solo oh solo

[troglodytis]

i finally did it.

today i soloed for the first time. i am miles of smiles! the total flight lasted 1.2 hours and i flew .5 hours all by my lonesome.

when my instructor got in the helicopter with the handheld radio i knew it was today.

we flew out to one of the local ranches that we use as a practice area. we were gonna make a few landings and take offs together to make certain it was "a good day". the 2 main places we land were both occupied by cattle. once we found a suitable location i shot a short but nice normal approach to a hover. we found that spot to be a bit rocky so we hover taxied 100 yards or so to a smoother area. after some pick ups and set downs(some on slopes) my instructor ask how i was feeling.

great.

ok, she's all yours.

he got out, walked about 30 yards away. a quick check of the radios and it was time to go. by myself. no one to fix anything i get myself into but me. it was about damn time.

as i got light on the skids and picked the helicopter off the ground i was expecting the forward cyclic needed, but was surprised by the lateral difference. my side was a good 6 inches lower than the empty side. crazy. i was a little squirrelly for a second or two as i got used to the difference.

i did a pick up/set down/pick up, and then a normal takeoff. once i got moving i looked into the empty seat next to me and let out a "YEEEAAHAAAA". made right traffic(a rectangle back to the landing zone) with a normal approach. winds shifted a bit and so i did a nice crosswind approach to a hover. then a 360 turn. two more traffic patterns, into the wind this time, all nice and easy. what a great feeling!

then it was time to head back. picked my instructor up. he shook my sweaty hand and we were off back to the airport.

i can't wipe this grin off my face. i could shovel manure for 12 hours and it would still be here.

life is good

 

[KK]

Congrats dude.

That chopper training must be pretty awesome. Costs a pretty penny too. Do you have your ppl? I'm not sure if you need one to get the other. How many hours do you have in, and how many hours are required for certification?

KK

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Congrats man. Sounds like you had lots of fun

nik

 

[Utterman]

Congrats!!

I have always wanted to become an airplane pilot, but I can't seem to find the time or the money. Someday I will do it though.


BTW, do you just fly helicopters or do you also fly airplanes?

 

[troglodytis]

thanks for the grats!

i have about 38 hours in an R-22. i have not flown airplanes at all. you don't need to fly airplanes to fly helicopters.

i am working toward a career as a helicopter pilot. some, if not most, of the things you do in an emergency in a helicopter are the opposite of what you do in an airplane.

you are correct that it costs a lot. i'll be paying for it for many many years. if all i have to do is pay money to do what i want in life, i'll gladly pay.

i do want to get an airplane license too, but since i will be flying helicopters much much more, i want my first instict in an emergency to be helicopter based.

 

[melly]

((((TROGY))))))

congrats, you little wren!!

cha, cha, cha.