Flying sure beats driving

[Rickysa]

The old adage "If you have time to spare, go by air"....

[NeedSpace]

Originally Posted by KNS

Strange thing happened to me about 20 somethin' years ago. I just finished my private fixed wing but had never taken a flight in a helicopter - I had to try it out. I got a flight in an R22. Completely different!! Cruising around at 500 AGL with the doors off - I was converted. Currently flying an AS350B3 for my job.

Wow, that is beautiful. I am envious. Congrats. Here's the best part. My wife says...go do it. Damn why to I have to be so fiscally responsible?!?

[KNS]

The problem with helicopters is that it's going to cost about $15,000 to $20,000 just to get your private!! You could do your fixed-wing private in a twin for that kind of money.

When I did my training in 1990-91 it was a fraction of what it costs today.

[widgeon13]

Plus unless you fly professionally it's expensive if you don't have your own aircraft and even if you do, it's still expensive.

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Okay if we are talking flying your own aircraft vs driving here are the advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages are of flying own aircraft:
1. Faster
2. Very scenic



Disadvantages
1. No transportation when you get to your destination airport - depend on taxis, ground transportation
2. Likely no toilet!(Empty pop bottle and harder for the women).
3. High cost of maintenance
4. Might need a hangar overnight
5. Cannot stop except for a suitable airport
6. Weather turned bad at destination - pilot/aircraft may not be equipped to land in adverse weather. Single pilot operation increases risk. Think one armed paper hanger at a busy airport.
7. Flying a small aircraft is an expensive luxury. There is a need to keep current on equipment. Instrument rating is recommended.
8. Safety depends on the pilot.


I would prefer driving overall but of course that is my preference. And then there are commercial airlines and the associated frustrations....

The big adavantage of driving is when anything goes wrong with the engine you can stop and fix it or get it fixed. And of course you can drive in a lot worse wheather than you can fly an airplane.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by KNS

The problem with helicopters is that it's going to cost about $15,000 to $20,000 just to get your private!!

Assuming a 50 hour average from zero to private, about $35k in a Jetranger.

Turning practice: Hover_turns - YouTube
Shaky video taken by my wife: 26APR20134 - YouTube
(yes, the liftoff was sloppy)

[dmcummins]

Now don't get me started on flying a helicopter. I'm thinking about getting a little time in a taildragger for something a little different. There is a 1946 champ that goes for around $100 a hour including the instructor.

I just got back from a trip in the travel trailer. 6 hours on the road, would have been an easy 2hour flight including the drive to the airport. And the fuel cost wouldn't even be that much different. It would still cost more to fly since I would have to rent a car and get a hotel room, but the trailer is for sale.

I go places for pleasure, no more work for me. I can always find a cheaper way to get there, buy a econo box that gets 50mpg and hit the road. But I can afford my own plane and my time is still worth something to me. And I enjoy the view.

[dmcummins]

Originally Posted by porwolf

The big adavantage of driving is when anything goes wrong with the engine you can stop and fix it or get it fixed. And of course you can drive in a lot worse wheather than you can fly an airplane.

I don't hear about a lot of engine failures . I'm more worried about the car load of teens texting and crossing into my lane. According to the sign in Ill. there were 519 deaths on the road so far this year in that state alone. I don't know how many airplane's fell from the sky, but I'm sure it wasn't many.

Its true I won't be flying into thunderstorms or Ice, but I don't like to drive through it either. I'll just go around or wait for it to pass. I can go when I want.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by NeedSpace

Had a GREAT flight today. I had my first lesson in a helicopter. I am still coming down from the high. I knew I would enjoy it but wow, didn't expect this.

I flew 30 minutes in a Robinson R22 Beta. I flew out of Linden (LDJ) and zipped around the lower harbor, just south of Brooklyn. I might have to get my heli license....

Here is she is in all her glory. Comparing it to flying a fixed wing, you are constantly doing something. It is like trying to stand on a big beach ball and trying to maintain your balance.

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Assuming a 50 hour average from zero to private, about $35k in a Jetranger.

