Air Tours (Airplane / Fixed Wing)

The biggest difference between the two types of Hawaii Island air tours is that the Helicopters have the ability to hover and the fixed-wing aircraft do not.

In some cases this ability to hover will prove to be an attribute and at other times it won't.

On those tours that get into and explore some of the huge valleys, mountain ridges and interior waterfalls that are found around the mountain regions of Hawaii's topography the hovering capabilities of the Helicopters will be a benefit as these areas are simply too tight for the prop aircraft to actually get into.

In virtually every other island area there will be little or no difference regarding visibility of the areas visited regardless of which type of air tour you are on.

For instance, Volcano Tours in Hawaii over the live volcano rift-zone offer no challenge in the way of valleys to negotiate whatsoever and hence your view of the cinder cones, lava flows and molten lava entering into the ocean will be the same regardless.

The airplanes do have to maintain a certain airspeed to stay aloft but this speed is so slow that at their viewing height the movement of the plane still provides plenty of time to see the sights.

In the example of the Volcano Tours in Hawaii, the pilots will zigzag back and forth continuously until everyone on both sides of the aircraft has had a great view.

Even the Helicopters, for all their ability to hover, will need to turn the aircraft so that passengers on both sides can have a good view of the terrain below.

Hawaiian Air Tour Airplane Passengers All Have a Window Seat!

In some ways it could also be argued that the Hawaii airplane tours actually provide a better view in the sense that everyone has a window seat on one or the other side of the aircraft and that no one will have to look over someone's lap to the left or to the right to be able to get a good look at the sights.

Since no one has a middle seat, the view from your side of the aircraft is unobstructed.

Depending upon which company you fly with and which seat you have you may also have a hinged window which will open up and allow you to take photos without any glass between you and the subject of your photo.

The last major difference regarding the different types of Hawaii Island air tours is the matter of price.

Without question the cost of the Hawaii airplane tours over the Helicopters is by far much more reasonable.

The difference between the two may not be half, but in many cases it is close and for anyone on a budget the airplane version of the Hawaii air flight will be a much better bargain.

The Hawaii airplane tours are a great choice on all the major Hawaiian Islands including the Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai.

The Big Island has it Hawaii Live Volcano activity, Maui has the Sightseeing Land Tours through the spectacular Hana coastline, Lanai has a daytrip via air or by Ferry Service from Maui, Molokai has Father Damien's Leper Colony with a tour that lands there, Oahu has the Helicopter circle island tours which allow you to get a much better idea of the contrast between the big cities and the remote jungle areas, and the tours of Kauai provide a remarkable view of the oldest and arguably most beautiful of all the islands in the Hawaiian chain.