2017 HeliOps Calendar Giveaway - That Time Again.
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2017 HeliOps Calendar Giveaway - That Time Again.
Well the latest edition of the HeliOps calendar is now up for grabs 
I have 100 to give away to forum members this year. How do you get your hands on one - read on
For this years thread would be great to hear WHY you decided to get involved in flying helicopters, working on helicopters, or being involved in helicopters, and please no one or two word answers please.
Once you have posted on this thread send me a PM with your postal address and will put one in the mail for you - should be there in time for Xmas.
Here is the cover of the 2017 edition.
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I have 100 to give away to forum members this year. How do you get your hands on one - read on
For this years thread would be great to hear WHY you decided to get involved in flying helicopters, working on helicopters, or being involved in helicopters, and please no one or two word answers please.
Once you have posted on this thread send me a PM with your postal address and will put one in the mail for you - should be there in time for Xmas.
Here is the cover of the 2017 edition.
[/URL]
Hey Ned, how great that you are in a christmassy spirit again! 
To answer your question: A long time ago, I had a moment where I realized that my previous career path was leading to a job that I would probably grow sick and tired of after ten years. So I sat down and had a good long think about what job I could possibly enjoy up until retirement. I dug up my childhood dream and suddenly it all became clear. Never looked back since.
To answer your question: A long time ago, I had a moment where I realized that my previous career path was leading to a job that I would probably grow sick and tired of after ten years. So I sat down and had a good long think about what job I could possibly enjoy up until retirement. I dug up my childhood dream and suddenly it all became clear. Never looked back since.
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When I was 17 in the late 90's my mates and I went for a hunting trip and we flew in with Helisika in Taupo, NZ.
We didn't shoot anything but the flight in and out was the MASSIVE highlight for me!!! A few days later I saw a agriculture helicopter (Marine Helicopters and the late GM) flying on the neighbours farm. I thought "that is what I want to do!! A trial flight later and I was hooked. Loved it then, and love it now. Best job ever.
We didn't shoot anything but the flight in and out was the MASSIVE highlight for me!!! A few days later I saw a agriculture helicopter (Marine Helicopters and the late GM) flying on the neighbours farm. I thought "that is what I want to do!! A trial flight later and I was hooked. Loved it then, and love it now. Best job ever.
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Hi..
My wife gave me an intro flight.. and from then there was no way back..
Still remember my first solo in titusville as it was yesterday.. and still ger goosebumps when i think about it..
My wife gave me an intro flight.. and from then there was no way back..
Still remember my first solo in titusville as it was yesterday.. and still ger goosebumps when i think about it..
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Hi...
My wife gave me an intro flight.. and from that moment i did not have any doubts.
Its the mother of all powertools and no other job comes close to the exitement.
I had the luck of delivering a new R44 from the factory to the Domical Republic.... that was the true feeling of freedom..
I still get goosebumb when i think of my first solo..
My wife gave me an intro flight.. and from that moment i did not have any doubts.
Its the mother of all powertools and no other job comes close to the exitement.
I had the luck of delivering a new R44 from the factory to the Domical Republic.... that was the true feeling of freedom..
I still get goosebumb when i think of my first solo..
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Started my professional life as a navy officer in warships. Loved to see the choppers around doing different business at sea. I moved to the air wing as fast as I could, 27 years ago. Done everything everywhere flying navy and moved to commercial offshore flying. Still love to fly and enthusiatisc to control the machine as ever. People in the helicopters world are a little bit emotionally volatile, but as long as you remain flexible, you take the most of this incredible life. Safe flying to everyone and ... Merry Rotor Christmas
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For me becoming a PPL-H had mainly two causes:
One is in the last century when the famous TV series "Airwolf" and "A-Team" showed some impressive heli action to me as a kid.
The second reason was that I survived a serious heart surgery in 2007. When I recovered from that, finally I decided that there should be more in life than just work and home. So in the end, in 2009, I took the advantage of an one hour initial flight with an experienced FI. How I managed to convince my wife of spending the money, I still can't remember. Maybe that's why she now owns a PPL-A by herself ;-)
Thracian
One is in the last century when the famous TV series "Airwolf" and "A-Team" showed some impressive heli action to me as a kid.
