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Helicopter only, no fixed wing stuff for me. Got about 1000 hours and 800 hours of instruction given. Making the transition into bigger, badder helicopters now though. Only been flying since 2004...

Good thread LarryH!

So interesting to see all the flying enthusiasts here. I used to tell my students that being a Flight Instructor was the most satisfying way I knew to starve to death! You have a lot of fun not making any money! Then you feel like you ought to pay these folks that let you fly their cool machines with them!

I have Comm/Inst/ASMEL, CFI-I/Aircraft and Instruments, though, because of a couple of nasty auto accidents, I no longer fly with students. A hard landing could paralyze me, so I only fly with my trusted DH as PIC and cry inside every time we go out to the airport.

The good news is that shooting has almost filled that hole in my heart. It can't replace being upside down in an airplane, but it's a mighty close second place! The fact that DH shoots with and alongside me makes it even better.

Kinda like: The couple that shoots together, stays together!

Airline Transport Pilot-Airplane Multi engine Land
International RVSM Certified
Ratings: Lr 23,24,25,35,36,55 (Learjets)
AC1121,CJ1123,CJ1124 (Westwinds)
CE500, CE550,CE650 (Citations)
Commercial Privileges-Airplane Single Engine Land
Private Privileges-Rotorcraft-Helicopter

A little over 1 year and 2 months of my life have been at the controls of an aircraft in flight.
(10,380 Hours)
I have pretty much retired from flying jets
but still love to beat around in single engines
and Helicopters.

Anyone ever fly an autogyro? You can't get much safer than a rotary-wing craft that is constantly in autorotation (unless the rotor falls off).

KBCraig wrote:Anyone ever fly an autogyro? You can't get much safer than a rotary-wing craft that is constantly in autorotation (unless the rotor falls off).

Helicopter/rotarcraft defined: Thousands of moving parts loosely flying in close formation.


Sorry, guys, just couldn't resist. On the serious side, I worked at an Army overhaul facility on helicopters that were brought back from Viet Nam. Wanting to ride in one of those is what got me into aviation in the first place. I have never, to date, had the pleasure, but someday ... maybe ...

The closest I ever got to ride in a chopper was dangling below it on a 1.5" rope with 7 other Marines in a SPIE Rigging exercise

Here is a video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGv2N13ovbg

Its rather interesting looking down at your boots then focusing on the ground below you