Learning to fly in a 500
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: A better place.
Learning to fly in a 500
Have always liked the 500D and E from when I were a nipper.
Considerable costs of starting straight on a turbine machine aside - purely from a handling point of view - how easy would it be for a moderately experienced fixed wing pilot (light aircraft PPL only) to learn to fly rotary wing on the 500?
(Yep - I know the plank experience counts for nowt airmanship wise when you swap a yoke for a cyclic)
I understand it's considered the sports car of the light turbine world - not long legged and you're always looking for fuel - but highly manoeuvrable and extremely responsive.
Possible, or would it simply be too much of a handful - would a 206 be more benign?
Have fooled around in a Robbie once, but that's about it.
Considerable costs of starting straight on a turbine machine aside - purely from a handling point of view - how easy would it be for a moderately experienced fixed wing pilot (light aircraft PPL only) to learn to fly rotary wing on the 500?
(Yep - I know the plank experience counts for nowt airmanship wise when you swap a yoke for a cyclic)
I understand it's considered the sports car of the light turbine world - not long legged and you're always looking for fuel - but highly manoeuvrable and extremely responsive.
Possible, or would it simply be too much of a handful - would a 206 be more benign?
Have fooled around in a Robbie once, but that's about it.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 481
Likes: 58
From: USA
Have always liked the 500D and E from when I were a nipper.
Considerable costs of starting straight on a turbine machine aside - purely from a handling point of view - how easy would it be for a moderately experienced fixed wing pilot (light aircraft PPL only) to learn to fly rotary wing on the 500?
(Yep - I know the plank experience counts for nowt airmanship wise when you swap a yoke for a cyclic)
I understand it's considered the sports car of the light turbine world - not long legged and you're always looking for fuel - but highly manoeuvrable and extremely responsive.
Possible, or would it simply be too much of a handful - would a 206 be more benign?
Have fooled around in a Robbie once, but that's about it.
Considerable costs of starting straight on a turbine machine aside - purely from a handling point of view - how easy would it be for a moderately experienced fixed wing pilot (light aircraft PPL only) to learn to fly rotary wing on the 500?
(Yep - I know the plank experience counts for nowt airmanship wise when you swap a yoke for a cyclic)
I understand it's considered the sports car of the light turbine world - not long legged and you're always looking for fuel - but highly manoeuvrable and extremely responsive.
Possible, or would it simply be too much of a handful - would a 206 be more benign?
Have fooled around in a Robbie once, but that's about it.
There are some training advantages of learning in something that doesn't have a throttle governor (e.g. H269), but still isn't really a big deal at all to learn manual throttle manipulation in any type you decide to learn in.
Good luck with your training.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Downeast
Perhaps the Jet Ranger might be a bit easier to learn in....as some of the 500's attributes that makes it so much fun to fly make it a bit harder to master if new.
That being said....going to a Jet Ranger after flying the 500 is so boring!
The major difference is in the 500 you fly the machine using cyclic trim operated by your Thumb.....as the Jet Ranger has a standard cyclic system.
That being said....going to a Jet Ranger after flying the 500 is so boring!
The major difference is in the 500 you fly the machine using cyclic trim operated by your Thumb.....as the Jet Ranger has a standard cyclic system.
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Australia
You will find it harder to transition from a 500 to another type if that's what you plan to do later on i.e. Into a 206 or 350. And as already mentioned will be a big change if you want to fly a piston especially without a governer.
If that's what you are going to stay with won't matter.
If that's what you are going to stay with won't matter.
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: midcoast US
Our local police operate 500Es. They take patrol officers and train them from zero-time. Recently, one of their officers who is a FW private and Mooney owner, passed his RW rating. So, it is feasible, especially if that is what you'll continue to fly. (Ultimately, their pilots earn a Comm with IR, all done in-house.)
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Aus
Check to see if you need special permission to train in a four-seater
Joined: Aug 2000
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Megan
The four seater is to do with EASA law and registered facilities teaching ab initio !
As to learning to fly on a 500, some thoughts
1. Expensive, about twice that of learning on a 300 for instance
2. You will be a better pilot learning in a piston.
3. Probably quicker to do it in a 300 then convert
4. It is reasonably long legged, holds 310 litres of jet ( with normal tank plus fargo ) so that is about 2 hours 45 mins at 130 kt cruise, so will go further than your 206 !
Can basically teach anyone to fly one given enough time and money, after all most of those ex mil pilots on here will have learnt on a gazelle which is basically a French version of a 500 in what it was designed to do.
I would be happy to teach you in one ( I have a few of them )
The four seater is to do with EASA law and registered facilities teaching ab initio !
As to learning to fly on a 500, some thoughts
1. Expensive, about twice that of learning on a 300 for instance
2. You will be a better pilot learning in a piston.
3. Probably quicker to do it in a 300 then convert
4. It is reasonably long legged, holds 310 litres of jet ( with normal tank plus fargo ) so that is about 2 hours 45 mins at 130 kt cruise, so will go further than your 206 !
Can basically teach anyone to fly one given enough time and money, after all most of those ex mil pilots on here will have learnt on a gazelle which is basically a French version of a 500 in what it was designed to do.
I would be happy to teach you in one ( I have a few of them )
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Brantisvogan
The basic principle of power management is not as easily learned in a high(er) powered turbine which will save your backside while you continue on blissfully unaware it's not your talent defying gravity.
Learning, or at least spending a few hours on a piston, will make you a better pilot, embedding a respect for limited power you won't get going straight to a turbine.
Once done, run away and don't look back
Learning, or at least spending a few hours on a piston, will make you a better pilot, embedding a respect for limited power you won't get going straight to a turbine.
Once done, run away and don't look back
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
The Whirlwind was arguably a better training aircraft, despite its much larger size.
Last edited by ShyTorque; 2nd April 2017 at 18:10.
Joined: May 2002
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From: Downeast
I passed an employment /FAR 135 Checkride in Alaska on the 500D to include slingloads, EOL's, Snow Landingsand mountain landings at 10, 000 feet.....without removing the Frictions....and when asked why not....had to ask "Frictions?".
Immediately rumbled at having never flown the 500!
Worked there three years on 500's and Cessna 206's.
Some piston engine time twisting a throttle is not a bad thing....as very few Helicopter Pilots ever fully understand the effects and control of rotor system torque.
Immediately rumbled at having never flown the 500!
Worked there three years on 500's and Cessna 206's.
Some piston engine time twisting a throttle is not a bad thing....as very few Helicopter Pilots ever fully understand the effects and control of rotor system torque.
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: UK
Check to see if you need special permission to train in a four-seater.
Gazelle indeed! Some of us pre-date the type, too.
The Whirlwind was arguably a better training aircraft, despite its much larger size.
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 129
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From: Wannanup
Well, just my 10 cents worth: if you learn to master a twitchy Robinson, then ALL else in the future will be a walk in the park. I learnt on a pre-tip weighted blade machine when engine governors were just a glint in Franks eye.
Followed by a Hiller 12E that developed left arm muscles that Popeye would have been envious of!
Good luck whatever you choose.
Followed by a Hiller 12E that developed left arm muscles that Popeye would have been envious of!
Good luck whatever you choose.