2017 HeliOps Calendar Giveaway - That Time Again.
My father first took me to the Farnborough Airshow in 1974.
I decided there and then that I wanted to work on aircraft. I am still working with helicopters now.
I have had a very varied and interesting career and have enjoyed myself.
I decided there and then that I wanted to work on aircraft. I am still working with helicopters now.
I have had a very varied and interesting career and have enjoyed myself.
I am not a pilot however I have wanted to work with helicopters since I was 10 years old after seeing the workshop and helicopters at Helicopter Wing Karup. I later became an AME but unfortunately hasn't been able to do much work on helicopters aside from the odd Fennec and Bell 222 so far.
At the moment I am working in the oil and gas industry and I do get the odd trip offshore once in a while. I've loved every trip in helicopters so far, and I'll continue to do so.
Merry christmas
At the moment I am working in the oil and gas industry and I do get the odd trip offshore once in a while. I've loved every trip in helicopters so far, and I'll continue to do so.
Merry christmas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Age: 51
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I've been following pprune for years, some very interesting threads, I've recently started working as a helicopter pilot in NY. loving every minute. keep up the good work.
First contact with the dream of flying was a puppetgame on TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeWQOfV4OKc
Later I saw a Bell 47 doing spraywork over wineyards - so when I was drafted by the military and they asked, if I would like to stay longer, I made a tick in the box for helicopter-pilot.
Actually I wanted to fly SeaKings but due to beeing awarded the Louis Newmark Trophy my way went Lynx.
After quitting the forces I looked, where else I would have the chance of flying helicopters again and ended up flying police helicopters :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeWQOfV4OKc
Later I saw a Bell 47 doing spraywork over wineyards - so when I was drafted by the military and they asked, if I would like to stay longer, I made a tick in the box for helicopter-pilot.
Actually I wanted to fly SeaKings but due to beeing awarded the Louis Newmark Trophy my way went Lynx.
After quitting the forces I looked, where else I would have the chance of flying helicopters again and ended up flying police helicopters :-)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
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Spent too much homework time dreaming I was flying a helicopter.
Grew up watching TV shows like Chopper Squad and Skippy (Ranger Hammond had a Bell 47 to use). Got a ride in an Iroquois at Army cadet camp.
The Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac) sponsored a Surf Lifesaving Bell 47 on the beaches of Sydney.
After more than 15,000 hours of airline flying, am now finally ready to fly helicopters. Considering learning in north America, NZ or SA.
Hopefully a lot less IFR, and back of the clock, and a lot more fun.
Can't wait to go solo again.
Grew up watching TV shows like Chopper Squad and Skippy (Ranger Hammond had a Bell 47 to use). Got a ride in an Iroquois at Army cadet camp.
The Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac) sponsored a Surf Lifesaving Bell 47 on the beaches of Sydney.
After more than 15,000 hours of airline flying, am now finally ready to fly helicopters. Considering learning in north America, NZ or SA.
Hopefully a lot less IFR, and back of the clock, and a lot more fun.
Can't wait to go solo again.
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: somerset
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Started learning to fly fixed wing many years ago and got as far as first solo...but then ran out of money, spending it on setting up a business instead. Last year sold that business and resolved to start again - only a PPL(H) this time - what I'd always really wanted to do. Loved every minute of learning, despite the difficulty- and am now addicted.
Not so much of a choise as dictatured by nature. Loving every minute of it, despite the business has it's flaws.
My first encounter with a helicopter was a sightseeing flight as 12, still remember it throughout, can't remember none of the three I did last week though, funny how it goes.
My first encounter with a helicopter was a sightseeing flight as 12, still remember it throughout, can't remember none of the three I did last week though, funny how it goes.
Ned, long since retired since I did that article on UK Police Aviation for you in 2004. Still dedicated to UK Police Aviation, but devastated today by the way its gone since the creation of NPAS.
However, my son who started flying as aircrew in 1998, but not in the Police, has picked up the torch, and is now very much involved in rotary wing flight safety issues.
At 72, This old warhorse can't let go of rotary wing matters, and wants to keep his knowledge and interest up to date. So how do I get hold of one of your calendars which would grace my Den/Office!
TF
However, my son who started flying as aircrew in 1998, but not in the Police, has picked up the torch, and is now very much involved in rotary wing flight safety issues.
At 72, This old warhorse can't let go of rotary wing matters, and wants to keep his knowledge and interest up to date. So how do I get hold of one of your calendars which would grace my Den/Office!
TF
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: The Dee Sea
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Because flying is magic, let alone a magic flying machine that seemingly requires 3 hands to stay in the air.
Nowadays, it's the unique capabilities of helicopters (and hopefully other VTOL craft soon) that present their own challenges and help to keep my job interesting.
Nowadays, it's the unique capabilities of helicopters (and hopefully other VTOL craft soon) that present their own challenges and help to keep my job interesting.