Turning practice: Hover_turns - YouTube
Shaky video taken by my wife: 26APR20134 - YouTube
(yes, the liftoff was sloppy)

True but nobody in the civilian world does initial training in a Jetranger (love that aircraft, by the way...). Several years ago - I don't imagine it has changed - the Jetranger held the title as the safest single engine aircraft flying, fixed-wing or rotor.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by KNS

True but nobody in the civilian world does initial training in a Jetranger.

I am.
Ok... initial helicopter training. Not initial pilot training.

I, too, really love that bird. It is fun to fly, and is a very stable platform. Plus, it's awesome. Regarding safety, those big ol' blades give you tons of AR energy in an emergency.

And so the robbie guys don't get in a tither, I will admit that I am a factory trained Robinson mechanic and have no hate for them. They are different birds, built for different missions.

[bodmin]

I'm in UK - this is my new toy. Being delivered this week!

[NeedSpace]

Originally Posted by bodmin

I'm in UK - this is my new toy. Being delivered this week!

Very cool, is that a gyrocopter? Is that a rating or a separate license?

Reminds me of this.

[bodmin]

It is indeed a Gyrocopter (or Autogyro, Gyroplane - same thing).

Licence requirement in UK is PPL(G). This is a variant of the normal PPL. PPL(H) is for helicopters. Mostly the same sylabus apart from one of the ground exams which relates specifically to Gyroplane technical.

I used to fly Robinson R22's, but enjoy flying Gyroplanes even more. Flying is a combination of fixed wing and helicopter characteristics. It won't land vertically, but cost is about 20% of operating an R22 - the rotors aren't engine driven (apart from pre-rotation), so no transmission to worry about.

Other advantage is this that in the event of an engine failure you don't need to worry about 1.4 seconds to enter autorotation. The machine is already in autorotation. Simply fly it to the ground.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

The Debonair was not the doctor killer, that was the V-tail Bonanza.

Bonanzas do not kill doctors!!

Doctors kill Bonanzas!!

The Bonanza is a wonderfully easy airplane to fly. When they were first introduced, there were instances of wealthy guys who had inadequate training buy a Bonanza and get into situations over their head, hence the reputation.

Here's the one I get to fly:



Nothing is so challenging, yet so relaxing, as flying. An absolutely wonderful way to scoot around the country.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

The Bonanza is a wonderfully easy airplane to fly. When they were first introduced, there were instances of wealthy guys who had inadequate training buy a Bonanza and get into situations over their head, hence the reputation.

I seem to remember instances of control surface flutter, control horn failure, ruddervator separation, tail swim, blend spring failures, etc.

But yeah... great planes.

[pizzapaulie]

Originally Posted by NeedSpace

Wow, that is beautiful. I am envious. Congrats. Here's the best part. My wife says...go do it. Damn why to I have to be so fiscally responsible?!?

My wife was the same but in her case she had her reasons to be so "fair". She wanted me to keep busy with my interests so that she could have her "freedom". They say that almost all women who cheat never get caught by their partners. It is so true! Only found out thanks to my neighbor!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by bodmin

It is indeed a Gyrocopter (or Autogyro, Gyroplane - same thing)

That is a neat looking aircraft. Please post on how you like it, performance, etc.

For the helo bubbas, me in a Jet Ranger, circa 1983:



Doing a re-enlistment...I was leading the operational flight test of the HH-60H, circa 1987:

[romad]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

I seem to remember instances of control surface flutter, control horn failure, ruddervator separation, tail swim, blend spring failures, etc.

But yeah... great planes.

mostly contributed to over speed incidents in the v tail

[romad]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Assuming a 50 hour average from zero to private, about $35k in a Jetranger.

Turning practice: Hover_turns - YouTube
Shaky video taken by my wife: 26APR20134 - YouTube
(yes, the liftoff was sloppy)

I paid under 2 grand for my private in 82

[KNS]

Originally Posted by romad

I paid under 2 grand for my private in 82

I got lucky, I paid exactly $2000 for my fixed-wing private in 89. My instructor was a fossil with an ancient C-150 (no headsets, you had to scream into the microphone and breathe in the smoke from the cigarette that he lit as soon as the wheels left the ground). Preflight consisted of draining a shot of fuel from the gascolator right onto the asphalt (to look for water spots) and checking the tar-like oil on the dipstick.

Looking back, I was probably lucky in more ways than one...