My other passion - flying helicopters

Doing all i do in a Jeep is one if my favorite things to do, but its in close competition with flying helicopters as being my favorite. At $530 per hr plus 12-18 gallons per hour of 100LL aviation gas this is certainly the most expensive. With my current 47 hrs, Im thankful the Post 9/11 GI Bill is paying for it all, along with the gen Ed requirements for my degree.

After training for the last grueling 8 months as a full time helicopter student pilot, I've finally graduated an FAA part 141 ground school private pilot course, and gotten all the flight experience i need, both instruction and 10 hrs of solo flights. This week I'm taking a final stage 3 check with a lead instructor at my flight school, then I am finally going to go up for my FAA private rotorcraft pilot oral exam(3 hrs of verbal questioning on rules, regs, and aircraft limitations), followed by a check flight about 1 1/2-2hrs long. If all goes well I'm moving on to my instrument rating next semester, followed by my commercial rating, certified flight instructor, and certified instrument flight instructor the following 3 semesters!

"but it looks so easy in the movies"

Congratulations on your accomplishments. :beer:

Learning to fly is on most peoples bucket list. Learning to fly helicopters would be extra icing on the cake. (with ice cream too)

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Sweet

Congrats on the rotary wing accomplishments! Nice R44 in the photo too :thumb: I plan on making use of my post-9/11 GI bill benefits soon, I have already used up the Montgomery GI bill decades ago.

congrats to you :beer:

I've heard it can be a lot cheaper to get all the ratings flying fixed wing, then add-on your rotor license. I'm sure it sucks a bit coming out of that with so few hours in the helicopter, but also would seem to give you a broader resume...

ichthus said:

I've heard it can be a lot cheaper to get all the ratings flying fixed wing, then add-on your rotor license. I'm sure it sucks a bit coming out of that with so few hours in the helicopter, but also would seem to give you a broader resume...

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If you are paying out of pocket it is cheaper since you'd need less hours for the transition from fixed wing to rotary wing. I think it's 25hrs for the transition. If pursuing a career as a helicopter pilot I think employers would be more interested in the rotary wing time. I'll have about 230 hrs when I graduate.

Thats awesome, congratulations brother! :drinks: Now you can make some cash and be a chase for KOH filming!!!

I have always wanted to flly helicopters since watching blackhawk down my junior year of HS. Hope to soon get my fixed wing license and then later upgrade.

Great accomplishment brother. I wish you the best. Flying a helicopter is certainly challenging and, riding on one is a blast! Never flown one but having been aboard I commend you.