Just started learning to fly Helos. I love the challenge, the complexity of the machine and the satisfaction and pride when it actually starts to listen to you and follow your orders... And it's only beginning for me, I can't wait to learn more :ok:

Pilots can't count
 

Am I the 40th person since the original post obviously doesn't count?

I am still trying to figure out the answer to your question after 40 fun years and some 15,000 helicopter hours - can I let you know when I have?

Trog

Bo:mad::mad:kks - Stuck in the Air beat me to it!

Another ten calendars added to the give away so keep posting. It means all posters up to number 55 get one since that takes into account my posts :)

Well I love almost everything about it.

The view from the office is usually great, the feeling of fulfilment when completing demanding jobs, no day is like the one before and the list goes on...

...and it beats sailing around rough seas gutting fish for a living (I did that for too many years)

Happy new year people!

I was once asked (by a non-pilot) "why helicopters?" and my answer then, as it still is today is by quoting the great Louis Armstrong " If you gotta ask the question, then you'll never know!"
so what's the best part about flying helicopters? Flying helicopters!

Lucky
 

Thankful to have the best seat in the house :)

The best thing!
 

The freedom of flying and the smile on my face after full day of flight.

Flying sideways down the runway when the crosswind is too strong for the Fixed Wing Guys.
Being able to stop to admire the view.
Able to land in a field to sit out the weather.
Flying into my garden to take relatives for their first ever helicopter flight.

EddieHeli

Ned, any chance to include first 50 replies? :-D
Go on, make my day.
I can only grope the Vertical Mag only so many times till it doesn't give me that 'new' kicks anymore.

As someone said in the past, flying helicopter is the closest to flying magic carpet in real. I've only got 50ish hours from 2008 and sadly have to keep slaving another handful of years till I'm done with training and employable (if powers to be allow me to get at least instructor job).

Flying low level, hovering around, all the variety of jobs done with heli as future prospects should I be healthy and alive to get to do them.
Real hands on flying, unlike the holy grail of all those crazy wannabes wishing to be in the front of 737/320/777/747 etc.
I do want to do some airplane bush flying, seaplane flying.

I love gliding, but flying helicopter is the ultimate bush flying, hands on, varied, rewarding, international in the nature. Something those only walking or driving cannot understand. Also proper career, unlike gliding.
Cool to some, yes.
"Getting there being from ordinary family without fortunes and big loan options"? NOT COOL. I hope to finish up by 2012. NYE resolution - work towards my goals even harder.

Martin

EDIT: YEAAAAH!
Just read previous posts. Superb. I hope I don't have to send you my credit card details for verification purposes :eek:

Flying anytime, anyplace and returning the machine to ya garage each night and not having to store at an airport.

Stopping to fish on rivers far far away.

All the best to one and all :ok:

To (mis)use a quote from a movie: "Airplane pilots make movies,helicopter pilots make history".
To me , that is good enough a reason to get in each day and tame the beast.
Cheers to all and a happy and safe 2010.
Alt3.

I enjoy the fact I get to spend both Christmas and New Year eating kebabs, longing for a cold beer, in a sandy place.

(Can anyone else hear that high pitched whine?)

Without the sarcasm: I still enjoy the opportunities that flying helicopters has given me, and the places I have had the privilege to see.

I also love the fact that I'm getting a free calander.

And.....picking it up into the hover never gets old.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...n/DSC00551.jpg

Happy New Year to all from Libya.

Here's to a safe Twenty Ten.

(Libya - It's good for the liver, and I don't envy all of your hangovers... honest!)

The 3 ages of man
 

When I was a little kid I tried to lift myself up in a bucket by standing in it & pulling on the handle. In adolescence I got a degree in physics & found out why that can't happen. In my late forties I learned to hover & discovered the next best thing to lifting yourself up in a bucket.

