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Members here with significant time on the L1 in utility work? What did you think of it? Never flown one though they show up well priced fairly frequently, could be worrisome, could be a decent opportunity. Yes we'd rather an L3, L4, B2, 407, B3, but they're priced differently, would like to focus on how the L1 fares here rather than scale up the conversation. Is it true most operational L1s weigh about 2200lbs? Should be able to move in the neighbourhood of 1500lbs on the hook at 50% fuel with a 200lb pilot? Any weak points? There's always the inevitable question of what will you be doing, answer is as usual everything, general utility from sea level to 7,500' that the machine can safely accept. Appreciate thoughts from those with L1 seat meat time.

That does it, for sure. Layman's take is if your primary attention has to be on the aircraft, it's flight time. If you're ground idling and able to update your instagram, it's not. At a certain point it becomes superfluous, and generally you'll find more respect reporting air time, as that's the only time you're improving as a pilot. I personally have three columns in my excel logbook; air time, bill time, engine time. Billing time coincides with the TC definition of "Flight", it requires more than my peripheral attention as a pilot to prevent something untoward occurring. 

Struggle to come to grips with the aesthetic criticism of the 505, plenty of helicopters are strange looking, that has absolutely nothing to do with utility, performance, or safety. I think the 505 is here to stay and have been surprised by the numbers being adopted globally. Specs, if it lives up to the book are highly impressive. Should prove rock solid too as the running gear is all old hat and shares DNA with a Massey Ferguson somewhere surely as all old Bells do. On the engine, surprised me but was likely a good move, it's a more evolved power plant, support has become very good for the Astar engines this decade that's an old news story the lack of support. Suspect the 505's stove will be easy to support too. 

The professional passenger... I had a guy say to me once “ I probably have more hours in this machine than you do” our conversation after that didn’t go to well!!!! 

What feck said...this can be said with the whole game especially when on finally approach. Don't need useless chat and finger pointing on final. I could tell you a good story about that some day ! Or the passengers that think they know more about flying than the pilot...lots of those around.