I've Been Bitten

Cpt_Kirk

Cpt_Kirk

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Georgia
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Ted Striker
Got a free ride in an R44 (doors off) here yesterday during to put time on the engine and enjoy the gorgeous weather. It was probably the most fun I've had flying since I got my seaplane addon in early 2013.

I guess I should stop making helicopter jokes now that it's on my list of certs. to get. I will most likely shoot for the Private Addon as it would purely for recreational use. I believe have a pretty good understanding of how everything works. And, believe it or not, I felt safer in that thing, should we lose an engine, than in airplane.

Here are a couple of things I found interesting:
-the mixture goes full rich and stays there until shutdown. I think it's because most people would inadvertently kill the engine and the extra gas helps keep the CHTs cool (which run too hot for me).
-the blades start turning within a few seconds of the engine starting. I wasn't a real big fan of this as I think it would put a big load on a cold engine first flight of the day.

My better half wasn't really happy about it when I called her. I'll just get her a ride one day and she'll change her mind. I know it.

Low and slow is my type of flying.
 
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Great!

I took an intro helicopter flight one day in an R22 while waiting for my pitot/transponder check to get done. A few months later and many thousands of dollars later, I added a helicopter rating onto my Commercial cert.

Most fun I've ever had flying. And my "first" solo felt just as incredible as my other first solo!
 
You are doomed.

It's like that radioactive spider thing.
 
Grab some basic knowledge of how they work before you go and it makes it that much better.
 
Wish I could justify the cost of the rating. Can't justify the price of helicopter rentals. Good luck I'm jealous.
 
This is exciting. Keep us posted.
 
It's one of the things more insane than fixed wing, but hey, it's your money. :D
 
My buddy has a Safari but yes, he's rich as all get out ...

Love me some helicopters. Love me some sailplanes. But I also love freedom from debtor's prison and my wifey-poo.
 
Speak of "low and slow" rotorcraft I've found the modern autogyros interesting. Doesn't fit my mission at the moment, but If I ever went sport pilot, I might find that more interesting than the current crop of fixed wing LSAs.
 
What are the pros/cons of an auto gyro? Is it an STOL craft? I don't think they take off or land vertically, do they?
 
dans2992 said:
What are the pros/cons of an auto gyro? Is it an STOL craft? I don't think they take off or land vertically, do they?
Click to expand...

I think of them as a combination of an airplane and a helicopter. The main overhead rotor is unpowered. The machine is propelled horizontally by a piston engine with smaller prop on the back. Forward airflow through the overhead rotor gets it spinning and at a certain RPM, enough lift is produced to start flying.

From that point, moving the rotor disc in any direction controls the direction of gyro. It's not a helicopter because forward speed is needed to keep the main rotor spinning. They can go slow but they can't stop or move backwards.

This is how I understand them working from the research I've done although I'm not a certificated gyro pilot.
 
Cpt_Kirk said:
Got a free ride in an R44 (doors off) here yesterday during to put time on the engine and enjoy the gorgeous weather. It was probably the most fun I've had flying since I got my seaplane addon in early 2013.

I guess I should stop making helicopter jokes now that it's on my list of certs. to get. I will most likely shoot for the Private Addon as it would purely for recreational use. I believe have a pretty good understanding of how everything works. And, believe it or not, I felt safer in that thing, should we lose an engine, than in airplane.

Here are a couple of things I found interesting:
-the mixture goes full rich and stays there until shutdown. I think it's because most people would inadvertently kill the engine and the extra gas helps keep the CHTs cool (which run too hot for me).
-the blades start turning within a few seconds of the engine starting. I wasn't a real big fan of this as I think it would put a big load on a cold engine first flight of the day.

My better half wasn't really happy about it when I called her. I'll just get her a ride one day and she'll change her mind. I know it.

Low and slow is my type of flying.
Click to expand...

See if there's a school in your area that will do 141 Subpart K add ons. The commercial add on is 30 hours, just 5 more than the private add on. You'll probably need the extra 5 hours anyway.

It's a bit of a drive from Atlanta, but I can recommend these guys...

http://www.palmbeachhelicopters.com/helicopter_pilot_license_school.html
 
Anymouse said:
See if there's a school in your area that will do 141 Subpart K add ons. The commercial add on is 30 hours, just 5 more than the private add on. You'll probably need the extra 5 hours anyway.

It's a bit of a drive from Atlanta, but I can recommend these guys...

http://www.palmbeachhelicopters.com/helicopter_pilot_license_school.html
Click to expand...

Ah c'mon, give me a little bit of credit. 3K between Private and Commercial? I might give that a thought but I don't see any need for the Commercial. I'd have no competition against military pilots, should I think of using it.

I'll take any excuse to go back to FL.
 
