Helio Aircraft Corporation lawsuit against Air Asia (CIA)?

[Jesper]

Hi all

While commuting on the freeway en route to my job, I came to think of Christopher Robbins' 'Air America'.

Although I'm not able to distinguish facts from 'sea stories', speculations and assumptions, it's a fantastic book with a fantastic gallery of characters, fantastic stories of spectacular flying and as entertaining as any good and 'well cut' spy novel.

Anyway, I think I can recall something about Helio Aircraft Corporation running a lawsuit (In the late 70's?) against CIA's Air Asia, Taiwan, for actually building a considerable number of 'unauthorized' and 'covert' Helio Couriers. Which almost cost the dear life of Helio Aircraft Corporation.

Do any of you know the outcome of this? And did any of you ever meet a former CAT, AA, SAT or Intermountain pilot?

[aseanaero]

I can't answer your specific question but I will mention as an aside that there are still a lot of NOS and overhauled parts floating around Asia with Air Asia Taiwan tags on them. I bought a stack of Bell 204/205/412 and Sikorsky S58T parts last year and I was surprised how many parts had old Air Asia tags on them ... and that's in Indonesia

[John Dupre]

Regarding the CIA vs. Helio story is there any truth to the rumor that they actually burgled the Helio design offices in Bedford, MA in order to steal the plans? Or was it a matter of reverse engineering? I was told the burglary story by a former Helio mechanic/test pilot.

[airknocker]

Tons of info on Air America aircraft:
http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collect ... ndex3.html

[The Inspector]

Lots and lots of years ago, FLYING Magazine did a review of the HELIO and in the body of the article, the folks @ General Aircraft stated that over time, the CIA/Air America had requested one at a time, prints and engineering documents to 'fix damaged aircraft' until it dawned on General that they weren't selling any airplanes to the 'SHHHH' guys anymore, this was in the time frame when the CIA director asked 'so, how many airplanes do we have?' and the answer was 'we have absolutely no idea sir' the beaky snastards

[tasmanxer]

I met Dr. Otto Koppen at the Hyannis, MA airport in 1976 while he was taking instrument flying lessons from John Somero, a local IP. Dr. Koppen had a Grumman Tiger fitted out with full intrumentation and joked he had to get a small instructor because of weight considerations. I asked him about the lawsuit with the CIA and he said they'd settled out of court.