New Video: Real life flying Part 2

[nightsta1ker]

http://youtu.be/Qp3u1aQ5BGU

Enjoy. Notice how small the control movements are, especially with the pedals.

[OMAC]

SWEET!

Man, you are damn good at those controls. It is awesome how you accelerate to high speeds when only a meter or two above the ground.

If that video doesn't fire people up for ToH, nothing will.

[JumpingHubert]

a big thanks! Very very interesting. I hope the devs throw away the deathzone of x-y-axis in the next ToH-update.

[BoboCZ]

Thanks. It was really smooth fly and landings . And with music it is also nice relaxation video, almost hypnotic.

[nightsta1ker]

Thanks for the support guys. I was really hoping to get some good recording of the communications but the port in my GoPro is an audio port OUT, not IN. I need to get a sound recording device and then edit them together as DirtyDeeds suggested. My friend Joey (on the right) was at the controls for most of the flight. I was the one on the left (wearing the helmet).

@OMAC, In a rotorcraft, it is important to stay at a speed/altitude combination that if you experience an engine failure you can execute an autorotation. The height/velocity diagram in each helicopters operator's manual shows you the recommended takeoff profile for the aircraft. In the S300, you need to stay about 15 feet off the deck until you reach 40 knots, then climb, otherwise, you might break the airframe if the engine quit, or worse, you might break your back. Vertical takeoffs and hovering above 5 feet but below 500 ft are rarely performed unless the mission requires it. Operating under those conditions is known as operating in the "Dead Man's Curve" (depicted by the shaded area in the height/velocity diagram).

Sometimes in order to clear obstacles the pilot must bend that envelope a little. It takes a little finesse and a healthy knowledge of the aircraft, the environment, and the pilots own abilities to do it safely.

[OMAC]

Excellent info, thanks again. I did see your hand rather nervously go to your stick a few times when your friend was about to make a turn, just in case. He seems pretty comfortable flying.

[nightsta1ker]

Excellent info, thanks again. I did see your hand rather nervously go to your stick a few times when your friend was about to make a turn, just in case. He seems pretty comfortable flying.

Actually, I am completely comfortable with him flying. My hand was near the stick because you need to push a button to talk on the intercom and that button happens to be the trigger button on the front of the handle. I kept my hand there so I could make a quick comment if necessary. However, no matter how comfortable I am with someone, I still guard the collective and throttle in a hover, just in case. Even experienced pilots make mistakes and I am the one responsible for that ship when I rent it. Bottom line: If I'm gonna pay for it, it d@mn well better have been MY mistake.

[OMAC]

Ha! You said it.

I was wondering what that button was on top of the stick. You did seem to fly faster than your friend at times. Were you practicing landing and hovering on that patch of dead grass next to the runway?

[ryguy]

Sometimes I wish fixed wing pilots got to wear helmets without looking stupid

Nice video dude

[nightsta1ker]

Ha! You said it.

I was wondering what that button was on top of the stick. You did seem to fly faster than your friend at times. Were you practicing landing and hovering on that patch of dead grass next to the runway?

The button on top is the cyclic trim. It's a motorized spring trim system that enables the pilot to take the control pressure off to reduce fatigue. Not exactly a hands off type function but it makes your arm a little less stiff when you get done, and it helps you keep a desired airspeed.

My friend flies slow. I was encouraging him to fly faster throughout the flight (especially when we were over the water) and to use the trim. It's not his fault, he's a Robinson pilot and they don't fly as nose-low as the Hughes does so his sight picture is different. It takes some getting used to. We also did some toe-in's on the elevated pad area (putting just the front part of your skid on the surface while the helicopter is still mostly off the ground).

---------- Post added at 05:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 AM ----------

Sometimes I wish fixed wing pilots got to wear helmets without looking stupid

Nice video dude

I used to fly fixed wing... why do you think I got into helicopters? Besides, if fixed wing guys had that many spinning parts over their heads all the time then alot more of them would wear helmets.