Must have helicopter stuff

[GOT]

Hey,

Will begin my PPL(H) in February, just wondering if there's anything which I "must" have. Like a bag or a pair of sunglasses or whatever... :}

And if, any good advise and links?

GOT

[nigelh]

1) clean underpants.
2) Aviator sunglasses.
3) Copy of Chickenhawk.
4) Packet of 3.
That just about covers the lot.

[AlanM]

The ability to throw money up in the air and keep smiling!

[Whirlygig]

If your eyes are sensitive to light, you might want some sunglasses; preferably with thin arms and the sort that wrap around. You might prefer to wear gloves; leather golfing gloves or driving gloves are cheaper than the proper flying gloves and serve the same purpose.

Other than that, you instructor will be able to advise as you progress through the course.

You will need study books for the exams and eventually a flight computer, charts, pens, ruler and protractor, a kneeboard and a bag to carry it all in, nothing fancy though; I use an old briefcase.

Cheers

Whirls

[scooter boy]

1.Tan
2.Open necked shirt
3.Medallion
4.Tooth bleach
5.Shades

SB

[206Fan]

Were abouts you doing your PPL GOT??

[Backward Blade]

A HELMET! you will only need it once!:cool: Think it over, probably one or two here on this site would agree.

Other than that don't forget your flashlight for DI's, small calculator for W+B/Log Book addition (or to show your customer why you can't lift it!:ugh:) and a really good coffe mug to keep you company when the weather heads south!!

[nigelh]

gloves and a kneeboard ...whatever next !!!!! I think they do about as much good as putting gold stripes on your shoulders !! ( i tried the stripes once ....made no difference to my flying at all . The gloves made buttons and bra straps very awkward too.)
possibly some of the best advice would be to take a lot of the rubbish written by wannabees and ppl,s with a pinch of salt !!!:D I suggest you get a life , dont worry about the gloves and glasses and just go flying ........:rolleyes:

[Whirlygig]

Of course nigelh, your advice was so erudite, there was nothing I could usefully add so I thought I'd give a stupid answer!

Cheers

Whirls

[ShyTorque]

So, Nigel - exactly how long have you been wearing a bra to fly? Sussies and stockings under the trousers maybe, but a BRA? Man - that's weird!!

:\

[heliski22]

Never mind the bull****, just get a pair of good quality sunglasses, you really WILL need them. After that the most important things you'll need will be determination and diligence to get you through the low days when it will seem you can't do anything right (the first of these will be trying to hover in spaces smaller than a football field) and a hefty bank balance to see you throught the full course.

Most of all, relax and enjoy it!

PS - I don't propose to come between Whirls and NigelH so you'll need to decide as you go if bras and other recommendations offer any practical advantage!

[nigelh]

The co-pilot / student wears the bra ....you twit . :ugh: ( apart from thursdays ..........nothing weird , its just a hobby ) and before you ask yes i am an instructor and no you cant have any lessons ....thursday or any other day.:=

[ShyTorque]

Ooh, so you're an INSTRUCTOR? :cool:

No lessons for me though? Shame. Perhaps I'll never get this flying lark sorted out. :sad:

[nigelh]

knew youd be impressed////i think it means i can have an extra stripe on my shoulder too:ok: perish the thought you were being sarcastic :eek: tell me you werent !!:{

[ShyTorque]

Sarcastic? About the bra etc, or the lessons?

[Whirlygig]

i tried the stripes once ....made no difference to my flying at all .

That I can believe.

And_you_never_use_a_kneeboard_eh? (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3680502&postcount=6)

Cheers

Whirls

[Role1a]

You will definitely need a 2 o’clock daisy, not sure where you can get them though:)

Just enjoy it, and good luck.

R1a

[nigelh]

Thats unfair !!!! throwing my own B******T back in my face like that. Not very lady like.

[Crosshair]

Why do helicopter pilots more often wear helmets than pilots of light fixed-wing aircraft?

Which is to say, pilots of light fixed-wing aircraft NEVER wear helmets, while helicopter pilots sometimes do.

Like you say, you only need it once.

