Young pilots
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6
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From: manchester
Young pilots
I am currently learning to fly in an R22 and meet my instructor at the airfield where he flies in. He sometimes flies in with his ten year old son who clearly is flying the helicopter, hovering landing etc. I asked if he can fly and he said its amazing kids are far superior to any adults hes taught. The child has over 100 hours flight time but he says no time can be booked until fourteen years of age. He also has pedal extensions because his legs aren't long enough
Are then any other chopper kids out there
Are then any other chopper kids out there
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: ...like h*ll, only hotter...
Re: Young pilots
I am currently teaching a 15yr old, who is definately picking it up as fast or faster then any other student I have had. (Just a note my student is paying for the training by working after school and weekends, talk about dedication) I also teach students in their 60's and while they are perfectly capable it is a longer road to the end. It seems like the older you get the longer it takes to train your muscles to new tasks. 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 700
Likes: 0
From: 5 nM S of TNT, UK
Re: Young pilots
My son starting flying fixed wing with me at 7 with big cushions to sit on. By 11 he could take off, fly all the en route, handle the nav, join the circuit, land, handle PFLs, in fact do everything except the RT because he didn't like to try it. In the early days he used to use the AH as he could not see out over the panel. Unfortunately at 33 he now has no interest.
I started rotary at 56 and it did take me a while to burn in the hovering synaptic pathways.
I started rotary at 56 and it did take me a while to burn in the hovering synaptic pathways.
Senis Semper Fidelis
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 0
From: Lancashire U K
Re: Young pilots
At age fourteen my son found the connection between his backside and eyes and after appro 15 min was able to hover he R22 dead still into wind, at age 18 he took cotrol of friends Gazelle whilst out on a birthday treat and flew like he had always been in them, Like his mother he has a varied idea about directions and navigation but I think he will get there!
Peter R-B
Peter R-B
Nigerian In Law
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 92
From: The stool at the end of the bar
Re: Young pilots
jc1234,
Not being flippant (honest !!), but do adults with kids minds count ? I know a lot of them...........
An old sweat once told me, "There are old helicopter pilots and there are bold helicopter pilots, but there are very few old, bold helicopter pilots".
Cheers,
NEO
Not being flippant (honest !!), but do adults with kids minds count ? I know a lot of them...........
An old sweat once told me, "There are old helicopter pilots and there are bold helicopter pilots, but there are very few old, bold helicopter pilots".
Cheers,
NEO
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Re: Young pilots
OTOH............
I had a sixteen year old for a trial lesson. During the briefing, I emphasised looking outside, as one does. As soon as we got into the helicopter he stared at the instrument panel, and asked me which ones he should be looking at. I told him again to keep looking outside. When I gave him control he was all over the place, and it turned out that he thought looking at the horizon meant looking at the AI.
I started again with words of one syllable, like "the world out there", but it still didn't help; no matter what I did he was fixated on the instrument panel.
Too many computer games perhaps?
Or just plain stupid?
Anyway, proof that just being young doesn't make you a natural helicopter pilot.
I had a sixteen year old for a trial lesson. During the briefing, I emphasised looking outside, as one does. As soon as we got into the helicopter he stared at the instrument panel, and asked me which ones he should be looking at. I told him again to keep looking outside. When I gave him control he was all over the place, and it turned out that he thought looking at the horizon meant looking at the AI.
I started again with words of one syllable, like "the world out there", but it still didn't help; no matter what I did he was fixated on the instrument panel.Too many computer games perhaps?
Or just plain stupid?
Anyway, proof that just being young doesn't make you a natural helicopter pilot.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 603
Likes: 65
From: South of UK
Re: Young pilots
My 12 year old son can't stay awake for long enough! I guarantee within 5 minutes of setting off in my JR, he's off catching flies
.
Has shown absolutely no interest in flying it. When they start young, I think they consider it no big deal.
.Has shown absolutely no interest in flying it. When they start young, I think they consider it no big deal.
