Not so sure about that LW: It got to the point where the folks who had trouble flying/decided it wasn’t for them etc had departed and I was the only one who had not soloed. I was worried. This IP was a bit off-the best climb speed for the Hiller was 40kt. If I let the needled move off 40 to 41 or 42-there’d be the drumbeating on my helmet etc. Anyhow the next day after the daily briefing and we were getting ready to go out, the flight commander came over to our table and said, “ Dixson, you’ll be flying with me today “ Double uh-oh-everyone else he flew with had disappeared. So, I started up the ship. The Flt CO didn’t say a word except to get me out onto the flight field. Told me to stay in the pattern, had me do three loops around the circuit , unbuckled, got out, and told me to do three circuits and then come see him..
Did all that and went into his office and he told me I’d be getting a different IP. Couple of weeks later my former IP disappeared. The IP I was then assigned to was excellent, as was the IP I got at Rucker in the S-55. Well, except for the blade stall demo and the settling with power routine ( before anyone used the VRS terminology. Those two subjects I had to teach myself ( very carefully ) while doing solo flights at the Test Board. (Test Board had two H-19s which I could fly anytime I wanted to ).
Last edited by JohnDixson; 7th April 2025 at 16:49.
Reason: added thoughts