With the successes of the fractional model for business jet ownership, it was perhaps only a matter of time before a national fractional helicopter operation developed. Woodstock, Ga.-based Whirl Helicopters is basing its planned operation on the four-seat Robinson R44. Starting modestly, Whirl’s founders, Kenneth Starnes and Brad Barnett, currently own one of the popular rotorcraft and have an agreement for deliveries of five more over the next eight months.
The current proposed plan calls for customers to purchase one-eighth shares of the R44s for about $62,000 for a 36-month term. “At the end of three years you are going to have a guaranteed buyback,” said Starnes. “We’re going to give you back a little more than $25,000, which is going to come back to you in the form of selling your share back to us [less depreciation]. You can walk away, you can re-invest it in another ship, whatever you want to do.” Whirl said it will reserve one share from each helicopter for its own use.
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