Thanks, Ned: certainly one of the quickest post counts for a thread in a while :ok:

Happy New Year to you all :)

Just in case senior pilot's post is not counted!
 

because when i.....

pull the stick in my left hand, and i move the stick in my right hand, and use my feet to move the pedals to stop my bum cheeks from being sore(staying in balance i think it's called), and i get that all happening at once, it feels great!!!
:ok:

Senior Pilot nabbed the last one! His service to all of us certainly makes him worthy of any freebees any of us could give away. But anyhow . . .


I like the mental drill of dealing with off airport landings. When the plank drivers complain about airport markings or diagrams I think of what we enjoy at the unimproved sites and challenging helipads.

Keep posting guys and gals til it gets to Post No 70 :ok:

DONT FORGET to send me a PM with name and postal address when you have made your post.

Ned

Not at all: just complimenting Ned on his generosity :D

When I told my Father I wanted to be a helicopter pilot, he told me to study & get a proper job. 47 years later I still haven't done what he said!:hmm:

To borrow a well known quote...
'Its man and machine in perfect harmony'.
Except when I am flying it ;)

Nothing beats the smell of Jet-A and a cup of coffee in the morning sunrise, and nothing is better than a cold beer after a full days work. (counting out that you get paid)

Happy New Year to all!!

Cheers

Freezing cold, miserable day yesterday. Went flying and saw the snow from another perspective, in a machine which in the cold air took off like a...magic carpet. It all looked...wonderful! Does that begin to explain it?

What I enjoy about flying helicopters
 

Well there was a time flying helicopter was my be all in life. This was in my early 20. Now many years after, I do still fly - and enjoy it as much as before. However other stuff has come into my life - as wife and kids, career, etc.

However, I do still love the whole process from planning a flight, making the neccessary arrangements and of course the very lift of moment. I do still get that thrill, and I yes I love it!

Happy new year!

Simon10

I did my PPL(H) about a year ago. The thrill and challenge of mastering hovering and being able to land outside my house, long way to go and lots of money before I can be paid to fly, maybe some day:ok:

When I was a child, I was fascinated by hummingbirds......

When I flew the Bolkow for 7 years, it all made sense :eek:

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...rcusflying.jpg

Look at that smile....:ok:

Happy New Year Griffo!
 

Is that Phil Hutchinson in the back with you?

Trog

Flying back from the lakes over a 30 mile traffic jam on a bank holiday Monday. Bliss

Landing in a large field of Indian Paintbrush flowers in the spring.:ok:

Landing on a snow covered logging road when your dad says pull over I have got to pee.

I'm presuming Trogladita's doesn't count as that's an observation!
To me the best thing is just the fascination of being airborne and the exhilaration of hovering, winching, confined areas, ship landings etc.
No day is the same.

That was a fast thread.
All the best to all of you. Many happy landings and always remember, only the next hour counts.

Dammit! Have I missed the deadline???

Oh Well, just in case...

I love the sounds and smells associated with flying helicopters, I love transitioning to and from the hover, avoiding traffic jams and seeing the world from a better viewpoint...

I could go on of course:) what's not to love!?!

Happy new year everyone and safe flying!

PR

Have found another spare box so will give calendars to all posters up to post Number 101, would have been 100 but my post takes one of those :ok:

So post away guys and girls. Other calendars are in the mail today so hope you enjoy them.

Ned

There's nothing better than flying over sunny beaches, spotting a pretty young lady sunbathing and landing your chopper..................:ok:

There's nothing quite quite like the first lift of the day After all the theory of flight lessons, I still think it's pure magic!

The freedom to stop and look at something interesting, low level work, the precision of loadlifting & getting paid to do my hobby! :)

Griffo - Is that Chris B with you?

There is only one thing better than landing your chopper in such circumstances,,,,,,, burying it!:}

Being able to go anywhere, mostly anytime, in the hot sunshine and enjoy being free!

:ok:

Its like the view in a rotating restaurant except it changes faster.

the feeling of vertical takeoff is amazing. to go in any direction you desire and truly have the freedom to FLY where you want. just AMAZING