Hi,
Finally got to try helicopter flying today at Cambridge thanks to Angie's
birthday present.
I've now got even more admiration for the likes of Russell with his
Gazelle. I can see what they mean by comparing it to spinning plates on sticks - but
felt I gave a good performance none the less.
My steed for the day was a freshly rebuilt!!??!! Robinson R22 G-TILE.
Up and Away
Following a pre-flight briefing we checked the machine and I strapped into
the right hand P1 position. It takes a while for the clutch to disengage and the
rotors to spin up to speed and then following clearance from Cambridge Tower we
were off.
I had been warned by my instructor Adam not to look at any instruments and
only think of a manoeuvre since that will be enough to accomplish it and guess
what, he was right. The technique for turning is to look at a position on the
horizon and as if by magic that's where you will end up heading - a bit like the
old saying if you are having a car crash don't look at a tree or lamp post
because you will surely hit it!
Easy does it
We went through use of Cyclic (turning and speed control), Collective (up
and down) and Rudder (yaw and keeping straight). This included hovering at
height (just like the Police choppers) and backwards flight!
Before long it was time to return to the 'field and I was allowed to try
low level hovering and landing before Adam demonstrated crop-spraying turns,
360's and auto-rotations.
I was really impressed with smoothness and stability of the R22 after
hearing a few horror stories but the mention of 'Rotorway' to Adam had him
shivering - I don't think any money would get him in the cockpit of one of
those.
Rotor
We then taxied back to the hard-standing and shut the 'copter' down, again
much longer than in fixed wing.
Adam runs to the toilet
It was a great experience which answered my own questions about whether
fixed wing knowledge would assist rotary wing control - the answer is a firm
NO.
I would highly recommend giving it a try - however a word of warning (Mr R)
it is massively expensive to pursue - a twin turbine (essential during
commercial IR training) is an eye watering £1000 per hour!!!!
Richard
