Helicopter Lesson at Cranfield Airport


19th September 2010

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A trial lesson in an R22 helicopter over Buckinghamshire with Patriot Aviation.

We flew at about 2000 feet and up to about 90 knots at the fastest, though we mainly kept to around 75.

With the various new controls, it was like learning to drive a car again - only in 3D. The cyclic stick only had to be moved a millimetre at a time or it would cause it to lurch dramatically.

Jon being given a tour of the same type of the same type of helicopter as we would be flying...


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We were given an explanation of the physics of it all and had the main features pointed out... Ejector seat?


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The instructor checking everything was attached and giving a good guide to how small the helicopter was...


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Jon leaving the ground...

Take off

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Up, up and away...

Hello

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Jon undertaking the hover challenge...


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Me doing the same... we were told that if we lurched at this point so close to the ground, we could end up performing a dynamic rollover and would end up upside down on the ground... no pressure then...

 

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Debrief... so I was up there then?

 

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