I must agree with Joe Pilot - whilst confessing to not actually reading in detail the full contents of this thread. The mere suggestion of testing anything whilst airborne is a wholly misguided philosophy best left to the shores of the North Americas. Lu - I have flown with American pilots and seen American ops up close and have been impressed and exceptionally unimpressed. Suggestions such as non-essentialin flight tests are irresponsible. You seem from your multitude of postings on pprune to have an opinion on a vast array of issues, unfortunately I feel you are maybe lacking in a shred of wisdom. Please don't reply to this and say the test is simple and not a flight safety issue - because I and many others will just laugh at you.
Up until now I felt fairly safe with some of your postings but this one has made me speak my mind.....the thought of some PPL running around in a Robinson 'test flying' when he should be doing many more important things makes me wonder what school of aviation created you. Please temper your enthusiasms in the future to cater for the broader base of all helicopter pilots - new and old.
Infact - now that you have raised such a point I suggest and hope that you will visit my thread 'B.O.L.L.O.C.K.' and add to the discussion.......one would hope...but it seems unlikely now that you have in the past brought pressure to bear on many a junior pilot to perform your enthusiastic luxury flying items....I and many others (I am sure) look forward to your considered response.
[This message has been edited by eden (edited 26 January 2001).]