Finally, off airport! Yes(!!)...backcountry in a helicopter, the whole reason these machines were put on earth!

Just, wanted to say thank you to you guys that helped me here on BackcountryPilot, you know who you are! Mahalo for showing me the R44.

A moment of pure nirvana and spiritual release. Please watch...

I understand the feeling...

Oh hell yeah!

Got to ask, iPat: did the pilot shown in your pic, (in case you don't want to fess up, I can relate), shut down, get out, take a leak, etc.? I can see amongst the fling wing crowd, just briefly touching a skid being one thing, versus a shut down and get out, being the full monty. That is one great shot.

Nice shot, I landed on this same rock, or or it’s twin. What an experience, I definitely did not shutdown or get out. I also had a 3000 lb helicopter, it was hard to fight the urge to give it a little nudge.

Ted - I enjoyed your video and meant to share your exhilaration, not hijack this thread!

R22 in photo atop Totem Pole/Yei Bichei (36.928968N 110.047688W) is N8044Z, piloted by the late Juan Serrano in the 1980's. A good friend, and now dual ATP based near Seattle, photographed the event from an adjacent R22. A corresponding close-up photo reveals significant blade coning, indicating light-on-skids.

At the time, Toyota was running their "Oh what a feeling!" advertising campaign showing owners jumping up with arms outstretched next to their vehicle. I suggested to Juan we should go back with my climbing gear [for anchoring, as it was a bolted route] to take a similar photo; Juan politely declined.... Frank [Robinson] did receive a framed copy of the original photo, and hung it in his office.

It was a different era. Nowadays I would expect a helicopter trespassing there would be photo'd by many, identified easily, tribal authorities would contact D.C., and a US Marshal might even await the returning pilot. Inadvisable.

"To fly is heavenly; to hover is divine." -unknown

Good info iPAT. Very much inline with the thread’s topic!

Mahalo!

This thread is now unofficially designated as my VLOG. I was politely asked to get my flight training into one thread. Posts are still welcome! Just will be a long ..... thread now...

2018.10.02 start VLOG:

Welcome to another episode of me trying to get good enough for a PPL “add on” check ride. Getting closer, we are just reviewing maneuvers and fine tuning.

We practiced 180 degree autorotations and shallow run on landings (simulating limited power, restricted manifold pressure). I think I will be able to fly this type of helo safely!

My following VIDEO is part of a sloppy skewed culmination of “What I did today trying to get a rating”. Caution: the intro has Waikiki in it because it stokes me! Flying will show a practice “Run on” landing (minute 00:24).

Disclaimer: not intended to be instructional. But, it’s rated “G” . Enjoy, Aloha!

Helicopter R44 autorotations:

180 degree @ 700’ AGL, hover @ 4’ AGL

Video today: Confined area set down and maximum performance takeoff from an abandoned pineapple field. “Hawaii Five 0” is using a few helicopters this week across the street at Pat’s Seaplane Base.

Passed PPL Helicopter check ride and received rating. The R44 is an amazing ship! Next, the mechanics course at KTOA (which is a pass/fail curriculum too). Will be building R44 hours on mainland for commercial rating next several month...

Note:
Mauna Loa Helicopters is an excellent company. Very thorough and safe instruction. Highly recommended for tours also.

Congratulations! If you get the chance, do the Robinson Safety Course. It’s the cheapest factory school you’ll ever attend.

Be safe, have fun and respect the backside of the power curve!

VTOSS wrote:Congratulations! If you get the chance, do the Robinson Safety Course. It’s the cheapest factory school you’ll ever attend.

Be safe, have fun and respect the backside of the power curve!

Thank you. Yes about LD/MAX, and altitude performance is a huge factor to plan for, also. Will fly to the California high desert in the R44 and will watch/calculate performance very closely. The DPE advised using large safety margins when dealing with DA.

Safety Course at Robinson is a great value, agreed. The minimum prerequisite is a Private Pilot License, which allows me to sign up as of now!

Aloha!

Fantastic! A big congrats! Yes, the safety course is worth every penny, I went years ago.

Kurt

G44 wrote:Fantastic! A big congrats! Yes, the safety course is worth every penny, I went years ago.

Kurt

Thank you Kurt! I appreciate you following the progress and the input. The journey is just beginning!

Aloha!

Congrats on the rating!! Good luck with the mechanics course next!

jlacharite wrote:Congrats on the rating!! Good luck with the mechanics course next!

Mahalo Joe! So much to learn, so little time!

How is your West to East flight?

Aloha!

8GCBC wrote:

jlacharite wrote:Congrats on the rating!! Good luck with the mechanics course next!

Mahalo Joe! So much to learn, so little time!

How is your West to East flight?

Aloha!

Still working on reassembly. The shipment went well with no damage. I hung the tail feathers yesterday and hung the wings today. Tomorrow will be the prop and final rigging. If all goes well, I'll get an evening flight in.

Aloha Joe, I’m totally stoked to see your aircraft in California! Very good work, there’s no damage! Amazing journey. What airport are you at? Next step?

Currently at castle airport up in Atwater. Next step will to be fine tuning the rigging then flying to Yosemite to visit the national park there!

jlacharite wrote:Currently at castle airport up in Atwater. Next step will to be fine tuning the rigging then flying to Yosemite to visit the national park there!

Try to take climbing lessons while you are visiting Yosemite Valley. Rocking climbing is a great sport.

I used to live at “Camp 4” in Yosemite in the seventies. When camping was free and empty.


My old partner Hans Flourine. He climbs El Cap in under (3) hours. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Florine


Myself many years ago: