Flying lesson

[Unkraut]

The funny thing was that they gave us parachutes to wear. When we looked dubious about this, they said "Oh, it's ok, you'll never be high enough for them to open in time.

I had the same experience, I couldn't see the point of having a parachute, but the 'rules' required it.

 

[Red Light]

Had a lesson in a r22 helicopter, amazing the pilot took me through all controls, he then did a stall turn, auto rotated it to show what happens when the engine cuts, he then handed me the controls for a 15 minute fly, amazing you just got to try it,

The ultimate coordination challenge. Five controls that are all totally interactive so adjust any one of them and you have to adjust all the others to compensate. Which is why they say helicopter pilots do it collectively on the landing

 

[Arch]

The ultimate coordination challenge. Five controls that are all totally interactive so adjust any one of them and you have to adjust all the others to compensate. Which is why they say helicopter pilots do it collectively on the landing

I remember seeing an edition of Blue Peter where they challenged the presenter (might have been Konnie Huq) to fly a chopper. She went to the Army flying school and was shown the basics, did some simulator time etc, and then the real thing. The instructor said "OK, first of all, I'll leave all the electronic stabilisers on, you lift up, hover, land". And she did. Then he said "OK, lift up and hover, and I'll turn the stabilisers off...." So she did, and he did, and the damn helicopter shot backwards down the runway and almost lay one side, despite her barely moving a muscle. He put the electronics back on, and it just righted itself...

 

[Fnaar]

I'd like to have seen Konnie Huq doing her best to control a wayward chopper!

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I had a ride in a glider once , that is truly breathtaking , if you get chance go up in one , just the sound of the air rushing past .

 

[cisamcgu]

Well, I took the lesson on Saturday - and it was bl**dy wonderful

Flew from Liverpool airport, cruised north then west, went almost over my house, then over the Mersey and Dee to Wales. Skirted the Welsh coast until Rhyll then turned back, flew down the Mersey and landed about 55 minutes after take off.

Absolutely fantastic )

I flew the plane for about 40 minutes in total