In this conversational interview, host Kenny Keller talks with Dan Taz Christman of Chris Air Aviation about the iconic Bell 47 helicopter. Dan explains the Bell 47’s historic significance—its role as the first production helicopter, its use in the Korean War, as the first medevac platform, and its cultural presence in the TV show MASH. He then details the unique lineage of the specific airframe they operate: originally an advanced Army instrument trainer equipped with early TACAN/VOR equipment, later sold to Maine Fish & Game, then to a South Dakota tour company where it was painted in Harley‑Davidson black‑and‑gold colors and flew at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, subsequently used for power‑line patrol in South Carolina before Chris Air purchased it. Chris Air now offers Bell 47 flight training ranging from private pilot lessons to Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certification, as well as adventure flights over the Las Vegas red‑rock and mountain scenery. Viewers are directed to the company website (ChrisAirAviation.com) for booking, and are invited to visit North Las Vegas Airport to pick up free copies of the “Top 10 Checkride Tips” bestseller. Dan also shares the company’s social‑media presence (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and mentions upcoming participation in Heli Expo 2027, encouraging viewers to stay tuned.
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All right, we're here with Dan Taz Christman, North Las Vegas Airport. He is Chris Air Aviation, and we're going to introduce you to the Bell 47 that he's been flying here with his company. So I'm going to have Dan just share a little bit about the Bell 47 and what he's doing here at the North Las Vegas Airport. So Dan, all right, what do you want to share about coming and flying the Bell 47 with you?
Yeah, we're one of the only schools, one of the— definitely one of the only schools in the western part of the United States That trains and flies the Bell 47. So this is an iconic aircraft. It's the first commercial or production aircraft. So outside of that, this was the first. It was— it's iconic. It was used in the Korean War. It was the first medevac helicopter. I'm sure everybody's familiar with the TV show and the movie M*A*S*H. This was pivotal in that show.
And, uh, it was used in the show?
It was used— this particular one was not, but, um, the model was. Yeah, right. So, uh, this one though does have a pretty interesting lineage. Uh, it was originally an advanced instrument trainer for the Army, um, and, uh, so they installed like a TACAN and some VOR type stuff, which obviously nowadays we don't think of as advanced, but back in the day it was. And so this is the trainer that they used for that. After the Army sold it back in the mid-'80s, they sold it to the Maine Fish and Game. So that's why it's Foxtrot Golf Fish and Game. And they had it for a few years, and then they sold it to a company up in South Dakota that was— using it for strip— or for tours up in the Black Hills. And if you notice, it's painted black and gold, or black and orange. Those are Harley-Davidson colors. This helicopter was painted by Harley-Davidson at their Milwaukee plant and flew in, flew a motorcycle into the 19— or to the 75th anniversary of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It's got a hook on the bottom. They Long-lined it in, and supposedly they landed it at the Buffalo Chip. And yeah, so that's kind of where it's been. We bought it from a guy in South Carolina, and he was maintaining it for the company up there, and then he ended up buying it. He was using it for power line patrol and stuff like that. And then we bought it about a month ago, or 2 months ago. And we've been flying it ever since. So we offer flight training in it all the way from private through CFI. You can do adventure flights. So we come out and we take you through the, through the red rocks, through the mountains of Las Vegas. So if you want to come out and experience what it's like to fly a Bell 47, we've got several different packages. You can check it out on our website, ChrisAirAviation.com.
Awesome.
And, uh, see what you want to do.
So, all right, well, let us know. Give us a comment down below. What do you think of the Bell 47? I flew one 30 years ago, one of my first lessons, and then we had somebody stop once and I did a quick pattern. So when I go up with you, it'll be a new fun experience for me because I haven't been in one in many years.
Yeah, it's a great helicopter. This one is, this one is sweet. I— when we first got it, we started posting about it. I've got comments from all over the country of people that have actually flown it, and they say this is their favorite one that they've flown. So it's a, it's a great, it's a great Bell 47, and specifically just this particular one.
So, and if you swing by the North Las Vegas Airport, Dan has free copies of our Amazon number 1 bestseller, Top 10 Checkride Tips, a whole shelf full of them. So if you want to swing by and grab a book, have Dan sign it, And schedule your lesson, get ahold of him at, uh, as he discussed, chrisairaviation.com.
You can check us out on Instagram, Chris Air Aviation. We're on Facebook, uh, we've even got a TikTok, so you can find us on pretty much any of the social medias. And, uh, yeah, come check it out.
All right, and also we're going to make another video soon about, uh, we're making plans for Heli Expo 2027. We will be there, so Start making plans now. You'll hear more about that soon. So leave us a comment. We'll see you in the next video. Peace out.
