Any of you have a "Chopper" license? (training)

[Ron.]

I've always wanted to learn how to fly Helicopter's. I know it does cost a pretty penny but I can afford it now.


Is 39y/o to old to get the license? I am healthy and take good care of myself. I saw a few flights schools on the East Coast that i would be interested in.

Any tips/advice is appreciated.




Ron

[sunsprit]

39 is not too old to learn.

The question is, however, what will you do with that ticket?

If you are planning to fly for hire, do you think that you'll recoup your investment in flight training?

Are you willing to fly professionally for almost no income but a lot of time committment for the years it takes to reach better jobs?

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by sunsprit

39 is not too old to learn.

The question is, however, what will you do with that ticket?

If you are planning to fly for hire, do you think that you'll recoup your investment in flight training?

Are you willing to fly professionally for almost no income but a lot of time committment for the years it takes to reach better jobs?

I have a great career already. I want to do it for fun and a hobby.

[Chava61]

I know someone who got his helicopter license just before he turned 50. In order to save money he first got a gyrocopter license which is a rotorcraft like a helicopter. The gyrocopter hours were applicable to his helicopter training (so it saved him some costly hours in helicopters).

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by Ron.

I have a great career already. I want to do it for fun and a hobby.

Absolutely the best way to enjoy aviation, IMO. That's what I did, although I've just got an ASEL IFR ticket and a 182 that meets my needs for back-country flying. After a couple thousand hours, I've never regretted the time, expense, or committment to GA that it's cost to do this.

I have several friends who have rotorcraft in their hangars ... ranging from Robinson R-22's & 44's through a Bell 206. The Bell gets used to commute from a city residence to a remote line shack on the family's ranch for livestock management, camping & fishing trips, or taking guests to the facilities. What would be a several hour driving trip is about 45 minutes via air and can access the property at times when rainfall or snow otherwise makes the trip into the ranch impassable even with 4x4 vehicles.

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by sunsprit

Absolutely the best way to enjoy aviation, IMO. That's what I did, although I've just got an ASEL IFR ticket and a 182 that meets my needs for back-country flying. After a couple thousand hours, I've never regretted the time, expense, or committment to GA that it's cost to do this.

I have several friends who have rotorcraft in their hangars ... ranging from Robinson R-22's & 44's through a Bell 206. The Bell gets used to commute from a city residence to a remote line shack on the family's ranch for livestock management, camping & fishing trips, or taking guests to the facilities. What would be a several hour driving trip is about 45 minutes via air and can access the property at times when rainfall or snow otherwise makes the trip into the ranch impassable even with 4x4 vehicles.

Oh yeah!


Good stuff. I like the R-66 out of the Robinson series. I like the Bell''s also. The flught schools I looked at use the R-66 for training. I really would like to fly the Bell's.

If I train with a R-66, how much more different is it from the Bell?

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by Ron.

Oh yeah!


Good stuff. I like the R-66 out of the Robinson series. I like the Bell''s also. The flught schools I looked at use the R-66 for training. I really would like to fly the Bell's.

If I train with a R-66, how much more different is it from the Bell?

Out of my league ... I wouldn't know how the performance and capabilities of these aircraft differ or are similar.

Most of my experience has been as a left seat passenger in my buddy's 206. I was with him the day they took delivery of a 207 (I think that's what it was). Rude awakening for me when he was so thrilled with the increase in power/performance; the density altitude that day was over 8,000' at the ranch and he was heading into canyons to check out the cows at about 100 mph indicated. For a fixed wing pilot like me, it was rather intimidating watching the approaching canyon walls and he'd just pull up and hop over the ridgelines ... laughing about how much climb ability the 207 had in comparison to the 206, and how much more stable it was in flight.

If you've got the financial resources to fly one of these, then it's an incredible world of flying that awaits. Have fun and keep the dirty side down.

[Wynternight]

I plan on working towards my rotary wing license once I leave the bush and get to Anchorage. There's a school in Girdwood I have my eyes on.

Anyone have any advice for a prospective hhelicopter pilot?

[JohnZ963]

I know an overweight 64 year old who retired last year and decided to get a helicopter license. He just passed his checkride about a week ago. If he can do it, you can do it, so go for it.

[bentstrider]

I'm looking at just getting rotary-wing time in from the get-go.
The only problem is that the helicopter flight schools are usually far and few between and the number of fixed-wing places outnumbers them.
Guess it's stay where I am for now, save up some money and then transfer out near some place that has a flight school where I could start accumulating rotary wing time.