I guess most light aircraft crashes are either fairly minor, or fatal. Are helicopter accident patterns different?

Or are helmets just too dorky for words?

[Whirlygig]

I'm so sorry nigelh, I thought for a moment that I had a worthy opponent; seems I was mistaken :}.

I shall now put my bra back on (provided not too much of it has been burnt) and behave like a lady in your presence.

Cheers

Whirls

[GOT]

Wow, what a forum so many replies =)

I'll be doing my PPL-H and the rest of my licenses in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Is there any recommended/most popular glasses out there? Is there no need of a headset of your own? How useful is a kneeboard, I mean, how are you suppose to write something on it when you're flying....

GOT

[Role1a]

Crosshair

You have to accept the fact that helicopters crash more per hour than fixed wing. Plus those big whirly bits tend to trash the cab a bit more and send all sorts of debris flying.

R1a

[Whirlygig]

At the risk of incurring nigelh's mirth again ....

Sunglasses are your own choice but they shouldn't obstruct your peripheral vision nor interfere with the comfort of a headset.

As for headsets, check with the school but helicopters usually come fitted with them but this isn't always the case.

If you have an excellent memory (like nigelh), then you may not need a kneeboard but I use one for writing down the ATIS information (i.e. initial pressure, wind etc) plus take off and landing times, start and finish fuel quantity and datcon readings. You can also use it to write down all the frequencies that you'd need en route.

Cheers

Whirls

[GOT]

Whirls,

Yeah, that make sense. Just compared to fixed-wing where pilots tend to write down a lof of instructions on the kneeboard.

My school have R22 with headsets, but I just thought it would be nice with a couple of own ones...:rolleyes:

GOT

[Floppy Link]

...If your eyes are sensitive to light...

and if they aren't, how did you find your way to the doctor's for the medical?

:E

[500e]

GOT
There are people here who will try to wind you up.You only require 1 item to get you through training,
lots & lots of MONEY, save all you can, you will require more than you think, at times you will wonder if you were totally sane to start the training,( I expect friends have already pointed this out to you :sad:) but most of all the enjoyment will be so intense you wonder how you lived before the madness gripped you.
PS. Never had trouble with bra straps, please advise if gloves type approved? or of spurious manufacture,:E

[FrisBee.be]

GOT,

In my personel oppinion, I wouldn't bother with gloves, kneeboards, headsets, helmets, aviation bags, etc. All these things cost money u know, money better spend on flyin'.
If I was u I would just get myself a good pair of sunglasses and a masseuse for when ur learning to hover.

Good luck in Feb. and enjoy...

[platinumpure]

I'd go for a nice set of Ray-Ban's mate. I've tried a lot of different sunglasses, some quite a bit more expensive than Ray-Ban's but they seem to be the best wearing and last the longest. Some models have nice thin arms as well, therefore you don't get a headache when you have them on all day with a headset.

As for the headset. You probably will want to invest in one sooner or later if you are planning on making a career out of this. I recommend the Bose or the new David Clark X11 (Helicopter version should be out later this year, or early next year). They are pretty pricey, but again if you are going to make a career out of this you will want something good and light if you can afford it.

Most of the other stuff really is pilot preference. I don't wear a kneeboard, just a clipboard or whatever I find lying around the cockpit that I can write on, however I do fly a aircraft with an auto pilot therefore not much need for one. If I remember though I did use one when I was in flight training.

I suppose if you want to look the part you could get gloves, a helmet and pair of goggles, oh and don't forget the scarf and leather jacket. ;)

Hope this helps.

[rotarypilot]

I always used a ball cap but you have to break off the little button on top as the headset will drive it into your skull and it will hurt....a lot. Good pair of glasses with some thin arms, comfortable pair of shoes (do NOT EVER wear sandles or loafers) just runners or hiking boots, an E6B is handy to have. If you are serious look into a helmet but I wouldn't rush out and buy one as they are not cheap.

More important is how to prepare for your flight, make sure you understand what is expected of you and review it the night before, get a good nights sleep and eat a light breakfast like yogurt, a bannana, and a gronola bar, stay a way from acidic drinks, acidic fruits, no eggs or milk.

