Comments on: Standing on a basketball

By: Kelly Kantor

Kelly Kantor — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:35 +0000

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By: Keejy

Keejy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:54:01 +0000

I’d think about the beginning of to ascertain that too!

By: Jerome Behm

Jerome Behm — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:43:31 +0000

Thanks Tim.

I made the transition to rotary wing when I was 35 years old and just after I had received my Commercial license in fixed wing aircraft. I was a crew chief on Huey D and H models in my younger years when I wore an Army uniform and just had to master helicopters, which I did. I was told that the only thing that you do the same in a helicopter as you did in an airplane was in “setting and reading the altimeter”. That statement is very close to right. I had to relearn my flying and also learn to loosen my grip on the cyclic stick and relax, and I did. I soloed and made my first solo cross country in a D model Hiller shortly thereafter. I always say now that you have never flown until you have flown PIC in a helicopter. They are great birds and I love them.

Great Reading,

Jerome Behm

By: Kurt McKibben

Kurt McKibben — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:45:40 +0000

Thanks Tim,
Being dual rated myself, I would say you hit the nail on the head again!!!!

Fun reading,,,,,

Kurt McKibben

By: Lenny Smith

Lenny Smith — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:19:37 +0000

Nice work Tim. I was wondering where you wandered off to. I hear a lot of disgruntled r/w pilots out there, but it’s always a highlight of my day when AOPA does articles on helicopters. It’s taken quite sometime, but the industry is finally coming around into a more professional setting. Granted, you don’t need all the bells and whistles if you’re slinging logs or flying tours, but it is a refreshing environment for those of us that have the opportunity to use the latest and greatest. BTW, I’ve been an AOPA member for quite some time, as I also hold an ATP for airplane and helicopter.

By: James Canitz

James Canitz — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:52:29 +0000

I would like to take exception to a comment included in Richard Gregory’s reply, “normally you don’t use rudder for power changes in an airplane”. I would like to see Mr. Gregory attempt a normal takeoff in any typical GA aircraft powered by a reciprocating engine equipped with a propeller for motive force, without the use of his rudder. Now take that a step further and add a big radial or tailwheel in the mix and see how well you manage to stay on the runway during a normal takeoff.

In addition, the rudder is absolutely essential during power changes in multi-engine aircraft of any type when asymetric thrust due to abnormal conditions is part of the equation. In fact, the lack of correct rudder inputs during these situations has been determined to be the primary cause factor of numerous fatal aircraft accidents.

Unfortunately, many of our modern day fixed wing pilots today have been instructed to keep their feet off the rudder pedals because the ARI (aileron rudder interconnect device) does a much better job than a mere pilot can do. In most cases, this works just fine especially in larger, more sophisticated jet powered aircraft flown by commercial operators. Let’s not forget about the rudder or its importance in normal operations in other types of aircraft, especially the “normal” classic GA aircraft.

By: Gerry Murray

Gerry Murray — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:46:48 +0000

After 14 yrs. of ‘fixed wing’ / 1,000+ hrs. (all paid for with my own dime!) – I had my first ‘heli-intro-flight’ last October ’08.

The most humbling day of my entire (aviation) life, ever. The ‘personality’ of the heli (an R-22) I can best describe as that of a 2-yr old beligerent child. You needed to pay 100% attention to ‘it’ 100% of the time, with no ‘let up’. I constantly felt that ‘it’ was trying to get away from me, and would do so, if given the slightest chance. My initial attempts at hovering required the surface area of a football field …whilst spinning around.

*EVERY* take-off and landing (called ‘pick-ups’ and ‘set-downs’) have to be ‘greasers’. Landing with even a ‘little thump’ is frowned upon and don’t even think of touching down with a ‘side-load’. Most ‘fixed wing’ instrument panels are ‘tall’ and we have learned to just peer over them. No so with a heli. The instrument panel, in a heli, is purposefully positioned LOW DOWN — almost out of view — so that all of your flying is done by LOOKING OUTSIDE. You ‘fly’ by ‘sight picture’ 99% of the time and only ‘use’ the instruments when the need arises or when you are doing ‘checks’.

Those of us who have a instrument rating and/or lots of X-C time have learned to fly a const. heading and altitude – by merely applying ‘pounds of pressure’ to the control yoke. You will apply THAT principle, and then some, when you ‘hold’ the cyclic, believe me!

It’s now March ’09 and I have logged 23 hrs dual so, yes, I’m sticking with it and plan to obtain a PPL(H) ‘add on’.
Truth be told, I’m glad I made the ‘leap’ (over to the dark side?) because, not only is it extremely challenging, but like many aspects of aviation, it’s also educational and extremely rewarding.

Gerry Murray
CPL-AS/MEL-IA
(Long Island, NY)

By: Kenny G

Kenny G — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:18:08 +0000

I had emailed and submitted a written letter to AOPA some years ago to devote part of the magazine to us Hover Lovers. I never did get a reply back from them on my request. I have been a long-time AOPA member, I am also a dual rated pilot. So , I am very happy to see a blog devoted to helicopter pilots. We are a unique breed of pilots who like flying in three dimensions. The helicopter can be very unforgiving, if you are not trained properly in understanding its aerodynamics. The helicopter will simply not fly on its own , you have to be in constant control and most of all “Keep in the Green” from low rotor rpm. Flying helicopters is much more fun than flying planes by far. But in this economy flying a helicopter is quite expensive, than flying FW planes. The helicopter is “inherently unstable” do not let anyone tell you otherwise. I look forward to see what develops out of this blog. Thank you AOPA for allowing Tim McAdams this website.

Blue Skies,

Kenny G.

By: Charles T.

Charles T. — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:22:21 +0000

Finally! If only we can get more resources and tools specific to helicopters on the AOPA website life would be better. I encourage everyone to email comments to the AOPA service tech asking for more rotor-wing stuff. Thanks Tim!

Charles
PDX

By: Carl Schultz

Carl Schultz — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:21:36 +0000

I am a 72 young life time AOPA member and 4000 hour airplane guy that is also pleased that AOPA is finaly giving some space to the helicopter owners and pilots. Long over due.
I soloed in an R22 at age 68 and was hooked. I sold the Baron and bought an R44. We just took delivery of my second R44 and flew it home to Michigan from the Calfornia factory . You haven’t experianced the full beauty and joy of flying until you have crossed America at 800 ft AGL and chased a few coyotees in Texas along the way.
And an R44 is not a toy. I use mine for pleasure and business and find that on our 250 mile weekend trips , door to door ,the R44 comes very close to matching the Barons time. ie; there is no filing of IFR flight plans, no waiting for clearances, no patterns and no slugging through Great Lakes winter icing in clouds. We just get in, lift off and straight line it to our cottage .
And heli flying is a dirrerent world that can offer up different experiances.
For example: On a low level trip from Florida to Michigan my son spotted a barn yard cat flopping around in a farmers field with its head stuck in a hot tin can, clear up to its shoulders. We swooped down, landed, my son jumped out and captured the confused critter. He had his hands full. The cat went nuts…squirming and scratching away at its rescuer. But after a some serious tugging my he was able to free the little beast and dropped it to the ground. Its neck was missing all its fur but free at last and in far better shape than my scratched and bleeding son.
Just think about it …what were the odds that a helicopter would suddenly drop out of the sky just when that cat was in need of a a helping hand ?
So, if one of you fixed wing guys were to get your head stuck in a can …. there is hope.

Carl