I've always been interested in helicopters, so my wife got me an intro flight for my birthday. I was hooked immediately, despite wondering how on earth I'd ever figure out how to hover the thing. Well 5 or 6 hours in things started to make sense, and I did my first solo yesterday.

The smile of someone who will probably be broke for the rest of their life. I'm sure some of you can relate.



Jeff


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Congratulations, only been in one for a short tour of Miami Beach over 30 years ago.

Jeff,

Congratulations!

Now that you understand dynamic proactive control movement, tailwheel airplanes, which can be flown much more cheaply, will be a snap.

Jim

Nice man! I'm at 16 hours between a -22 and -44. It's crazy fun, and becoming less scary each time. I find hovering kind of like flying real slow in my PA-18, balancing a marble on top of an upside down bowl!

Oh you poor guy. There goes ALL your money! I can tell you, from personal experience that many trips thru "hello rehab" don't work. Probably the most fun a person could have. I love helicopter flying! Congrats on your solo!

Kurt

Congrat's It is like a crack habit and maybe more expensive!!

I've thought about getting a helo ticket, but figured it was like a float rating-- unless you can afford to own one of your own, what's the point?
Curious what that thing costs per hour?

Here is my first solo.... instructor was also ck pilot. He told me the only reason he passed me was he was afraid to fly with me again Always wondered if he was kidding or not

Thanks guys. Hotrod, in USD it works out to be about 350/hr dual. You're right, it is unjustifiable, however in the fantasyland in the back of my brain I'd like to have a go at making a career out of it.

I was worried I was too old to start (33), but the instructor claims most civilian heli pilots start around this age, since not many guys younger than that have the money to do it. Maybe he's just blowing smoke to keep himself in business, who knows. I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon.

Don, that looks like a '47? There is a 47G in the hangar next door, what a beast.



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noodles wrote:Thanks guys. Hotrod, in USD it works out to be about 350/hr dual. You're right, it is unjustifiable, however in the fantasyland in the back of my brain I'd like to have a go at making a career out of it.

I was worried I was too old to start (33), but the instructor claims most civilian heli pilots start around this age, since not many guys younger than that have the money to do it. Maybe he's just blowing smoke to keep himself in business, who knows. I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon.

Don, that looks like a '47? There is a 47G in the hangar next door, what a beast.



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Any idea how many hours/$'s it'll take you to get to commercial? Are you already a commercial fixed wing pilot? This is just out of curiosity, I've often thought of the same thing.

-Asa

A long time ago if u had fixed wing commercial the Helo rating was just an add on to ticket. Might have changed by now

I have a fixed wing PPL, but unfortunately none of the flying hours are cross credited. Obviously it helps though already knowing radio/law/nav etc but as far as $ goes I'm not too much ahead.

For CPL, I don't expect any change out of 100k. Bear in mind this is new zealand though, and a CPL-H requires 150hrs (I think US is 100hrs). Slung loads and mountain flying are standard with the CPL.

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Flying a Mosquito from home, CHEAP!
https://www.backcountrypilot.org/images ... 3d4a2a.jpg

Congrats on the solo!

I took an intro ride in a Schweizer several years ago, while my airplane was having its annual. It was fun, and I did get it to hover without the instructor taking over, but I concluded that it wasn't for me.

On the other hand, our expressions are about the same, yours soloing the chopper, and me getting my SES:



Cary