[Whirlybird]

Don't buy ANYTHING before you start. Find out what you need as you go along and what works best for you.

Everyone says you HAVE to have sunglasses, don't they. But I hate the damn things and never wear them. I finally bought a pair the year I was instructing fulltime, as I was getting headaches. But if I'm doing less flying that that - ie less than 4-5 hours a day - I don't bother.

Kneeboards? I like them - you can write lots of stuff in advance, and if you have the ones with pockets, you can have everything to hand (eg sunglasses!). Some pilots hate them and I even knew an instructor who told all his students categorically that they shouldn't use one...how's that for insisting everyone does things your way!

I'm almost never seen a flying school helicopter that doesn't have headsets in it.

So get started, and take it from there. The only thing you'll really need, starting at this time of year, with the weather as it's likely to be in Northern Europe, is patience.... :(

[ShyTorque]

I wouldn't wear a kneeboard myself and would be unhappy about a second person wearing one in the other seat. They are genaerally over-sized and could cause a control restriction in some circumstances, for example on sloping ground (take your instructors advice on this).

However, I do use a double width, folding A4 sized clipboard (from a stationery shop, nothing overpriced from an "aviation specialist"), which holds a PLOG sheet and A4 sheets of paper with relevant info for my flight, such as landing site photos and sections of 50,000 map for use when finding them. I also temporarily clip on the flimsy A5 pages from Jeppesen's etc. to keep them ready for use and stop them blowing on the floor between the yaw pedals at an inopportune moment.... The clipboard is placed well clear of the controls, either behind the other seat or alongside if it's not occupied.

A pad of "Post-it" notes or similar is extremely useful. The stick-on sheets can be used for book-marks (they won't fall out of your VFR guide) and for writing down frequencies and other information in advance; I often stick these onto the folded nav. chart.

A small torch is always useful, especially at this time of year. I have a small Maglite (2 AA type) converted to LEDs.

Sunglasses will be needed at some stage, certainly when you get to the navigation stage. Sitting squinting into sun for an hour is no fun and not a safe concept.

You will need a decent jacket; don't be fooled into buying a nylon one as sold in the aviation suppliers' catalogues - they are totally unsuitable for aviation.

I agree with Whirly here, best to buy stuff as and when you need it, rather than turning up on day one looking like Action Man (helicopter nerd version).

Good luck with your flying.

[s61Oneday]

The general consensus seems to be that sunglasses are probably the only item you really need initially. There is an old thread on which ones here:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=220987&highlight=maui

I found it useful. I went for Maui Jims in the end - very thin stalks that don't raise the headset and therefore keep the noise out - and there's plenty of it to keep out!

Best of luck with your course - you'll have no regrets.

[Heliplane]

A copy of Chickenhawk by Robert Mason.

[A Nony Mouse]

Just relax and enjoy your training. Don't pay heed to the bull..... you have read! Pay attention to what your instructor says.

[EN48]

After years of experimentation, I have found the Serengeti Aviators to be by far the most suitable sunglasses for flying. These are photochromic (automatically adjust density for ambient light conditions), improve contrast in mist and haze, are graduated (darker at the top, lighter at the bottom), have glass lenses whcih are almost impossible to scratch, and have proven to be indestructable. Over a ten year period, one pair which I use every day is still going strong. RayBans usually last me about 2 years before something breaks. Anout $90 U.S. at the discount aviation supply companies on the web.

In 40+ year of flying fixed wing, I have never been a fan of kneeboards. When I began helicopter training a year ago, it became clear that having things close at hand was going to be important, at least for a newbie when flying solo. I tried many of the available kneeboards and forund that all but one were too large and interferred with the cyclic. The one I recommend is quite small (but just large enough) and is marketed in the U.S. under the brand name Sky High. A quality product made of heavy duty nylon cloth with a metal stiffener. Really well thought out and with many more features than I can describe here. About $35 U.S.

Finished the PP add-on in an Enstrom 480B in June, and now finishing the Commercial and Instrument rating. Kneeboard and sunglasses have served me well.

RB

[ShyTorque]

Don't pay heed to the bull..... you have read!