At 17 years of age, I was involved in a motorcycle accident that necessitated a ride to hospital in a helicopter. The seed was planted then and I've been flying since the mid 80's. I've been fortunate enough to have been flying SAR / EMS for the past 20 years of my career & as with most here, I've been privileged to have seen nature from a unique vantage point. No regrets 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NZ
Age: 44
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When I was a kid growing up in rural in NZ we used to get ag helicopters turning up on the farm a few times a year...I would always bug the pilot for a ride, and they always let me come along for a couple of spray runs.
My passion for helicopters grew from there, and I am still loving the industry now!
My passion for helicopters grew from there, and I am still loving the industry now!
Thread Starter
Just a heads up for everyone, nearly run out of calendars so closing this off on Friday. If you have made a post and haven't sent me a PM with your postal address then please do so asap. Cheers and enjoy the calendars.
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: South West
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I had been flying planks for 10 years and had a group share in a Piper Cherokee. One of the co-owners had just got his PPL(H) and offered to take me for a flight in an R22. I had never been interested in helicopters and thought I would hate it. We flew the London heli-lanes and he let me take control - and I was hooked. From there came a PPL, mostly from training in Florida, followed by a share in an R44 and a CPL and Instructor rating.
Always attended airshows and the obsession grew. Avoided it as a career but as a hobby it has been indispensable. Met many people that have thought me more than just flying, business & life lessons learned along the way. Cannot see myself without being involved in helicopters. I hope the future hold many nice medium twin hours.!
Hi Ned
Merry Christmas to all.
My involvement in helicopters goes back 30+ years. As a wee one I was fascinated with taking things apart and rebuilding them. From this I went to doing "work experience" at Manchester airport (FFV AERO...?!) in the early 90's, this cemented my fascination with aircraft.
Long story short I'm now still loving my job and working on S92 as a licensed engineer for last several years.
Merry Christmas to all.
My involvement in helicopters goes back 30+ years. As a wee one I was fascinated with taking things apart and rebuilding them. From this I went to doing "work experience" at Manchester airport (FFV AERO...?!) in the early 90's, this cemented my fascination with aircraft.
Long story short I'm now still loving my job and working on S92 as a licensed engineer for last several years.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: USA
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In a world, where I was still figuring out what career path to take, I was going to community college for a general studies degree with hopes to have figured it all out and transfer to the local university and get a bachelor's degree. Then one dark, sunless night, I had a dream that I was in a helicopter cockpit flying over a cityscape. Upon awakening I couldn't stop thinking how great it was. Started thinking back to how when I was a kid I thought it would be so cool to be a fighter pilot or go to space. Thought "well to fly helicopters you probably have to join the military," did a search, found out there are vocational schools! "OK but there are probably only like two in the country," did a search, "wow they're all over and a couple are even close by." I did an intro flight and have been hooked on helicopters since that first pickup into a hover.
When I was 5 or 6. We had the Dutch airforce Alouettes coming over our Backyardigans daily. They changed to Bolkovs ?105? And I still looked up every time. Then they closed down the Airforce base Deelen (Arnhem). And I still kept on looking up to the occasional glider plane. As we were close to one of the few hills higher than 100m there was apperently an updraft?
I grew up and could not choose between aeronautics and shipbuilding.
I became bachelor in Shipbuilding and was in lodging directly in line with one of Schiphol runeways during the five years of my 4 years study. That probably was because I still looked up at every plane taking off. It was in my last Year of study that the ElAl Freighter crashed into Amsterdam. Freightning.
Fokker went Belly up and I was glad that I did not had chosen aeronautics.
I worked 10 years in shipbuilding before most of the shipbuilding in Netherlands went Belly up as well.
I was kicked out a yard and went into Offshore works.
The helicopters were back in my life!
Although I only hop on as a Self Loading Bear, I picked up my old interest in helicopters and aviation.
Since the last Sumburg accident I found the Rotorheads forum.
I keep improving my English, my slang and a sense of Anglo humour as well.
Cheers SLB
I grew up and could not choose between aeronautics and shipbuilding.
I became bachelor in Shipbuilding and was in lodging directly in line with one of Schiphol runeways during the five years of my 4 years study. That probably was because I still looked up at every plane taking off. It was in my last Year of study that the ElAl Freighter crashed into Amsterdam. Freightning.
Fokker went Belly up and I was glad that I did not had chosen aeronautics.
I worked 10 years in shipbuilding before most of the shipbuilding in Netherlands went Belly up as well.
I was kicked out a yard and went into Offshore works.
The helicopters were back in my life!
Although I only hop on as a Self Loading Bear, I picked up my old interest in helicopters and aviation.
Since the last Sumburg accident I found the Rotorheads forum.
I keep improving my English, my slang and a sense of Anglo humour as well.
Cheers SLB