Rotorway helicopter
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Rotorway helicopter
Hi guys. I am two years into having my EASA PPL A and living and working in the uk am finding it hard to find the time and weather to keep my hours in and I have now found my self with my validation lapsing. I am lucky enough to have enough space to potentially have my own helicopter and I am contemplating doing my PPL H. Not being able to afford, dare I say it a "proper helicopter" I am looking at Rotorway. Can anyone give me any tips or advice or if I do decide to take the plunge would anyone fancy a share in a helicopter around the West Yorkshire area. Thanks guys.
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I have two friends who each own and fly a Rotorway Exec, but, those machines are top notch, with all the updates. They tell me that the older versions (and most certainly the straight "Rotorway" of the day, are an avoid). I had considered an older Rotorway I came across, but they convincingly talked me out of it. The Exec is out for me, as I'm 6'3", and simply don't fit, much less with a helmet on.
The fact that you have "a place" for a helicopter may not mean that your place is well suited for one. Go and take a few lessons in an R22 (firstly to see if you like truly small helicopters) and have your instructor take you into your place in it. If they wince in the least at the idea, you probably should not pursue it. Having the place is one thing, that place having suitable approaches is another aspect.
The fact that you have "a place" for a helicopter may not mean that your place is well suited for one. Go and take a few lessons in an R22 (firstly to see if you like truly small helicopters) and have your instructor take you into your place in it. If they wince in the least at the idea, you probably should not pursue it. Having the place is one thing, that place having suitable approaches is another aspect.
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The Rotorway is a nice little machine but rather underpowered. You wind up using max power a lot of the time. You can't train on one unless you own it yourself, so it means that you have to take the plunge and buy one at the beginning. It is therefore the simplest way to learn on an R22 or similar and then add the Rotorway rating later. There are quite a few of them flying in the UK and the nearest one to you is around Skegness I think. Send a PM to "parasite drag" who is I think an owner and can point you in the right direction, or post this on the Rotorheads forum and be prepared for a few comments from the heavy aircraft crowd on there. Do an hour on an R22 first to see if you like it but beware - it can be very addictive.
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First, I suggest you take a look at the Rotorheads thread and post there. Many Rotorway users / threads.
Second, take a trial flight to see how you like rotary. A G2 may be your best bet to trial / train but R22s are the most common and thee are quite a few S300s. R22 is the least stable platform therefore slightly harder to fly. If you can afford it, the R44 is a more capable platform to learn on.
Third, can you legally get a single engine helicopter into your place? I don't mean planning permission or angry neighbours but the "land clear" rule. Without the engine the auto rotation profile means that you decend at roughly 45° ish. Basically, what you can see past your toes when entering autorotation is where you will land. So you need to have green space available to you for your route into your landing site and back out again.
Without that clear route in / out you can't take your machine home.
Aside from that - go for it! Helicopter flying is absolutely fantastic!
Second, take a trial flight to see how you like rotary. A G2 may be your best bet to trial / train but R22s are the most common and thee are quite a few S300s. R22 is the least stable platform therefore slightly harder to fly. If you can afford it, the R44 is a more capable platform to learn on.
Third, can you legally get a single engine helicopter into your place? I don't mean planning permission or angry neighbours but the "land clear" rule. Without the engine the auto rotation profile means that you decend at roughly 45° ish. Basically, what you can see past your toes when entering autorotation is where you will land. So you need to have green space available to you for your route into your landing site and back out again.
Without that clear route in / out you can't take your machine home.
Aside from that - go for it! Helicopter flying is absolutely fantastic!
Have you considered an aoutogyro, or gyrocopter as they seem to be called these days?
They have come a long way in recent years and there are some very capable fully enclosed cabin 2 seaters around. The top two manufacturers are Magni in Italy and AutoGyro MTO in Germany.
If you look at the videos of GyroCopter girl on You tube there are some good videos of cross country flights such as Germany to South of France, so they are capable little machines these days.
They have come a long way in recent years and there are some very capable fully enclosed cabin 2 seaters around. The top two manufacturers are Magni in Italy and AutoGyro MTO in Germany.
If you look at the videos of GyroCopter girl on You tube there are some good videos of cross country flights such as Germany to South of France, so they are capable little machines these days.
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Many thanks guys, I have had a good think and I am definitely going to go for it. When the old wallet can afford. And yes Gyro copter girl is definitely worth a look. Hahah thanks again .
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May I suggest you'd be better , in the Leeds area , to find the people who are flying the Guimbal Capri. A far more substantial machine than a Robinson, IMO. -more benign flight-characteristics, minimal "lifed" parts and doesn't need a full rebuild when the calendar says "time's up!" ...that assumes the main rotor blades last that long!
