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...
We were given an explanation of the physics of it all and had the main features pointed out... Ejector seat?
Up, up and away...
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...
Debrief... so I was up there then?