Quote:
Originally Posted by flipper35
The trick is to do it before you get into trouble and can't see those things!
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Yeppers!
Both the pilot of Kobe's helicopter and JFK Jr were spacial disorientation, vertigo, whatever the term is today, accidents.
Speeder and I talked about this a few days ago. I told him the only time in over 4000 hours of fixed and helo time I have ever become spatially disoriented was on the route JFK Jr flew.
I had it bad. My co-pilot, another high time helo guy, XO at the Sikorsky Factory was surprised...we had flown a lot together. He almost trusted me too much since I had all the qualifications in the world of helos: Instrument Check pilot, NVG Instructor, Maintenance Test Pilot, NATOPS Instructor, Deck Landing Instructor...on and on.
He took the aircraft right as I was giving it to him. Thank god. I was so done I would have crashed the Blackhawk we were flying. Embarrassing, but there it is. It would have a first time, last time eulogy.
That section of the Long Island Sound is really difficult, tons of lights and reflections, rising terrain of the left with lights, dark ahead, lights and flat to your right.
As I said in the "Are You an Expert thread:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seahawk
Specific expertise? Yes, absolutely.
Pilot. I was an expert at all facets.
And I could have still augured in like a mortar round.
Puts expertise in a bit more focus.
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