45 Hours in a Helicopter

This is a picture of a bell 47 that I trained in. It has a useful load of 550 lbs with full fuel, large, wide main blades, and one heck of a helicopter. They knew how to build em' back then.

I recommend all pilots learn how to fly a helicopter. It's a great endorsement to get for all fixed wing pilots. You really learn how to use the pedals with a helicopter, it can help fixed wing pilots learn how to properly use those pedals.

Can you fly cross country without using the yoke?

Canada Fly-In Lodge

Well, made it to Canda again for the 11th year in row and want to go back. Lake Nueltin is where it's at. Take a plane from Oklahoma to Winnipeg then onto Thompson, Manitoba and then onto a dirt landing strip about 150 to 200 miles from the nearest road.


At the camp there was also a RARE Norseman on floats. Rag Wings, big radial engine...great flying machine. But, the real treat was watching an Otter on floats with a turbo prop engine. Man! Are you talking about no problem getting off the gound! 7 guys with gear, Mercury engines, flshing poles, extra gas for the boat motors and no problem getting off the water. It was a treat!

Need some cross country time

Well, I'm in need (and want) to get some good cross country time in.

I was thinking about flying from Oklahoma to Louisiana or maybe some place east of here and doing a long triangle. I was thinking of a 3 to 4 day trip. Gain about 25 to 40 hours, gain some good CC knowledge, work with ATC, and just get away.

Any suggestions?
Feel free to leave a note and some suggestions. Where to stop, places to see, where to eat, etc.

Taildragger?

Buddy of mine has a Cessna 140 taildragger (1950) and talked me into some ground operations with his plane. "Taildragger?" So, after some thought I decided to give it a try at a non toweresd airport and taxied around for an hour. I learned how to taxi with my feet upwind, downwind, and crosswind. On my first back taxi on 17, I gained the nerve to increase my speed and before I knew it, the plane was fish tailing and I ended up doing a ground loop. Scared me, but at least the main wheels never left the ground.



After my blood pressure regained its normal rating, I taxied over the grass strip and practiced there. Gained speed, slowed down, did sharp turns, stopping, etc to build my confidene up.

After an hour in the 1950 Cessna 140 taildragger, I thought it was a good first lessen. What did I gain from this? I learned to use my feet (rudder) better with the yoke better in a 10 mph breeze.

When I returned to the hanger, my buddy asked if I got the tail up off the ground. "No way! Not yet." After another hour or so, by myself, I think I can but I wouldn't take off without an instructor. Taildragger instructors are hard to come by these days, it seems that all pilots just want to do tricycle planes. But, trust me! Learning how to taxi, fly, and land a taildragger will only make you a better pilot.

The Flying Okie

Welcome! Cherokee two eight whiskey ten miles out inbound for 35. Anyone in the pattern?

First post of my blog. I've been a pilot since 99' and rated for private VFR fixed wing and rotorcraft. Received my fixed wing private ticket in a Cessna 172 and my rotocraft (helicopter) in a Bell 47.

Learned how to fly out of Riverside Airport in Tulsa/Jenks, Oklahoma. 10th Busiest Airport (in number of airplanes) in the United States http://www.jraa.org/ see it for yourself. (pic)

From ground school to check ride, I did it all at Robertson Aviation. Highly recommended school.

In 2000, I traveled to Maui, commercial airlines, and made some touch and goes at Maui International which was cool. Had some big planes in the sky with me and made me feel like I was one of the big boys up there. Beautiful scenery and great weather that day, a day I'll never forget.

Note: If you ever have the desire to learn how to fly airplanes JUST DO IT. Pick up the phone book, look for an aviation school and sign up. Just make the call.