So everything before your own post is bull****? (Third posting from someone not even declaring a licence). :D

The difficulty is knowing what is good advice and what isn't.....

[Lord Mount]

My advice is that you need a visit to your dentist before starting your course. He will need to check your teeth for strength because you will be grinding them when your instructor hands you the controls in the hover.
He will also need to polish your teeth because you will be grinning so much that everyone will see them.

Enjoy

LM

[GOT]

Many thanks for all your answers! I really like this place =)

[Flyin'ematlast]

GOT

Just a PPL(H) here but I'd suggest a medical as soon as you can if you want to stay flying. If you intend to fly CPL(H) then you are wasting heaps of time and money to even start without your Class 1 (or Swedish equivalent). You can fly up to solo without the medical pass but if you fail it the money has been largely wasted up to that point.:(

FWIW I agree with the recommendations of RayBans but find some kind of sunglasses essential especially flying in winter with low sun.

Alot of the training manuals can be picked up on Ebay as good secondhand saving a bit more money for the flying.:D

Whatever you decide to get, enjoy the experience. There's nothing quite like the buzz of your first (reasonably) stable hover and first solo circuit.:cool:

Best of luck

Ian

[GOT]

I already have a medical class 1 (Sweden is a part of JAR ;-)), since march. Without that I would not even start my career!

I'll not buy anything until I have started my lessons except maybe for the sunglasses. They could be nice to have anyway. :cool:

I have another question, which is not on topic but anyway...

Do PPL-H have same books as PPL-A? Except perhaps for POF? And what about ATPL? Same there?

GOT

[Heli-Ice]

GOT

Study this very important thread before you proceed:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=299702&highlight=fold :}

Check if there are any map folding courses offered in Sweden...

[Ptkay]

Nomex: overall, gloves, balaclava ...

[spencer17]

@PTKAY What the hell he needs a balaclava for???:confused:
His intention is to become a helicopter pilot, not a terrorist or bank robber:ugh:

@ShyTorque Sticky notes are also very handy putting them on torque meters when slinging:}

:ouch: my chief pilot read it.

Spencer17

[helimutt]

As an ex-instructor, I would only advise you to get a baseball cap as mentioned previously. (oh yes, and take the little button off the top.)Don't worry about glasses/headsets/and all that cr*p. You don't need it yet as the school will supply headsets for now. Get one when you feel you'll be doing enough flying to justify it's use then get a reasonable noise cancelling one.


Don't go out and buy these expensive pilot packs of books/kneeboards etc. You can buy that as you go along and get them off ebay or somewhere to save money. Save money where you can.

One other thing, enjoy it and don't get too stressed if you can't do everything first time. Lot's of us here have all done the same thing.

[GOT]

Helimutt wilco!

I really what it to be february soon, it will be so fun! I have actually, this autumn, been studying for a PPL-A but just the theory part and I have not made any exams for the CAA. So I believe I'll have a lot of knowledge already at course start so I hope I can start the actual flight training quite early!!

GOT

[SilsoeSid]

I believe it is important for some Helicopter Pilots to have a neatly trimmed bush! :eek:






http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/HeliBush.jpg

As seen at B&Q Evesham for £99.

[Billywizz]

I seem to remember there was a great video of an R44 lifting into an over hanging Hangar door which trashed the aircraft. I think that the pilot was wearing a baseball cap.
Go figure

[YOP]

Have to agree with Whirlybird and helimutt, DON'T take anything to start with other than your enthusiasm and a determination to enjoy what will be a fascinating, frustrating, rewarding, sometimes depressing but ultimately uplifting experience. Nothing is actually required but some things will make your life easier especially at the times when you'll be concentrating so hard you won't even be able to remember your own name! Your instructor will point you in the right direction as to what you'll need.

I've been flying helicopters for over 20 years now for various organizations some of which provided you with everything and others which gave you absolutely nothing. Personally I don't get on with kneeboards, I bought a pair of Randolph Engineering sunglasses once because I thought that's what I needed, don't even know where they are now, but the one thing I have bought for myself is a noise cancelling headset. Should have bought one years ago. Helicopters are noisy, especially the R22 with it's perfectly fitting doors :p so anything that can make your learning environment a more relaxing place has got to be worth it in my opinion. They're expensive and you don't need it just yet but it would be first on my list if you've got the money.

