Training
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:07 pm
I had the opportunity to work with a pilot this past weekend who has a Brantly, but hasn't gotten to fly it yet. He has time in several helicopter models, including some in a Brantly, but he wanted to focus on advanced maneuvers and emergency procedures. And that we did, for more than 4 hours.
I started him off easy, with some normal takeoffs and approaches, then maximum performance takeoffs, steep approaches, running takeoffs and landings, no-hover takeoffs and landings, some ground maneuvers, air taxi, quick stops... just getting warmed up. We worked a while on engine failures and tail rotor failures at hover, and hover taxi engine failure. Some of these expected were and several by surprise.
Then autos from altitude. We must have spent 2.5 hours on these. Straight-in, 90°, 180°, 360°, to the left, to the right, adjust for too short or too long. After the first few with power recovery, then almost all the remaining were full touchdown. He was doing so well I started chopping the throttle during takeoff, during steep approaches, anywhere in the pattern, while hovering or hover taxi, and surprise tail rotor failures. Anywhere where I knew it was safe to get into an auto. Most of these were to the ground also.
An intense workout, but enjoyable. Congrats to the pilot. Great job done.
I started him off easy, with some normal takeoffs and approaches, then maximum performance takeoffs, steep approaches, running takeoffs and landings, no-hover takeoffs and landings, some ground maneuvers, air taxi, quick stops... just getting warmed up. We worked a while on engine failures and tail rotor failures at hover, and hover taxi engine failure. Some of these expected were and several by surprise.
Then autos from altitude. We must have spent 2.5 hours on these. Straight-in, 90°, 180°, 360°, to the left, to the right, adjust for too short or too long. After the first few with power recovery, then almost all the remaining were full touchdown. He was doing so well I started chopping the throttle during takeoff, during steep approaches, anywhere in the pattern, while hovering or hover taxi, and surprise tail rotor failures. Anywhere where I knew it was safe to get into an auto. Most of these were to the ground also.
An intense workout, but enjoyable. Congrats to the pilot. Great job done.