GA helicopters.
 

hi my first post on the rotorheads,
6 months ago I sold my lovely airplane, since that time I have flown quite often on helicopters. Now I'm looking into training on an helicopters but there are something that stop me.
Is there any member of the forum that fly helicopters just for leisure? what is the tipically type of flying ? Local bimble or tuoring? On longer touring is there any differance from a fixed wing flying at the same speed?

There are many helicopter pilots on here with private licences and the type of flying largely depends on whether the aircraft is hired from a local school, whether the pilot is hour building for commercial licences, or whether they own their own aircraft.

You don't say where you're based - the training varies from country to country.

On the whole, helicopters tend to be a bit slower than fixed wing so if long tours is what you're after, you'd probably need to have your own helicopter.

Cheers

Whirls

Sorry I always forget that, il live in Buckinghamshire not so far from wycombe.

I fly helicopters just for fun and it is great. I had a fixed wing licence and kept both licences current for a while but one day realised that helicopters have so much more to offer.

Yes, I know they they do go a bit slower ( my R44 can only manage 112kts!) and they do not have the range (after 2.5hrs in most helicopters you want to take a break anyway) but the big advantage is that you can, in many cases, go direct to your destination and not to a nearby airfield and then get a taxi.
I have flown through the Swiss Alps, countless times to France, and a few times to Germany and Belgium as well as much of the UK.

From High Wycombe you could be down in, say, Rock/Padstow/Eden Project in Cornwall in about 1 hour 40 minutes in an R44.

Helicopter pilots are generally a very sociable bunch and new recruits are always welcome.

Helicopters are simply GREAT!!! :ok: this is my first post on PPrune!!! I'm an Italian ATP Student Pilot...Planes are fantastic but i think helicopters have an edge over!!! :P...Of course they have some "little" problems in range :} ...but if u fly whit an helicopter u can see things that u don't see on a plane...Remember...XD u can do hovering!!!..
After said that...I LOVE ALL flying machines... Bye ALL

At the risk of starting a flame war I would venture to say that I am not sure that an helicopter can be securely flown as a leisure... At least that was my conclusion after approx 500 piston hours within 8 years. No major accident or even incident but it's such a demanding occupation if you really care to do it right...

Yes....u have right...there a lot of risk in a heli single engine piston...more than an airplane... :P...mmm I don t know...because I think they are on the same level (whit engine emergency :P), planes have space problem...helicopters have time problem...but all machines have "good and bad" side...

Why's that then? Is a 250 hour commercial pilot less likely to have an accident than a 1,000 hour private pilot? As long as a pilot is properly trained and has the right attitude (pun intended), then there is no reason why a private pilot can't fly just as safely.

Cheers

Whirls

Well for me it just took too much of my time and intellect to be considered as a hobby. There is no place for casual flying in these machines - it's either 100% commitment or nothing. Not that I did not enjoy it but at the end of the day was either pro or not at all. Personally flying a nice GA plane is much easier - although there is obviously no more place for contemplacy.
Just my 2c

I am a PPL and I find the 100% committment / involvement one of the most enjoyable elements of hobby flying. I can certainly guarantee not to be thinking about the day job when flying.

Many people ride motorcycles for leisure, and less than 100% concentration is more likely to end badly (in my view) than almost any other activity.

Hobby flying from Redhill base: sometimes I just go up for an hour or so to practice. Trips to Weston Heli day, Hull (landed in the garden of the hotel for a 2 day visit), Cholmondly Pagent of Power (Cheshire). I intend to run up to the Scottish Highlands next year - let planning commence!

John

All,

Why exactly can't you fly a helicopter purely for fun/leisure? I own a Jet Ranger, fly approximately 4 times each end every week, and although a lot of my trips are business related, they are not commercial trips.

I would venture to say that I am far more experienced and 'qualified' than some CPL pilots who don't fly regularly enough or undertake the type of trips that I do.

Joel:ok:

I wonder if this thread got off on the wrong tack. Perhaps flying helicopters for pleasure might have been more appropriate term. Flying for leisure implies a more casual attitude.

Perhaps this is what set "atakacs" off on his reprimand, although by his own admission it took him 8 years and 500 flying hours before he came to the conclusion that flying helicopters is a serious business and not to be taken lightly.

Or perhaps he is one one those small bunch of commercial pilots who like to belittle PPLs and air their superior knowledge.

Or perhaps he is tweaking our tails.

Or perhaps I am tweaking his.

Pleasure - Yep!
 

I am a PPL and fly, mostly turbine, for pleasure. I take it seriously and have been told, on numerous occasions, that my flying is as good as many commecial pilots. Love the full touch down autos at Proficiency check time!

It's a matter of attitude and devotion. Not commercial or private.

I'm a PPL(H), fly turbines and pistons, doing about 200 piston hours p.a. - a chunk of those purely for pleasure. Like John R81, if I've had a bad day at the office, I'll sometimes go for a fly for the sheer hell of it, do some practice or just go somewhere to escape the day job (last night, I ticked off another of my little goals: seeing my own moonshadow on top of the clouds :ok:). Like JTobias, I'm always hungry to learn more and I look forward to my regular trips with a more experienced pilot - I always pick up some new nugget of info.

I take great pride in my flying and, having been flown by 'professionals' (sic) on several occasions (and at the risk of sounding cocky), I am pleased to confirm my flying skills are at least as good as the vast majority of CPLs! Qualifications mean bugger all when you're in the air if preparation, attitude, conscientiousness, respect, empathy and professionalism are neglected!

As for IceKid's "there a lot of risk in a heli single engine piston...", what a load of :mad:!! In the event of an engine failure, I'd much rather be in a single engined heli than a single engined plank. I can land just about anywhere in a heli instead of needing a long, thin, unobstructed runway :uhoh:!

Geez, how did you get to be on top of the clouds? :}

Cheers

Whirls

How very dare you!
 

Well, really Whirls - shame on you - I have no idea what you're implying :E Obviously, it was a very tiny, isolated, single, almost invisible whisp of cloud which appeared from nowhere in otherwise perfect 9999s. If you'd have blinked, you'd have missed it :p

I'm not implying; you're inferring :}

Cheers

Whirls

I'm pleased to read that we have a real ace amongst us.

A Flying Ace or a Grammatical Ace :ok: :}

Cheers

Whirls

Have you guys who do all this PPL flying ever thought about doing your CPL? Just for the hell of it and maybe to learn some more, etc. Not necessarily to work as a commercial pilot!