Have fun.

[chopper2004]

Well I am taking the plunge and starting training tomorrow morning in the R44. This what I have had already:)

1) RSH Aircrew police /parapublic leather flight jacket
3) Enough subs to Vertical Magazine, Heli Ops and Heli Tac as well as my AHS Vertiflite and HAI publications
4) Shades of course!!:ok:
5) Snake Pilot by Randy Zahn

Cheers

[170']

Do yourself a big favor and don't spend a cent/penny on anything you don't have to have. This little adventure is going to cost you a lot more than you think...

Most people already have sunglasses, pilot or otherwise...

I prefer a grease pencil to a knee-board and I just write on the window. I have my own shorthand and write down everything I know I'll forget. Another pilot might say it could block your vision. But you don't have to be too smart to figure out not to write in your main scanning area. And how much are you looking outIf your head down looking at a plate for a frequency? I don't know what a kneeboard costs but a grease pencil is around 1.30€ where I live...

Be frugal. It's something you'll really profit from in the first few years...

Good luck....You'll enjoy the training ...If not, change schools...It's challenging at first but it's always fun...170'

[Heliringer]

170 I'd like to see a photo of your writing on the window whilst in flight. I fly a Longranger and it's quite a reach to the front window with my hand. I prefer a knee board but I normally just remember anything like clearance etc.
I will try and write with my finger on the window on my next flight but I don't think I can reach. Please post a photo in flight if you can, it will be interesting
Cheers

[EN48]

I am in strong agreement with those who advise being frugal at the beginning and not spending money on gadgets. In 40+ years of flying, I have lost track of all the gadgets I have purchased and later abandoned. Jackets,sunglasses, caps etc may make you feel good but will not make you better pilot. My suggestion: spend your money on a copy of Shawn Coyle's book "Cyclic & Collective." This is a well written, easy to read, and comprehensive book on the practical aspects of flying helicopters, with just enough theory here and there to promote better understanding. I believe that you will progress faster in your training when you understand what is coming and why; this book enables that understanding in a way that is enjoyable rather than a burden. :ok:

EN48

[Gordy]

Heliringer..

"I fly a Longranger and it's quite a reach to the front window with my hand. I prefer a knee board but I normally just remember anything like clearance etc"

I write on the window also with a sharpie--either write on the door window or at the very top of the front window--its no big deal.

[Heliringer]

Gordy, I know it's no big deal but if your writing why not use a Knee board? Although it's smaller than the door/windscreen, You guys might be writing novels or something:)

[Gordy]

When flying on fires, 90% of the time we have the right door off, therefore the knee board on the right a leg is not the most secure, and it gets in the way of the collective on the left leg---therefore, it is easier to just write stuff on the window. More importantly, I just dont like knee boards--they are too bulky, and never seemed to fit right. Another plus to the window is the information remains when the relief pilot fly. I am also not talking novels either--normally just frequencies and stuff like that. Sometimes I also draw an outline of the fire and annotate the division breaks on it.

[GOT]

After a few months of flight training, I use:

- A cap without the button on the top (thanks for the tip!)
- Ear-plugs custom made to fit my ears. Even though they cost a lot, they are of great value, I strongly recommend this.

GOT (skill test on Thursday!)

[pamphletboy]

Good luck mate!

[IHL]

Don't know where you are training but here is my advise:
Dress for the environment and fill your pockets with handy stuff because often times when aircraft crash the survival kit is inaccessible and all you have to survive with is what you're wearing.

Carry at least a lighter, pocket knife, signaling device, and during summer in remote areas always have insect repellant with you.

The test to see if you are appopriately dressed: spend a couple of hours outside after dark -preferrably midnight- , just sitting around -wearing what you would normally have with you when flying,. If your not shivering after a couple of hours then I would say you are appropriately dresssed.

I'm Canadian so thinking about survival is essential, Of course if you fly in an urban environment an Amex card would probably suffice.

