Félix The Flying Lens of Cousteau’s Global Expeditions
Felix: From Rainforest Canopies to Icefields
From the Amazon to Antarctica, Félix was the Cousteau Society’s trusted aerial scout. Whether soaring above rainforest canopies or gliding over icy polar terrain, this nimble helicopter provided access, perspective, and critical data that helped shape some of the most ambitious conservation expeditions in history.
Though Félix originally referred to the iconic Bell 47G-2—the bubble-canopied helicopter often seen on board Calypso—the Hughes 300C (also known as the Schweizer 300C) became its more frequent successor later in Calypso’s operational years. Both carried the name Félix, continuing the legacy of Cousteau’s airborne exploration.
Félix's Key Contributions to Cousteau’s Expeditions
More than a helicopter, Félix was an expedition partner in the air—delivering critical information, breathtaking footage, and logistical coordination that shaped the direction of each mission.
Félix enabled the Cousteau Society to:
Aerial Scouting & Route Planning
Provided a bird’s-eye view of uncharted or inaccessible regions
Helped identify key locations for scientific research and safe navigation routesCinematic Storytelling
Captured sweeping aerial footage for Cousteau documentaries
Offered never-before-seen perspectives of ecosystems and landscapesRapid Environmental Surveys
Enabled quick assessments of environmental changes
Supported coral reef mapping, wildlife tracking, and deforestation analysisMulti-Vehicle Coordination
Worked alongside hovercrafts, amphibious vehicles, and Calypso
Played a key logistical role in complex, multi-platform expeditionsScientific Data Collection
Provided real-time aerial photography and environmental observations
Contributed to conservation research efforts around the globe
Félix's Key Contributions to Cousteau’s Expeditions
Expedition Highlights
From tropical jungles to polar deserts, Félix played a vital role in some of the Cousteau Society’s most far-reaching expeditions—gathering data and imagery that helped shape our understanding of fragile ecosystems around the world.
Amazon Rainforest
Scouted research zones in dense jungle terrain
Revealed deforestation patterns and human impact on ecosystemsAntarctica
Surveyed shifting ice flows and marine mammal populations
Supported early climate change research effortsPacific Atolls
Conducted aerial monitoring of coral reef health and biodiversity changesAfrican Wetlands
Tracked bird migrations, analyzed water distribution, and documented ecological connections between species and their habitats
Félix’s Specs at a Glance
Model: Hughes 300C (Schweizer 300C)
Range: ~350 miles
Capacity: 2 passengers
Role: Short-range reconnaissance, aerial cinematography, and conservation research
A Legacy in the Skies
While Calypso brought Cousteau’s team across the ocean, Félix carried them above it. The helicopter extended the reach of science and storytelling alike, offering a rare and invaluable view of Earth’s interconnected systems.
Félix’s ability to reach places otherwise inaccessible by foot, boat, or land vehicle allowed Cousteau’s crew to document the urgency of conservation in real time. Its presence in the air helped ensure that environmental threats—from coral bleaching to deforestation—did not go unnoticed.
Without Félix, many of the Cousteau Society’s most compelling images, findings, and insights might never have made it off the ground.
