bobesser

I am a PP ASEL IA, but, I live in the DC region. They made it too annoying to go flying and I found I wasn't flying enough to be safe. I gave it up and started doing DE events instead.

Bob

RacyTracy

I have 92 helicopter hours. I couldn't afford to fly enough to feel like I was getting better. Therefore.....not current.

Marlon

Hey Racy - I have a little over 1500 military helicopter hours (Not many really) But I'm retired and fly a desk now. What were you flying???

RacyTracy

Mostly an Enstrom.....A few hours in an A-Star, a few in a Long Ranger.

Marlon

Cool! I started out my Navy flight training with about 150 hours in the North American Rockwell T-28 Trojan in CC Texas. VFR & Instrument qualled. What an awesome machine - a kick-*** 9-cylinder radial engine putting out close to to 1400 horses I believe - incredible. I then accumulated about 100 hours or so flying a stripped down VFR only Jet Ranger then the IFR bird with the couch potatoe a/c option. From There it was the 200mph 3-engine Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion for my operational Navy career interspersed with a couple hundred hours in the very fun Twin Pak Huey aboard USS Tarawa.

Falcondrivr

We had a special ops -53 from Hurlbert Field come in and refuel the other day at our FBO. Jet black, with all kinds of nasty things sticking out all over it. The crew wouldn't let anyone near it. It was a scary looking bird!

Marlon

I always thought that USAF should go with the CH53E - you can carry much more with the third engine. It's a fun aircraft - handles like a big Jet Ranger. The CH-53E engines each put out about 4280 SHP at 14,280 RPM on a standard day So you are flying around with with over 12 thousand SHP at your nomex-gloved fingertips

RacyTracy

I had about 7,000 hours in the back seat of a news helicopter working the camera. Most of our pilots didn't seem too smart. I figured, if they can do it, I can do it. So I got my license and was able to get a few free hours flying. The Enstrom was $240 an hour and that was 10 years ago. Then my free time dried up, I wasn't getting any better flying so seldom. I figured I better stop before I killed someone. But if I win the lottery, I'll be back!!

Livefreeandrive

I have PPL S.E.L. and Rotorcraft-Helicopter. Last week I flew a Stearman and an acrobatic Marchetti SF260=Amazing machine! Upside down a lot! Here is a shot of Mt. Washington last Wednesday morning. The cog rail road engine had just reached the summit so you can see the coal smoke to the left. This post does say a lot about Porsche!

g_murray

Well, as of 9AM, yesterday (Sat.), I am now (also) an FAA qualified _Helicopter_ Pilot.

:-)

Yep, I completed the "flight portion" of the checkride and had no problems, even getting the 'thumbs up' (from the DE - the NYPD Chief Heli-Pilot)
from many of the required maneuvers that I 'demonstrated'.
(He actually remarked to the instructors, back at the office, "that he'd just witnessed THE best 'hover auto' that he'd ever seen from any candidate
from any flight-school EVER!" Needless to say, this made my instructor (Mick Druhan - a fellow Irishman!) BEAM!)

Yesterday, being a Saturday, and a beautiful day to boot, Islip airport, as you might imagine, was a bit of a zoo -- so I had my work cut out a la
'division of attention' monitoring all the ATC call-outs / keeping tabs on the Southwest and GA a/c -- whilst also remaining within PTS tolerances (altitudes/airspeed etc.)
whilst answering more 'verbal' questions - as he sought fit to squeeze in, whilst we waited for e.g. ATC clearances, etc. --- but I'd been taught well - so no problems.

Gotta say, getting certified in a 'heli' was one of the most challenging things I have ever done -- but so worth it.

Ger.
CPL-A/S-MEL-IA
PPL(H) <--- :-)

Becker135

Mines a Cirrus SR22 GTS. The only thing I enjoy driving more than my 993cab.

IXLR8

Commercial pilot and flight instructor in the past. At least one of my students is with a major airline.

I spent a few summer holidays attending the EAA Fly-In convention in Oshkosh and once got to fly one of the nicest aircraft, an RV-4.

I think more motorcyclists fly aircraft though because they have more in common, both turn the way they should...cars are in a skid the instant you change direction.

993/907

C185, 1409TT as of this AM.

jhummel68

I know it is old but I'll play. Here's a picture of the outside of the office B 767-300. It is a great plane that does a hell of a job flying a CAT IIIb to an autoland right on centerline. Automation does have a place in flying, especially at 4:30 in the morning. I take my hat off to Boeing engineers.

911Jeff

private pilot