In fact CF find out how many will do it in 10 kts of wind think you will find most schools will not allow them to the ground at all Says something about the standard of instructors. In my day we were allowed to do them to the ground in an R22. Then I realised the 300 was a better training helicopter as you could do a load more with it and let the student get it seriously out of shape.
As is said the instructor is the most important part as you become a team

too add my 2cents, I trained on an R22 and was fortunate enough to live in windy Scotland so did 1 or 2 EOL's to terra firma. Later did a TR on the H300 and echo H500's comments that you will find it much more forgiving and just as much fun as the R22.

BG

I believe Gloucestershire Airport is a great Airport to learn to fly, It is very helicopter friendly and i believe is the busiest training airport in the country and as such provides a great environment for training.

There a a number of good helicopter training schools on the airfield approved by the CAA. Rise Helicopters has a good fleet of helicopters which is great once you get your licence as there is always availability for self fly hire. It also has maintenance on site so availability and serviceabilty levels are very high.

I agree with other threads that visiting all the training schools and Ray Jones is important as you would benefit from flying where you feel most comfortable. At the end of the day you are spending a lot of money!

Possibly responsible for AHs greying hair & Rays twitch as he did my license flight, can say they both appeared to be calm & did not give me a moments worry! which is more than I could expect them to say about me, both very professional with a manner that put me at ease but imparted information in a friendly relaxed way, would recommend either.
Please post small remuneration ASAP :ok:

I was shafted by London Heli while doing my ec120 conversion with them, after the 5 hrs on type they decided there was no examiner available for 2+ weeks...but I could leave my Heli with them, ...... I posted on here and within the hour Ray Jones rang me, offered to drive down to Redhil to carry out my type conversion....
Great bloke ....

James,

You might want to consider trying the Guimbal Cabri G2 at Cotswold Helicopter Centre at Kemble.
The Cabri is the most modern training helicopter out there and a very stable aircraft to learn on.
I have done some flight training with Andy Moorhouse who is the Chief Flying Instructor at Cotswold Helicopter Centre.
He insists that all students are able to demonstrate an autorotation to the ground before they go solo for the first time.
We started practicing this when I had 15 hours and I felt much safer in the helicopter once I knew how to do it.

auto,

Thank god for that nice to see another company doing EOL's. I also work out of Kemble teaching 2 brothers on a 300, wave next time you see a 300 ! Normally G-BXRP

Hughes500,

Have you moved from Devon?

I think that is the best argument for not training there - far too busy! Any place that can have VFR traffic crossing through its overhead above 2000' (without talking to Gloucester) whilst IFR (and often IMC) traffic is descending for an instrument approach is best left alone.

The training organisations that work there are all very good but the congestion is not.

I have flown with each of the schools at Gloucester and all have done EOL to the ground in R22s

Heli2

No I still live in deepest darkest Devon ! I have a 300 based just outside Kemble. I am teaching 2 brothers who own a 500 so I am up there about twice a week. Their father ( died 3 years ago ) wanted someone with a descent amount of experience to teach his kids before moving on to the 500.
An absolute pleasure teaching the 2 of them, ideal students, eager to learn, quick to learn and a pair or real decent chaps what more could you ask. Well I suppose female, Swedish blondes but Mrs H might have something to say about that !

JK is excellent, Jon Lane is cool, AH is a dude but not at Gloucester

Stay away from HA they are total a***holes

Well never been called a Dude, is that god or bad ;)

It's most likely GOOD - God is maybe a bit too much to hope for.

I saw James Kenwright mentioned. I had my first trial lesson with him 20 years ago and have been flying ever since. If he is instructing at Gloucester, give him a go.

Flown with them all - Heliflight without question the way to go.

Helicopter for EOLs
 

Can I add a pennorth or two ... don't forget the mighty Enstrom Shark for a plug!. Easily the best piston trainer for full stop, 'skids on' EOLs to the ground. Have just completed a PPL(H) for a certain client having initials DT ... being a totally responsible 'family' guy, he asked to fly a post PPL dedicated day for EOL practices at Welshpool. We/He completed no less than 34 full stop variable technique EOLs. Getting my pilots to that standard of safety gives me that warm, satisfied feeling. PS ... RJ and/or AH at Staverton/Dunkeswell and TP/AW at Shoreham will offer all the above on request. Regards to all flyers. Dennis Kenyon.

Dementure
 

Sorry lads/ladesses ... just forgot my dear, friend & mate JL at Staverton. please add to my list of EOL ers. DRK.

JK
 

I would personally recommend James Kenwright at JK Helicopters, I have experience of all four training schools at Staverton and I can't fault him.

Another +1 for James Kenwright
 

James taught me to fly 20 years ago next month. A top man. Highly recommended.
Steve.