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An enclosed carbon-fiber cabin
The 500 replaces the bubble with a sleek carbon-fiber exterior shell, doors and an assembled tail boom. It is the newest Safari, first shown in 2018, and the one that turns heads on the ramp.
THE SAFARI 500
Safari 500 Sleek lines. Same proven heart.
The Safari 500 wraps the proven Safari drive train, controls and Lycoming IO-360 in an enclosed carbon-fiber cabin with doors. Build it from the complete kit, or order it flight-ready and fly the skies without the work.
Overview
The enclosed-cabin Safari.
The Safari 500 is the newest Safari: an enclosed carbon-fiber cabin with doors on the same Lycoming IO-360 powertrain, titanium-spindle rotor head and controls proven in the 400. The complete kit starts at $154,700, and a factory-built, flight-ready 500 built to your specifications starts at $195,100. Either way, the aircraft is powered by a real aircraft engine with a 2,000-hour TBO.
- Seats
- 2 side-by-side
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360
- Complete kit
- from $154,700 *
- * Prices as published by Safari Helicopter and subject to change. Confirm current pricing with the factory.
Features
New cabin. Same heart.
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The same proven drive train
Under the new skin is the Safari 400 heart: a 180 hp Lycoming IO-360 with a 2,000-hour TBO, the titanium-spindle rotor head, sprag clutch and the transmission with cooling fan and chip detector.
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Room for two, in comfort
Two side-by-side seats in leather or cloth with carpet, inside a cabin with real doors. Gross weight is 1,650 lb, with a 1,000 fpm rate of climb and a 10,000 ft service ceiling.
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Analog standard, glass optional
Every 500 kit ships with the instrument enclosure, electrical package, main rotor tachometer with alarms and a full set of gauges. Choose the optional MGL EFIS system for a glass panel.
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Order it flight-ready
Prefer to skip the build? The Safari 500 is available factory-completed, built to your exact specifications, from $195,100. Fly the skies without the work.
Key numbers
Safari 500 by the numbers
- Gross weight
- 1,650 LB
- Useful load
- 650 † LB
- Cruise speed
- 85 † MPH
- Vne
- 100 † MPH
- Rate of climb
- 1,000 FPM
- Service ceiling
- 10,000 FT
- † Unconfirmed — pending confirmation from Safari Helicopter.
- ‡ Preliminary — confirm with the factory.
Specifications
The full specification
Imperial values as published, with metric equivalents where they apply.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Seats | 2 side-by-side |
| Specification | Value | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Gross weight | 1,650 lb | 748 kg |
| Useful load | ~650 lb † | 295 kg |
| Fuel capacity | 28 US gal † | 106 L |
| Specification | Value | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Max speed (Vne) | 100 mph † | 87 kt |
| Cruise speed | 85 mph † the factory has not published a higher number for the sleeker cabin | 74 kt |
| Rate of climb | 1,000 fpm | |
| Service ceiling | 10,000 ft |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360 |
| Horsepower | 180 hp |
| TBO | 2,000 hr |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Main rotor | 2-blade composite, 12 ft blades titanium spindle head |
| Tail rotor | Titanium blades factory balanced |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Cabin | Enclosed, carbon-fiber exterior cabin shell assembled tail boom, doors |
| Avionics | Analog gauges standard optional MGL EFIS glass panel |
- † Unconfirmed — pending confirmation from Safari Helicopter.
- ‡ Preliminary — confirm with the factory.
What is in the kit
Everything you need to build it.
Includes everything you need — nothing else to buy.
Complete kit from $154,700 *
How a Safari goes together7 groups · 20 items in the complete kit
Airframe 3
- Fabricated and powder-coated frame
- Carbon-fiber exterior cabin shell and assembled tail boom
- Cabin completion package
Rotor system 5
- Main rotor head with titanium spindle
- Composite main rotor blades (12 ft) with adjustment plates
- Main transmission with cooling fan and chip detector
- Sprag overrunning clutch
- Tail rotor assembly with titanium blades
Powerplant 3
- IO-360 Lycoming engine
- Engine cooling shroud and vertical conversion package
- Governor installation package
Controls 3
- Cyclic electric trim package
- Collective friction lock package
- Chrome cyclic sticks
Instruments and electrical 4
- Instrument enclosure with electrical package
- Main rotor tachometer with alarms
- Multiple gauges, optional MGL EFIS system
- Navigation, landing, and strobe lights
Interior 1
- Upholstered seats (leather or cloth) with carpet
Ground handling 1
- Ground handling wheels and assembly
- * Prices as published by Safari Helicopter and subject to change. Confirm current pricing with the factory.
Ways to buy
Four ways to own a Safari 500
Buy the complete kit, buy it in stages, build it with us, or have the factory build it for you. Every option is powered by a real aircraft engine and the proven Safari drive train and controls.
-
Complete kit
Everything at once. The whole aircraft arrives ready to assemble, with nothing else to buy.
from $154,700 *
- The complete Safari 400 or Safari 500 kit — engine, airframe, rotor system, transmission, controls, instruments and lighting
- Leather or cloth seats and carpet
- Ground handling wheels
- Factory support through your build
-
Kit in stages
Buy and build in phases. Spread the cost of your Safari across the build.
Same kit price, spread across stages — ask us for a schedule
- The same complete kit, delivered in stages
- Start on the airframe while later stages are scheduled
- A payment plan that follows your build
-
Builder's Assist
Build alongside factory technicians, with the tools and the know-how on hand.
Contact us for scheduling and pricing ‖
- Hands-on assembly with the people who build Safaris every day
- Available for the Safari 400 and Safari 500
- Location, duration and pricing on request
-
Flight-ready Safari 500
500 onlyFly the skies without the work. A factory-completed Safari 500 built to your exact specifications.
from $195,100 †
- A finished Safari 500, built by the factory
- Built to your exact specifications — paint, interior and panel
- Delivered ready to fly
- * Prices as published by Safari Helicopter and subject to change. Confirm current pricing with the factory.
- ‖ Builder's Assist details, location, duration and price are not yet published — contact us for scheduling and pricing.
- † Unconfirmed — pending confirmation from Safari Helicopter.
Gallery
Safari 500 in action
In brief
Start the conversation
The Safari 500 is the newest Safari: an enclosed carbon-fiber cabin with doors on the same Lycoming IO-360 powertrain, titanium-spindle rotor head and controls proven in the 400. The complete kit starts at $154,700, and a factory-built, flight-ready 500 built to your specifications starts at $195,100. Either way, the aircraft is powered by a real aircraft engine with a 2,000-hour TBO.
- * Prices as published by Safari Helicopter and subject to change. Confirm current pricing with the factory.
- † Unconfirmed — pending confirmation from Safari Helicopter.