The second reason was that I survived a serious heart surgery in 2007. When I recovered from that, finally I decided that there should be more in life than just work and home. So in the end, in 2009, I took the advantage of an one hour initial flight with an experienced FI. How I managed to convince my wife of spending the money, I still can't remember. Maybe that's why she now owns a PPL-A by herself ;-)
Thracian
I joined the Royal Air Force 26 years ago and got streamed Fast Jet. Got to the end of my Advanced Flying Training on the Hawk and got told that I would not be going to the next stage. The management very kindly gave me the offer of either helicopters or multi-engine.
I chose helicopters and the rest is history - so glad I made that choice. Still love flying now.
I chose helicopters and the rest is history - so glad I made that choice. Still love flying now.
Wanted to fly helicopters for as long as I can remember, my parents cleverly used this ambition as the carrot to make me work hard at school.
Started flying gliders with the air cadets in my teens, which was great fun but I was missing that extra "dimension" you get when flying a helicopter.
After a stint in the military have been flying helicopters in civvy street for more than 20 years and consider myself lucky to have achieved my dream.
Can't imagine what it is like to have to "work" for a living
Started flying gliders with the air cadets in my teens, which was great fun but I was missing that extra "dimension" you get when flying a helicopter.
After a stint in the military have been flying helicopters in civvy street for more than 20 years and consider myself lucky to have achieved my dream.
Can't imagine what it is like to have to "work" for a living
While climbing in Chamonix in the French Alps at 17 years of age friend took a massive leader fall just before dark. We spent the night at 13500 ft on a 6 inch ledge. Next day hauled him back down to glacier to be picked up by a lama.
36 years later still remember that first helicopter ride, as the pilot must have been power limited and at time I thought he was having fun as he threw it off the cliff edge almost vertical, I now know better !!!
36 years later still remember that first helicopter ride, as the pilot must have been power limited and at time I thought he was having fun as he threw it off the cliff edge almost vertical, I now know better !!!
At the age of 5 i got my first toy helicopter:
A majorette die cast.
As others have mentioned, TV shows were an influence, Airwolf, Magnum etc,
My father was taking me to airshows and I was hooked. My career has taken me from a maintainer to flight testing. Now in an Engineering position seeing parts made from raw material to being installed on flying aircraft.
Many good times.
A majorette die cast.
As others have mentioned, TV shows were an influence, Airwolf, Magnum etc,
My father was taking me to airshows and I was hooked. My career has taken me from a maintainer to flight testing. Now in an Engineering position seeing parts made from raw material to being installed on flying aircraft.
Many good times.
Last edited by rugmuncher; 6th Dec 2016 at 12:20. Reason: Bed spooling !
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While I was in the army we had to do some practise running jumps from a helicopter moving fast across the ground , I thought it maybe better to try flying it rather than leaping out
The story goes on from there
The story goes on from there
A few years ago I was working as a laborer in the Italian alps fixing chiains and metal steps for hiking trails (we call them via Ferrara in Italy), we were working at altitudes between 2500 and 3000 meters and then only way to get our heavy equipment up there was to sling it in by heli; needless to say the local company that operates As350 b3's did an awesome job for us. A few months after witnessing the awesomeness of that machine at work I decided to train as a pilot!
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It is weird thing feeling like you are born with and urge to fly, but no natural ability to do so. My earliest memories are about wanting to fly, my one reoccurring childhood dream was about flying. During my previous career I suddenly came to the realization that I was indeed getting older, and decided it was now or never. Having scrounged up money for my training I started my helicopter career. It has been a rocky road so far, and I am pretty sure there are quite a few potholes and trees lying across the road ahead...
An aviation nut for as long as I can remember. Most of my childhood toys were airplanes or helicopters, but helicopters captured my attention more. I lived for Magnum PI and TC's Hughes 500 on TV! I got my first ride in the back of a Huey while in a college Army ROTC program. My eyes were absolute crap so military flying was never an option. I had a private airplane license, but still literally had fantastic dreams of hovering! I got a job as an engineer for a helicopter manufacturer to be as close as I could.
My wife to be said "Go for it!" when I commented on my dream. Marriage, kids, a few cross-country moves, and eight years later I achieved my dream and earned my private helicopter license in an R22--bucket list goal accomplished.
Fast-forward a couple years and a couple moves, and I found myself back with said helicopter manufacturer as a flight test engineer. I would go on to earn my commercial license and do some fantastic flying with them! Dream realized!
