Anybody fly Helis after getting ASEL ?

[Timebuilder]

I was just poking around on the Rotorway site, and I'm trying to find out what kind of engine they use.

They talk a lot about FADEC, which is fine, but who is the manufacturer of the powerplant? Is there a separate site that has info on it?

 

[flyboycpa]

I was just poking around on the Rotorway site, and I'm trying to find out what kind of engine they use.

They talk a lot about FADEC, which is fine, but who is the manufacturer of the powerplant? Is there a separate site that has info on it?

Actually, Rotorway produces their own engines in-house. They are a fabulous engine that have proven to be extremely reliable. They don't typically advertise the fact, but the engine was originally conceived and derived from a Porsche engine (no kidding).

Now, as WeekendWarrior stated earlier, if you have the Rotorway, they will train you at their facility; however, the VAST majority of the accidents in Rotorways have been attributed to this training philosophy. What they do is have you come out to Chandler, AZ to their facility, and for a few hours you learn to hover, then you are sent home to hover your helicopter a certain number of hours. Then you return to AZ to spend a few hours doing other maneuvers and go home to practice solo in your Rotorway. Then go back and do autorotations in theirs, go home practice in yours.......you get the idea.

There have been numerous accidents in Rotorways with students banging up their machines while "at home" soloing.

The Rotorway has the absolute best safety record in the homebuilt industry, but it is a vastly different machine to learn in and fly from an R-22 or Schweizer 269/300.

Those who have been successfully flying Rotorways for a long time strongly advocate getting your rating the traditional way (in an R-22 or Schweizer) and then transitioning into the Rotorway.

BTW, get the aftermarket belt upgrade and ditch the chain drive that connects the engine/clutch/transmission. Rotorway hates the aftermarket stuff, but the belt system is FAR superior!

hope some of this might help,
flyboycpa

 

[flyboycpa]

Just wondering what ther requirements are to get a Private Helicopter license AFTER you get your Private Airplane License?

Do you have to go through ALL the same training again? things like Weather, Airport/Airspace, Navigation, Radios, etc. I would imagine would all be the same with Heli's as it was with your ASEL training.

So I am just wondering how hard it is to get a Private Heli license once you get your Airplane license? which is harder to fly? and how many hours does it generally take a transitioning Airplane to Heli pilot in order to get your license?

Thanks

I forgot to answer this question in my last post so here goes..

If you look at the Practical Test Standards for the Private Pilot-Rotorcraft-Helicopter certificate, you will see on around p.20 (there's 91 pages total) a graph which states the required "Tasks" to be performed and those that are not required depending on what certificates/ratings you already possess. Here's the link to the FAA site for the Adobe Acrobat version of the PTS.

http://av-info.faa.gov/data/practicalteststandard/faa-s-8081-15.pdf

flyboycpa

 

[squale]

you know quick a bit about this Rotorway...

Hey I found this link which has other homebuilts as well... I think a couple of these even qualify as "ultralight" machines too...
http://www.helis.com/types/comultra.php

I have heard good things about the "Baby Belle" and the "Ultrasport" models. Plus they are much cheaper than the Rotorway, and I believe a little smaller. What is your opinion on these models of Helis?

Just wondering what it is that makes the Rotorway such a safer machine with the least amount of accidents..

 

[FracCapt]

If you want cheap flying, get a Rotorway. www.rotorway.com. You can build one for about $60k last time I checked. You can buy one for less than that. If you build one, Rotorway will help you get your rotorcraft rating at their facility.

They have by far the best safety record of any kit helicopter. They dominate the homebuilt helo market as well. Very slick machine for the money.

The Rotorway is an impressive helicopter....I seriously considered one myself...but then I flew it. Well, let me elaborate on that statement. With two people and full fuel, we took off out of the owners back yard(owns a small ranch in central Florida). The aircraft is very balanced, easy to fly, and sporty. Immediately I was able to keep it in a dead hover with extremely little work. Pedal turns were smooth, and it had plenty of power. We took off and flew around the area, and even did a practice auto(to a power recovery). The Exec autos are much easier than an R22 - and quite similar to that of a 300C, in terms of available rotor inertia. After playing around for 45 mins, it was time to return. I made a normal approach, and when slowing through ETL noticed I needed quite a bit of pedal...much more than when hovering. When I brought it to a hover, I ran out of pedal. Before the turn really started to develop, I set it down(a bit firm, but better than letting the turn rate increase). The owner stated that he had seen the same LTE once before....and the belts that drive the tail rotor were "slipping a bit". We found a little bit of an oily substance on the belts(not motor oil, not trans fluid..we couldn't identify it). I was a bit weary of the whole system with belts driving the tail rotor...and it turned out, rightfully so.

I'm told they now have a different belt/tensioner system on the ships coming out of the factory...but it still bothers me. As soon as they go to a tail rotor drive shaft in lieu of a belt system for the tail rotor, I'll be looking at the Rotorway again. That is the only thing with that aircraft I really have a problem with. Oh, and now there is a guy doing turbine conversions on them as well...

 

[flying_gringo]

I did my helo add on, and I was an ATP at the time... I think there were some things that are more difficult having the fixed wing mindset. Actions that must be unlearned. Yes there are a ton of things that are the same - but it's still a chunk of change. I think all said and done - my R22 rating was around $12,000 for my private, and that was at TOA where they build the things.

As far as safety following an engine failure - I feel that with a well trained pilot, the helo can't be beat - yes the glide distance is much smaller then in fixed wing aircraft, but so is the distance required to land it. Over the city in a fixed wing single you could land in an empty parking lot, but in a helo - you could land in an empty parking space.

Not to dis the kit helicopters - but wasn't the Rotorway the one to have two engine failures with the reporter from plane and pilot when he came out to do a review on them? Has their quality improved since? I don't doubt that kit manufacturers could turn out reliable products - I just don't know enough to argue either way with rotorway.

They do look pretty however, and some are completed very nicely.
I believe its a rotorway on that "chopper is born" series - and from what I saw the kit looks well put together.


fg

 

[flyboycpa]

you know quick a bit about this Rotorway...

Hey I found this link which has other homebuilts as well... I think a couple of these even qualify as "ultralight" machines too...
http://www.helis.com/types/comultra.php

I have heard good things about the "Baby Belle" and the "Ultrasport" models. Plus they are much cheaper than the Rotorway, and I believe a little smaller. What is your opinion on these models of Helis?

Just wondering what it is that makes the Rotorway such a safer machine with the least amount of accidents..

I took a close look at the Safari (formerly called Baby Belle) and it appears to be a great machine. The latest is a 180hp version that is quite powerful, supposedly. I sat inside the Safari, and it is very roomy but hot with that bubble. I was impressed with the quality of what I saw, and I've heard good results from some builders.

Regarding the Ultrasport, I really don't know anything about them, but I stick by the mantra, "Friends don't let friends fly two-strokes, especially, when they are connected to rotors."

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