DJTorrente said:
They are STOL. Here's a good place to start, and probably one of the best URLs in aviation: www.LetThereBeFlight.com
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So how short is short? How does safety compare to fixed wing and helicopter? I certainly have the impression that a piston helicopter has more fatal accidents per 100,000 hrs than a piston fixed wing.

Where does the gyrocopter fall?
 
dans2992 said:
So how short is short? How does safety compare to fixed wing and helicopter? I certainly have the impression that a piston helicopter has more fatal accidents per 100,000 hrs than a piston fixed wing.

Where does the gyrocopter fall?
Click to expand...

If you want hard data, unfortunately I can't help. I suspect that even if data was available, it would be limited usefulness because of the smaller numbers of gyros flying**; and the fewer number of hours flown; the different mission type flown by most gyros.

Anecdotally, I understand that gyros have a bad reputation for safety. They can fly slow, but not hover; as mentioned they need some forward speed to push air over the rotor, which turns the rotor to provide lift. I've heard it explained that in a slow-speed situations if rotor RPM decays, degrading lift (equivalent of a stall), the proper response in a gyro* is to pull back on the stick, which has the effect of increasing airflow through the disc to get rotor RPM up; which, coincidentally, is precisely the opposite of the proper response in a fixed wing aircraft (stick forward) with which many of the pilots might have been better acquainted. The counter-intuitive control response, particularly under stress, may have led to some accidents.

*disclaimer: I'm not a CFI of any flavor, esp. not gyrocopter, and have precisely zero hours in the type.

** Total non sequitir -- Don't you think "Flying Gyros" would be a great name for a greek food truck?
 
Cpt_Kirk said:
I felt safer in that thing, should we lose an engine, than in airplane.
Click to expand...

You probably shouldn't.

Cpt_Kirk said:
the mixture goes full rich and stays there until shutdown. I think it's because most people would inadvertently kill the engine
Click to expand...

That's pretty much it. Because the helicopter is designed with a clutch in the driveline to allow the rotors to autorotate when the engine quits, the turning rotors don't turn the engine over like they do on a piston airplane. So, if you overlean it and kill the engine, you have to run the start procedure again. It's not as easy as it is in piston planes, where you just push the red knob in again and the engine comes back because the windmilling prop is turning the engine.

Performing an air restart can be challenging with the limited amount of time you typically have in a helicopter before reaching the ground, and the high workload that comes along with entering and maintaining an autorotation.

Cpt_Kirk said:
-the blades start turning within a few seconds of the engine starting. I wasn't a real big fan of this as I think it would put a big load on a cold engine first flight of the day.
Click to expand...

There's still a lot of slipping going on, so it's not really a lot of load. The load is gradually increased as the belts get tightened by the clutch actuator that the pilot engages shortly after start.
 
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Ok, so generally less safe than a piston single is what I'm hearing.

I thought they might be safer due to their low touchdown speeds and ability to land on a driveway, parking lot, etc. in the event the engine quit.

If they can takeoff and land in such short distances, why are they not used for "bush" applications like a Piper cub?
 
Hey Ted, what airport do you fly out of? We've got a pretty active helicopter community at KLZU. NE Georgia is a great area for flying low and slow. Took off yesterday morning with a buddy (also rated) for a scenic tour over Tallulah Gorge, landed at the Dillard House Restaurant for lunch, dropped into Habersham for some gas on the way back south, then on to Fish Tales Restaurant on Lake Lanier for some drinks (non alcoholic) and back to LZU. Total Hobbs - 3 hours.

I just can't believe that it gets better than that - unless you live in Hawaii.
 
Tradford said:
Hey Ted, what airport do you fly out of? We've got a pretty active helicopter community at KLZU. NE Georgia is a great area for flying low and slow. Took off yesterday morning with a buddy (also rated) for a scenic tour over Tallulah Gorge, landed at the Dillard House Restaurant for lunch, dropped into Habersham for some gas on the way back south, then on to Fish Tales Restaurant on Lake Lanier for some drinks (non alcoholic) and back to LZU. Total Hobbs - 3 hours.

I just can't believe that it gets better than that - unless you live in Hawaii.
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I'm there just about everyday. I've been meaning to head over and talk to you guys.

Thank for the info, OverTQ.
 
Sounds great. Grab an hour with Bill Merritt or Ron Carrol (owner). You'll have a handful of controls right out of the gate. If you're like any of the rest of is - you'll be in training in no time.
 
Cpt_Kirk said:
Ah c'mon, give me a little bit of credit. 3K between Private and Commercial? I might give that a thought but I don't see any need for the Commercial. I'd have no competition against military pilots, should I think of using it.

I'll take any excuse to go back to FL.
Click to expand...

My thought is that if you're going to need the extra time anyway, might as well go for it. I think the major difference between private and commercial is the 180 auto requirement. I've never did a true comparison, so take it for what it's worth.
 
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