duration—the pilot demonstrated willingness to give passengers extra time in the air
  • Plan your transportation to and from the departure point; pilot Rob assisted passengers by providing a ride to public transit when needed
  • The experience is suitable for groups and works well as a standalone activity during a city visit
  • Tours depart from San Fernando Valley, which may require travel time from central LA depending on your accommodation

Frequently Asked Questions About Los Angeles Helicopter Tours

How long is a typical helicopter tour with Adventure Helicopter Tours?

While the video doesn't specify an exact duration, the pilot flew passengers for longer than they paid for, suggesting flexibility with flight times. Contact the company directly to confirm standard tour lengths and pricing tiers.

What is the visibility like from the helicopter?

The helicopter features a largely glass cockpit with windows that the pilot freshly washes before each tour, ensuring clear, unobstructed views of the city below for all passengers.

Can groups book together?

Yes. The video shows multiple passengers enjoying the flight simultaneously, and the experience works well for groups wanting to share the adventure together.

Is the pilot experienced and personable?

The video features pilot Rob, who demonstrates exceptional customer service by extending the flight, ensuring clean windows, and even providing ground transportation assistance when passengers needed a ride to the subway—far beyond typical tour operator duties.

What should I do if I'm stranded after the tour?

While Adventure Helicopter Tours is based in San Fernando Valley, which is not central LA, the pilot in this video helpfully offered passengers a ride to nearby public transit. It's wise to arrange your own transportation in advance or confirm with the company what options exist for getting back to your hotel or main destinations.

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Key Terms

E3
A major video game industry conference and expo held annually, which brought the content creators to Los Angeles for this tour.
San Fernando Valley
A region in Los Angeles County northwest of downtown LA where this helicopter tour company is based.
Glass cockpit
A helicopter cabin design with extensive windows and transparent panels that allow passengers to see in multiple directions during flight.
Aerial tour
A sightseeing flight taken from a helicopter or small aircraft to view landscapes and landmarks from above.

Sources: E3 · San Fernando Valley · Glass cockpit · Aerial tour — definitions cross-referenced with Wikipedia

Justin’s Take

This video is genuinely helpful because it shows what a high-quality, personalized helicopter tour can look like when both the operator and pilot prioritize passenger experience over bare minimums. It gives potential bookers realistic expectations: you're not just paying for altitude, you're paying for access to someone's expertise and willingness to make the experience memorable.

What I loved most was watching the casual generosity unfold—from the freshly washed windows to the unexpected ride home. It captures the human side of adventure tourism, reminding viewers that a great tour hinges on the person flying the helicopter as much as the city below. This is absolutely worth booking if you're visiting LA and have the budget.

Great video · 2 out of 2

Justin
Justin

Years on the front lines of helicopter tour coordination — not as a travel blogger, but as the person responsible for making every guest experience go right. Managed 2,000+ cruise guests weekly as Shore Excursions staff aboard the Pride of America in Hawaii Personally coordinated with helicopter tour operators to confirm age, weight, and safety requirements.

Video by Drift0r on YouTube. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe to their channel and show your support for the great video.

Description

Also on board: http://www.youtube.com/user/oL0RDo and http://www.youtube.com/user/horselessproductions
While visiting for LA for E3 I wanted to see more of the city. Figured why not just get a helicopter tour? Got lucky and booked with Adventure Helicopter Tours which turned out to have an awesome pilot called Rob. He just washed the windows on the largely glass cockpit, flew us around LA for longer than we paid for, and then gave us a ride home!

MUSIC: https://www.youtube.com/user/ApproachingNirvana
Illusion (Instrumental) by Approaching Nirvana
YT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcl7QtPdg_w
Amazon: http://amzn.to/TulSA1
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/W5AHHl
Website: http://bit.ly/12TM1w7

Video transcript for “Helicopter Tour of Los Angeles During E3” Accessibility

A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.

all right hey guys Drifter here I'm out in San Fernando Valley with oord o we're not doing what you think that we're going to do in San Fernando Valley we're actually going to go r on a ride on this little uh helicopter fly over downtown LA and some other cool places and I hope you enjoy

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[Music] oh hey so our day just got a little bit more interesting we were way out of our Element no cabs out here it's not La so

our pilot decided to give us a ride to the subway super nice guy yeah so he flies helicopters and he drives a 96 on the Civic beautiful little car yay

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