Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    33,158

    Default I soloed the helicopter!

    [If you want to skip this drippy story, the video is at the end]

    You probably know that I did not do the DUI Task Force this year, for the first time in 12 years, mainly so I could spend time with my grandchildren, enjoy the holidays in general, and of course spend time with our Chief of Operations, Stevie! Well I have also been taking helicopter flying lessons since the beginning of December. I have been an aviator all of my life, with just short of 3000 hours in fixed wing aircraft. I hadn't flown at all since 2005 when I sold my beloved Beech Baron N300AS. It was just impractical and too expensive. DC-3 Dreams was barely keeping the doors open 8 years ago. Well things are better now, and I've been flying as a Tactical Flight Officer with the Sheriff's Office helicopters. It got to me. I couldn't stand it. So I took an introductory helicopter flying lesson. It was like crack: "Here, smoke this. It's free and you'll like it."

    The helicopter flight school, Canyon State Aviation at the Falcon Field Airport nearby, is owned by ACP customer Jan Sandberg. Years ago he and I were talking on the phone (imagine that!) and I learned he is a senior captain for America West (now US Air). He learned I was an aviator and offered to take me to their simulation and training center near the Phoenix airport. Not only did I get to see it, but I got to spend some time flying the 757. Now, years later, I can return his fantastic favor by helping him get his new company going and learning to fly the helicopter.

    It was rough going at first. I had moments of brilliance then days of misery. My instructor seemed to be getting frustrated, as was I. I had a lot of trouble "uncalibrating" the seat of my pants (pilot talk for sense of the air) from a lifetime of fixed wing flying then 8 years of no flying. I kept climbing in the turns, couldn't hold my airspeed in maneuvers, the basic stuff in the pattern. I did learn to hover fairly quickly - and that's considered to be the hardest part of learning to fly the helo. But it was a new skill and didn't intersect with my fixed wing muscle memory. Well, last week I had a breakthrough, followed by several lessons where I just flew the helo. Yesterday things were going well and after setting it down the instructor got out. We'd been talking about soloing so I had my camera with me and gave it to him.

    It was every bit as wonderful an experience as my first fixed wing solo in 1963 and my first glider solo in 1975. I remember them vividly as does any aviator. Here's what it looked like (go full screen - this is HD video):

    -- Bob

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    69

    Default

    Nice Bob!! I wish I could have had a video of my solo...
    Ken Tydeck
    Mesa, AZ.

    TOA-130
    Canon T2i
    A-P 1200GTO
    ZS66
    SBIG STi Guider

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    33,158

    Default

    I have a video of my first fixed wing solo in 1963 (from Facebook). I got this on 16mm film from my Dad.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=108532209782 (I couldn't get the embedding here from FB to work)
    -- Bob

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    69

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Denny View Post
    I have a video of my first fixed wing solo in 1963 (from Facebook). I got this on 16mm film from my Dad.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=108532209782 (I couldn't get the embedding here from FB to work)
    Not working on iPhone. No surprise! :/ will try pc. Very cool that you have this.
    Ken Tydeck
    Mesa, AZ.

    TOA-130
    Canon T2i
    A-P 1200GTO
    ZS66
    SBIG STi Guider

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Pittsfield, Me.
    Posts
    56

    Default

    That is too cool Bob. You are very fortunate to have this (first solo vid). I'll never forget mine, Valdosta Ga. 1978 !!! in a Grumman AA1B. Congrats on becoming a Rortor-Head.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    North Lancaster, Ontario
    Posts
    123

    Default

    Bob, if that was the CAE B757 at America West, I worked on that one! It wasn't my simulator, but I helped the flight control assigned engineer in house in Montreal, and I went to Phoenix a couple of times to fix some certification tests so we had our hands on the same controls! That was in 1992 or so.

    I didn't realize you had 3000 hours, I only have 125. Sob.

    Cheers
    C14,RC16, Hyperstar, QSI-583ws, N8, C8, ASI 6200MMpro/294MM/178MM
    Astrodon 31mm e series LRGB NIF 5nm Ha SII OIII, ASI 50mm LRGBHSO
    8' domes, Davis vantage pro, SQM-LE, Phidget IR (cloud),
    http://www.watchobs.com

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    33,158

    Default

    Bob, if that was the CAE B757 at America West, I worked on that one!
    YES! That was it! I spent by far the most time in the B757 there. I did very well, no emergency procedures like engine outs, but several ILS approach and landings, takeoffs, and visual "traffic pattern" work, in close, like the Navy does.
    -- Bob

 

 

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. I Passed My Rotorcraft-Helicopter Check Ride!
    By Bob Denny in forum Off-Topic Discussions
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: Jun 23, 2013, 23:07
  2. Solo Cross Country in the Helicopter
    By Bob Denny in forum Off-Topic Discussions
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: Feb 20, 2013, 20:00

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •