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| my wife, youngest son and me in front of EC120 Helicopter |
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| After my first solo flight in the R22 |
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I have been flying helicopters since 2000. I started out on Robinson R22's which are two seater piston engined helicopters that most people learn in. Ironically because they are so small and light and have a piston engine they are actually harder and more complex to fly than larger turbine engine helicopters. In 2005 I did my type rating in a Eurocopter EC120 turbine helicopter. This is a much larger aircraft (5 seater) and a real joy to fly. It doesn't have any of the skittishness of the R22 and has loads of power.
Why helicopters? Well I wanted an interest that was both technically challenging but also great fun and flying helicopters is definately both of those. The feeling of freedom and sheer rush of flying them is amazing and I only wish I had more time available to fly. The only downside is the cost, particularly when you get into the turbine helicopters.
Trivia - did you know that with most European helicopters the rotors go clockwise (viewed from below) while most American helicopters they go anti clockwise? This does affect the flying characteristics of the helicopter - for example you have to use right pedal to counteract bringing in more power in a European helicopter (to stop yaw from the torque) but in an American helicopter you use left pedal.
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