[topendtorque]

IHL
Given that it is Canada (or perhaps any country) that you are referring to and that the trainee may embark on xcrountry trips now and then, I venture an addition or two to your list.

1. space blanket.

2. Personal ELB (both of which must be on "on person")

3. A head full of knowledge as to how far away the nearest rescue machines are, in minutes, complete with pre-flight briefing. Plus 20 minutes for sat detection of your ELB and central SAR to mobilise and action rescue.

4. A personal ETA well before last light back spaced to include the above time interval.

5. A seriously good head attitude that you have checked off all the items heretofore referred to in this entire thread.
good luck!!:ok:

My personal list involves, Water, Space blanket, ELB, thermos of coffee, sat phone, field dressing, and coat and matches in case the flight time goes toward last light or it's bloody cold.
TET

[yetson]

good kneeboard: Hendricks 9G
and 20mil poly plates (custom):

have a look if you want some (R44):

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/66422-kneeboards-3.html#post6431793

[GOTJETB]

The helmets you see helicopter pilots wear are just an upgrade of the ones they wore as kids that the doctors ordered. They were "special" :ugh:.

Seriously, I wear one. I'd rather not. Especially in hot weather and working on fires etc. However, I can count several fellows whom I know personally whose helmet saved their lives or at least their ability to have a life. When helicopters crash **** literally hits the fan. Rotor blades go through perspex (thats one guy), heads get dragged down and bounced on rocky slopes (thats another guy), transmissions get ripped out and pulled into the cockpit (another guy) and so on... They also come in handy for an extra motorbike helmet for that chick you just met and you don't have a second. Tell her to keep that cord out of the rear wheel!

[GOTJETB]

I do same thing on fires but not with a sharpie. I use a china marker aka grease pencil. They can sit in your bag forever and you never worry about it drying up if you don't use it for a while. Always there. Stays put on window throughout the day no prob but wipes off easily with soft cloth just before the chief eng sees it and says "what the ....!"

[lelebebbel]

Ask your FI what material you require so you can learn and fly a helicopter safely.

There is a dress code if one want's to be a pilot, your instructor should be wearing 3 or 4 stripe's on each shoulder and you should wear 1 stripe.

The reason that pilot's should wear these is so that ground handler's or who ever know's who the commander of the craft is and know's who the student or co-pilot is.

I would suggest learning on the HU269 :ok:

There is a reason the american military dont teach primary helicopter flying skill's in any other machine :cool:


Can't beat PPRune for good, accurate and useful information!

Personally I would suggest 5 or 6 stripes on each shoulder when instructing US military pilots in the H269, just to be safe!


:ugh:

[GOTJETB]

Stripes?? At first I thought Chris was joking. I think in the bottom of my duffell bag I have a oily striped t-shirt in which I keep the cut down 12 gauge wrapped up (bears). I could wear that. Its got lots of stripes. That'd make me the grandpoobah on the ramp. The dried fish blood on it would add that extra "air" of command too.

[Gordy]

Chris The Sheep...

There is a reason the american military dont teach primary helicopter flying skill's in any other machine

I think you will find they train in the TH-67...

See Here (http://tinyurl.com/3essll7)

[[email protected]]

And when do they teach people like Chris the Sheep to use apostrophes properly?

Rules for correct use of the apostrophe (http://www.eng-lang.co.uk/apostrophe_rules.htm)

[toptobottom]

Crab
Your quite right; there's to much people which can't speak or write basic english these day's. Dont start me off! :ugh:

GOT
All you need for now are pockets that are deep enough, a +ve attitude and a good sense of humour. You'll soon realise what you will and won't need, depending on what works for you. I definitely wouldn't invest in a load of kit you may not need; there's nothing worse than being an 'all the gear, no idea' merchant!

[yme]

GOT
Lots of knee boards mentioned, I've seen a mate who uses an arm board! Not sure where he got it, someone here is bound to know!

[GOT]

Thanks for the advise, although a finished my training almost 2 years ago ;-)
Nowadays I'm working full time as a HU369/B206 pilot for a large company!!

...And I only use a cap (about to buy a helmet).