Helicopter-pilot.info - Lessons 36-40

Lesson 36 24/7/02 Qualif cross country Wap-Sywell-Turweston
I planned my route prior to flying. I was nervous when I started this flight. As the name suggests, 'Qualifying cross country', it is part of the helicopter training which is graded (pass/fail) by people at other airfields. Your flying, radio work and landings are being checked and this is at airfields you are not familiar with, hence the nerves. My take off and flight out of the circuit was good (my opinion, obviously) and I carried on with my headings as planned. As I got to within about 2 miles of Sywell I was faced with a police helicopter which wasn't there the last time I went!
The police helicopter was hovering and in my way, so I adjusted course a litte...obviously. I slowed down, just in case it was a speed trap (old habits die hard). My landing at Sywell was OK considering the amount of nerves, mainly from the tower. I got my 'Qualifying sheet' signed (amazing what a £20 note can do) and then back to take off. Take off was fine and I was being very careful to keep a good lookout for other aircraft near, which is why I forgot to check my heading. It didn't take long to check where I was and then I was on my way to Turweston. The flight to Turweston was uneventful. About 15 miles from the field I made my first call with no response. I carried on flying towards the field and calling after each minute, without response. Not until I had almost landed did I get a response. The landing was good and once again I got my 'Qualifying sheet' signed before taking off and heading for home. I'm not sure if they signed the sheet because I was good enough or they just didn't want me back again. The last leg back to Wycombe was great, I had done my 'away landings' and as long as I could land back at base without any incidents then I would pass this part of the course. On the return leg I relaxed a little and enjoyed the flight.
Back at base the landing was good and I even got a smile from my instructor (may have been wind) who was waiting.
My Comments: Although very nervous at first it was good, the flight back was great as I had achieved my mission and could enjoy the ride.

Lesson 37 1/8/02 Instrument training
After my success with the qualifying x-country I was hoping for a bit more solo work, my instructor decided otherwise. As I am near to the end of the course I need to do more instrument training (5 hours is the minimum requirement) I had the whole day free today and by the end of it had notched up another 3.3 hours of instrument training. Although I was flying for 3.3 hours, the concentration needed for instrument flying means I can't remember everything/anything I did!
Timed turns were good fun. This is an excercise where you assume that you have flown into cloud and keeping the helicopter level you try and do a 180 degree turn so you are going back where you came from. Easier said than done. The rest of the afternoon was going over things we had previously done, including VCR, unusual attitudes and co-ordinated turns. Once again the instrument training is very tiring but enjoyable.

Lesson 38 2/8/02 Solo out of the Circuit
As I was going out of the circuit and solo I had a check flight first. I managed to take off, fly a couple of circuits and land without endangering life (minimum requirements). Upto now all of my solo flights seem to have been north of the airfield, but today I have been given a 'reference point' of Greenham Common (now I thought that was live fire anti aircraft training, maybe my instructor made a mistake?) which lies to the south of the airfield. I am told that not even I will be able to miss it!
As I have not been south before I have no reference points which I know, so I am a little nervous and make sure my wind drift calculations are accurate as well as my flying. The journey over is OK and I get to see Henley, Reading, Pangbourne and Newbury from the air which is a first, and very enjoyable. After I have passed over the M4 motorway I am, according to my map, expecting to see Pangbourne train station. I got near to where I thought it should be but couldn't see it, I found the track but the station was missing! There were two possible reasons for the lack of station;
First I was off course or secondly the station had moved or been abducted. I was sure I was on the correct heading and in the correct place but not seeing the station caused a few worries, I decided to carry on the heading I was on without informing the police. Then I saw my destination.
When I got close to Greenham I could see what was meant as the place is massive; I was told it is an emergency landing site for Concorde. I circled around a coupe of times and then flew over Newbury racecourse, which is just next to it (well, it is when you're flying). The journey back was supposed to be an exact reversal of the journey Greenham Common, so I set my heading and started back. I was still conscious that a train station was missing, possibly stolen, and ready to report my findings IF I got back. I followed my heading exactly and, where expected found the 'lost' station. At first I wasnÕt sure why it had disappeared on the outward journey, but as I flew over realized it was completely hidden by trees when coming from the north but very open when flying from the south. I could now cancel my call to Scotland Yard. The rest of the flight I enjoyed the scenery and then landed safely.
My Comments: This flying lark is fun.

Lesson 39 6/8/02 revision
I am on 45.1 hrs now and the final test is near. I need another 1.4hrs min. of solo before I am allowed to take the test. Unfortunately, the weather today isn't clear enough for me to go solo, the instructor decides on general revision.
We started with autorotations to a powered recovery (cutting the engine power to simulate an engine failure) which didn't go too badly. Sloping ground landings were next...which were perfect!
I'm not sure why I can land easily on sloping ground but have problems with flat ground. We did some practice with quick-stops which went well. Overall the lesson went well, but it's still quite frightening to think that the test is coming up soon.

Lesson 40 9/8/02 Engine off landing/revision
I was hoping to get some tidying up done today and with a bit of luck a solo so that I have done all the requirements for my test, and if absolutely everything goes according to plan maybe even the test!
I start the day of with some circuits and emergency procedure practice. The instructor would simulate a fault and I would (try) and give the correct remedy. The next and main part of the lesson was engine off landings. I don't mind taking the helicopter from engine off down to the hover....but when you have to take it completely down to the ground that does worry me a little.
I'm not too keen on doing these but with some practice do seem to improve. After about an hour of this we head in for a break.
After a break I go out and do my last bit of solo work, unfortunately, the clouds have come in and I need to stay in the circuit and the play area. This isn't such a bad thing as it gives me time to 'polish' up things just in case I do have my test this afternoon. Everything went really well and I was pleased with the way I was flying. My only problem was the weather. After I had landed the weather seemed to be getting worse, and after such a clear morning things were not looking good.
My Comments: Excellent

Final Test