My wife to be said "Go for it!" when I commented on my dream. Marriage, kids, a few cross-country moves, and eight years later I achieved my dream and earned my private helicopter license in an R22--bucket list goal accomplished.
Fast-forward a couple years and a couple moves, and I found myself back with said helicopter manufacturer as a flight test engineer. I would go on to earn my commercial license and do some fantastic flying with them! Dream realized!
My dad was in the Army and, aged knee high to a grasshopper, I remember seeing Sioux flying in and out of fields on various camps. Wanted to fly them from then on. Finally, twenty-odd years later, managed to fulfill that dream, gaining a PLP(H). A few years after that got the CPL(H), but unfortunately never managed to persuade anybody to employ me.
Heyho there y'go, but still love flying them.
Heyho there y'go, but still love flying them.
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I started out flying planks and had to rent from schools,what a pain. Seen an article in Popular Mechanics about having your own helicopter in your garage. Never looked back.
I was one of the kids who watched whirlybirds every week and played bell 47 on the steps. Grew into a lifelong love and while I never flew for a living (became a paramedic instead), I freelanced writing and photography about helicopters to keep the fix satisfied. I'm a great passenger, by the way... 
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I've had a lifelong interest in aviation and space.
- As a child I built models and flew model rockets. I wanted R/C stuff but it was too expensive for our family situation.
- When I graduated college one of the first things I did was make a parachute jump because it was easier and much less expensive than actually flying. Hooked instantly, and it had me around airplanes. Went so far as to become a static line jumpmaster (a now effectively obsolete rating).
- I had always wanted to fly helicopters, and, as everyone here knows, that's a tough row to hoe. But being around aircraft all day when skydiving, and making a decent living from my "real" job, thank goodness, getting a fixed wing private certificate was irresistible. So I made that happen.
- Then work and life interfered with aviation for a long time, some 13 years. When I decided it was time to get back into the sky, there was no way I was going to do it in anything but a helicopter! Like that first parachute jump, it only took that first intro flight to get me totally hooked.
- Now that I'm back in the aviation world, I love helicopters so much that I've not even bothered to do a refresher in a fixed wing.
- Next challenge: figuring out a way to buy one and not put myself in the poorhouse! Sadly, helicopter clubs or partnerships seem to be a rarity. Around here, privately owned helicopters are all single owner affairs.
- As a child I built models and flew model rockets. I wanted R/C stuff but it was too expensive for our family situation.
- When I graduated college one of the first things I did was make a parachute jump because it was easier and much less expensive than actually flying. Hooked instantly, and it had me around airplanes. Went so far as to become a static line jumpmaster (a now effectively obsolete rating).
- I had always wanted to fly helicopters, and, as everyone here knows, that's a tough row to hoe. But being around aircraft all day when skydiving, and making a decent living from my "real" job, thank goodness, getting a fixed wing private certificate was irresistible. So I made that happen.
- Then work and life interfered with aviation for a long time, some 13 years. When I decided it was time to get back into the sky, there was no way I was going to do it in anything but a helicopter! Like that first parachute jump, it only took that first intro flight to get me totally hooked.
- Now that I'm back in the aviation world, I love helicopters so much that I've not even bothered to do a refresher in a fixed wing.
- Next challenge: figuring out a way to buy one and not put myself in the poorhouse! Sadly, helicopter clubs or partnerships seem to be a rarity. Around here, privately owned helicopters are all single owner affairs.
Ned,
I got my first 500C police toy helicopter when I was 6 years old, which instantly became my favorite toy for years. Growing up outside of big cities, any helicopter coming by was the air ambulance, and I guess I have never missed any of them ;-)
When I got close to finish school, I understood that it was possible to become a helicopter pilot without being some sort of superhero, so I decided to give it a try. That is over 20 years ago, and never looked back since. 👍🏻
I got my first 500C police toy helicopter when I was 6 years old, which instantly became my favorite toy for years. Growing up outside of big cities, any helicopter coming by was the air ambulance, and I guess I have never missed any of them ;-)
When I got close to finish school, I understood that it was possible to become a helicopter pilot without being some sort of superhero, so I decided to give it a try. That is over 20 years ago, and never looked back since. 👍🏻