Helicopter-pilot.info

Lesson 1 19/1/02 Hour 0-1 Effects on Controls
OK this is my first lesson, the trial lesson. I have been looking forward to this for a long time. I have searched the Internet for places that teach Helicopter flying, spoken to lots of people, read lots of info and here I am. What AM I doing?
My first thought is Are two people really going to fit in this tiny helicopter? (Robinson R22). I didn't think I would be going up in a Chinook, but maybe something in between would be nice.
Once in the air it is a bit windy (35kts) so the flight is a bit bumpy. As soon as we are out of the circuit my instructor for today lets me take control (well sort of) of the helicopter. It seems like we are coming back only minutes after we have left, but the dial says almost an hour! I have to say, I have only been back a short while and I can remember very little about the flight. Now I find that a bit worrying if I want to carry on learning to fly!
My comments: Fantastic, this is great fun. The weather over the following weeks was terrible and it seemed that every time I wanted a lesson it was windy. Maybe a sign from above.......

An important bit which I forgot to add
I had only planned to have a trial lesson..... by the end of the trial lesson I wanted to carry on to learn to fly and get a licence!

Lesson 2 10/2/02 Hour 1 - 1.9 Attitude and Power changes
My first lesson had gone well. The times I had taken control all seemed to be smooth in the right places. So with this in mind, I had been swatting up a bit.....well quite a lot actually. Like a lot of people (I'm sure) when I am doing something, I like to do well in it and this is no exception. It isn't as windy today as it was on my first lesson. We go out of the circuit and I have control. I say I have control because that is what you are supposed to say, what I mean is I have hold of the Cyclic and Lever and am moving them about: to which they seem to be doing what I assume they should. My instructor is covering all the controls and takes over wherever necessary. Attitude and power changes seem to be fairly straightforward and we do some practice its all pretty much as the book says and doesn't cause any problems. We go back to the circuit and i'm shown a couple of sharp turns, emergency stops etc. Now this is something Alton towers should have a ride like. Once again time flies (no pun intended...this time) and its time to return back to the pad.
My comments: Still fantastic, no problems so far. But I suppose we are still playing at the moment.

Lesson 3 15/2/02 Hour 1.9 - 2.7 Level flight, climbing and descending. Turns
Once again my nose has been stuck in the book all week trying to remember my APT and PAT and which way round they are. This is so strange, I have only done two hours of flying a helicopter and I am studying. It took me years of going to school before I realised that I needed to study and even then I don't think it sank in. We move off into the circuit (not sure what the circuit is) and out into the clear sky. My instructor tells me where we are and where we are heading. I ask if we are going anywhere near Twyford, as that is where I live and so we turn towards my house. It's strange that I have lived within 20 miles of this area all my life but looking at it from above I don't even recognise the A4, which I have driven along many hundreds of times. My instructor points out the area and I find my house. Why do you never have a camera around when you want one? Why is it that when you are flying above your house in a helicopter, neither your wife nor kids see you? I have to say, in their defence, that we do get many helicopters flying directly over our house every day so I have to forgive the family for not rushing out to EVERY helicopter on the off chance it may be me. The study pays off. Climbing and descending goes well even if my response is a little slow. If i'm asked to climb I first have to remember, 'should it be APT or PAT?' and then I move the cyclic and lever etc. As with everything so far it will need lots of practice but I am confident I can get that sorted. We try some gentle turns before climbing for my first demonstration of an autorotation. I'm told exactly what we are going to do and what will happen, so I am well prepared. Now the auto is a practice for an engine failure and the engine keeps you up in the air, so when you lower the lever and cut the power there is a short drop. The sensation is a bit like that on a roller coaster when it suddenly drops down. I think one of those is enough for today. I find each lesson so far, individually, not too much of a problem. But I have to remember that they are not individual things, each lesson builds on the last to give the 'Big picture' An enjoyable lesson with some sightseeing and theme park thrown in!
My comments: All seems to come together quite nicely. Seem to find my stomach doing somersaults during the autorotation, but I'm sure that will get better.

Lesson 4 24/2/02 Hour 2.7 - 3.6 Basic autorotations/Hovering
Not sure why but my usual instructor is not around today so I am going up with one of the other instructors. Now I have seen him before but not flown with him. I was going to say that he has a strange sense of humour, but thinking about it it's very similar to mine....dry, morbid and sometimes a little warped. The more I think about it, everybody i've met who flys seems to have that sense of humour. Once again the weather has not held out for me, it's a little windy. I take control and fly to a safe place to practice autos. My instructor gives me a demonstration of an autorotation, shows me which feet have to go where, why and how etc. The weather is starting to change now and its raining. I get to try one auto (dual, following through) which seems OK and then we start climbing for the next. Now I have done my reading and I know that ice isn't a good thing, so I mention that it looks like ice is starting to form on the screen.This has already been noted and my instructor suggests we head back towards the airfield and do some hovering. We do 10-15 minutes of hovering which all goes to plan; well it would have if I had a plan.I think this is possibly the first day that 'helicopter exams' are mentioned, just slipped into the conversation some how by the instructor.
My comments: Stomach better during autorotation. Hovering seemed to be OK

Lesson 5 2/3/02 Hour 3.6 - 4.6 Basic autorotation
As we only had time for one practice 'auto' on each of the two previous lessons we try again. Only a quick run through of what we are going to be doing today as we went through the theory before the last lesson. We take off and we go into the circuit and out over towards Benson. There seems to be a wide area of space with some good markers to practice the auto so I am told. After a demonstration 'auto' it's my turn to put into practice what I should have been watching! My first attempt is a little slow, where I should be putting the lever down firmly to simulate an engine failure I am putting the lever down in a nice gentle movement. All the lessons so far have needed gentle small movements on the cyclic and lever, I am just getting used to this and then things change. Another thing I seem to have problems with is using my feet to keep the helicopter straight as we are going down. Maybe I am just no good at multi-tasking. A few more practice auto's and there is a little improvement with both the feet and getting the lever down quicker., then it's time to go back to the airfield. As long as there is a little improvement each time then I am going in the right direction. Back at the airfield we practice a little bit of hovering. It is a little windy and it takes a great deal of footwork to keep the helicopter still. Unfortunately an old war wound (motorbike accident really) causes problems with my ankle after a lot of driving/flying so the quick foot movements necessary have been slightly lacking. I'm sure this will improve but I think a little bit of extra foot exercising is in order.
My comments: Yep, a little slow with the lever. I think it will get better with practice (well I hope it will anyway)

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