First Helo flight today!!!

[CrewDawg]

Got a .5 ride in a Bell 407 today! Was sitting around the airport waiting for my student to show up when a 407 flies in. Struck up a conversation withe pilot and pretty soon he said he had to repostion to get fuel and asked if I wanted a ride. Took all of about a second to say, "yes" and we were on our way. Dang, that was a lot of fun. He let me hover which was quite interesting. I was able to keep us from hitting the ground but it was quite ugly. He took the controls showed me some speed and some climbs and descents. Overall, the most fun I have ever had in aviation to date. If I only had enough money for a commercial add-on!

About how much would it cost to add it to my commercial certificate?

Anyway, just wanted to share such a great experience.

 

[Air 1]

The cheapest commercial add-on rating I have found is from Vortex Helicopters. It is about $10,600.

http://www.vortex-helicopters.com/content/commercial_pilot_additional_rating.php

 

[Doozer]

... He let me hover which was quite interesting. I was able to keep us from hitting the ground but it was quite ugly.

You're either minimizing how humiliating the experience was -- or you're one of the greatest sticks ever minted.

With both fixed- and rotary-wing time -- and over 1K of primary helo instruction under my belt -- I can tell you that the two most humiliating aeronautical experiences in my life (in descending order) are learning to hover a helicopter and learning how to handle a conventional gear airplane in the landing and taxi environments.

If you weren't humilitated while trying to hover, I salute you.

I'll also tell you that the 407 has a reputation in the helo world similar to the Cessna 206/210 in the fixed-wing world. It's a "hoss."

 

[CrewDawg]

You're either minimizing how humiliating the experience was -- or you're one of the greatest sticks ever minted.

With both fixed- and rotary-wing time -- and over 1K of primary helo instruction under my belt -- I can tell you that the two most humiliating aeronautical experiences in my life (in descending order) are learning to hover a helicopter and learning how to handle a conventional gear airplane in the landing and taxi environments.

If you weren't humilitated while trying to hover, I salute you.

I'll also tell you that the 407 has a reputation in the helo world similar to the Cessna 206/210 in the fixed-wing world. It's a "hoss."

I don't claim to be the greatest stick ever, thats for sure. But I am humble enough to know I would never be able to hover my first time up or the seond or third for that matter. I am sure he was right there and probabaly helped me out quite a few times also I wasn't controlling the power. I couldn't tell you if he did much I was so concentrated on just holding that thing still. But yes I did draw quite a few laughs from the peanut gallery when I got down. I guess I was on to much of a high when I got down.

Second you on the conventional gear also. I just finished my tailwheel and that was that quite humiliating.

I don't know much about helicopters but that this was an amazing helo. FADEC, dual garmins, leather, the works. It seemed to have plenty of power also.

Question for you Doozer. From your experience instructing, would you say people switching from fixed have a harder or easier time that someone who has not previous flight experience.

AIR1

Thats what I assumed. It's only a dream for now, maybe down the road when I have 15 grand burning a whole in my pocket.

 

[Doozer]

Question for you Doozer. From your experience instructing, would you say people switching from fixed have a harder or easier time that someone who has not previous flight experience.

CrewDawg:

I've never instructed anyone other than a Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard/Allied Country primary helo student, so I can't answer your question definitively.

All U.S. Naval Aviators of my generation learned to fly either a North American T-28 Trojan or a Beechcraft T-34 TurboMentor before they transitioned to helicopters.

Even so, based on my observations of both rotary- and fixed-wing flight students, it's my opinion that someone who has never been at the controls of an airplane would pick up the nuances of hovering faster than someone who learned to fly in an airplane first.

In flight above airplane stall speeds, the only difference between helicopter flying and airplane flying is that one has to add left antitorque pedal -- rather than right rudder -- in a helicopter (U.S. built) to keep the ball centered when applying power. Naturally, the reverse is true when reducing power.

My reasoning is this: Airplane pilots know that as they get slower the control inputs required to effect an attitude change are both greater and more sluggish; however, insofar as helicopters have the same control authority from hovering to airspeeds at & above all airplane stall speeds, airplane pilots have to "unlearn" the control input techniques they've learned. It's my opinion that the overwhelming majority of helicopter students who have never learned to fly an airplane wouldn't be hampered by this paradigm and would learn to hover a helicopter sooner.

Initially, an airplane pilot will grossly overcontrol a helicopter in a hover. It really only takes thinking about a control input and incredibly small muscle movements in the wrists and ankles to hover a helicopter; however, airplane pilots are used to working the yoke/stick (and, in some cases, even the throttle) throughout their limits during the landing & takeoff phases.

In my opinion, once you've flown both for a while, there's absolutely no difficulty getting out of one and into the other and flying either competently.

I have taken 3,000-hour helicopter-only pilots and literally talked them through landing an airplane (PA-28) without any help whatsoever on their first time at the controls; however, I don't believe I could do the reverse with a 3,000+ hour airplane-only pilot.

At any rate, you experienced a different aeronautical perspective today. I hope you'll continue to share it with your bretheren. If so, and in time, maybe us "helo pukes" won't be so maligned in the future.

 

[Hobit]

Crew Dawg,

Congrats on scoring a few free moments of bliss. I hope your finances can withstand the addictive sensation you just experienced. RW flying is by far the most fun I have ever had. I wish I could find a civi. RW gig that compared to my FW one.

Its' been over 3 years and I still miss RW flying badly. FW is ok but the fun I had while flying NOE on FLIR or even Day NOE are the memories that define the high points of my ‘pre-wife’ existence. Get every second you can under a rotor disc. It will be worth it.

 

[hoop]

Doozer,

Great info and perspective on RW. I've always wondered.

Had the opportunity to talk to a lifeflight helo pilot at the FBO one day. Tried to ask a few questions, and he told me that about all I needed to know, was FW is like going to kindergarten, and RW was like Grad school, and that's about all I needed to know!

Anyway, thanks again. I would love to try it sometime, but still tryin' to bang out my ratings.

 

[armyjets]

If you could keep it within a football field during the first time hover you're doing better than most (including myself). The cheapest way to get the ratings as best I can tell is to join the Army, I guess you'll end up paying but in different ways ;-)

 

[CrewDawg]

If you could keep it within a football field during the first time hover you're doing better than most (including myself). The cheapest way to get the ratings as best I can tell is to join the Army, I guess you'll end up paying but in different ways ;-)

Almost joined the army right out of High school to try for the WOFT. But joined the air guard instead. Currently waiting on UPT for the air force so that is out of the question. But would love to pursue my helo rating when I get out of training and go back to traditional guardsman status.

 

[Snakum]

I still harbor a burning desire to go back to heli training once I have my ME Comm finished. It doesn't help that my employers, who I've been trying to convince of the advantages to owning our own aircraft, keep asking about helicoptors. They feel that having a helo holds more cache.

Hey ... if they'll pay for the rating and the required hours, I'll switch. :nuts: