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Esprit Model . Thunder Power RC . Real Raptors

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Main Discussion > Bragging Rights!
 
 
SemiArticulate
Veteran
Location: On Location

I went to HAI heli-expo over the weekend. The best part was that MD helicopters let me fly a MD500e! Keep in mind that I had zero stick time in a real heli. My dad is a former flight instructor but has been out of that for fifteen years. He is thinking about getting a heli for business use. So he is talking with the guy at the MD booth and the guy invites him to take one out for a test drive. We are with a very high time CFI who did a lot of police work. My dad flew for about half an hour then we landed refueled and took off with me in the pilot seat. The instructor of course was right there at all times but I had an MD500e in forward flight full speed and apparently in a dive (which I later corrected ). I got to steer it around a bit. I also got to hover it at altitude and again a few feet off the ground. Near the ground I could feel the instructors influence on the sticks a good bit more . He also really made it perform with high speed turns that had the heli on its side. We noted the heavy amount of birds in the area. He then told me that he had a bird go through the windshield on three occasions working for the police. That made me just little worried when we came right up on a bird that was close enough that I could see the expression on its face. I think it was thinking "cool heli" and it decided not to fly into the windshield. I don't know if it was that I had flown in helis a lot as a kid or I was just eager to try it, but I was very comfortable in the machine and could see how I could get the hang of it. It was a little windy and rainy but the heli was smooth, or at least when my dad or the CFI was flying. As far as flying the machine, I think it is easier than the RC because certainly your perspective never changes. You hear guys say that but now I can believe it. MD helicopters made a smart move putting me in the seat because now I'll be talking about this until my dad gives in and buys one. Which still may be between now and never. I heard a few prices so I think I'll need to stick with RC. Vario sounds cheap now . I got pics of the event but I'll need to get them developed. I'll post them on my website when I get it going. I'll post a few on here but the quality will be reduced.

As for HAI, Eurocopter had a big display with several large helicopters. There were a few Notars and a chinook as well. One interesting note is that now schweizer has a turbine that looks to be the same size as the 300. Probably is a 300, i'll need to check the pics. It is a "four seater" (if two are midgets). All in the front row. R22s and R44s were all over the place and in the air. They also had the first "kit" turbine helicopter plus it had a fenestron for the tail. I don't like the idea of uncertified helis but it at least looked like something out of a batman movie. The blue and red paint scheme added to that. There were a few sims at the show. They had one that interfaced to the MS flight sim and had a collective, cyclic, and foot peddles. The machine would move and tilt as you flew the heli to simulate the motion. There was a CFI in the machine with you that gave you instruction. I got to take off and fly around a little. Then the CFI killed the engine. Long story short, the cfi said I would have probably walked away from that one . I thought I hit pretty hard. I did that on friday and a day before the MD500 flight. After flying the real thing, that sim did not impress me. It seemed sluggish. There was another sim that did not move but had all the controlls and a "real" cockpit. It also had a very large screen. I looked at it after the MD500 flight. I swear that one was much better and you felt like you were moving regardless of the fact that it was fixed. It was called FlyIt and was FAA approved. So at least the instrument time counted. You can get one for $124,000 USD. Let me know when you get it so I can come over and play on it . It was a fun trip. Hopefully the pics will turn out well.
02-17-2002 Over year old.
 
 
andymcallister
Veteran
Location: Palm Beach, Florida

Yeah it was cool. I went too. I got a day off school to go with my stepdad as he is a helicopter pilot. We own a helicopter training school down here in Palm Beach and we use Robinson R-22's. We spoke to Frank himself (Frank Robinson, owner of Robinson Helicopters) as we were looking into a 2nd helicopter, it was the silver R-22 with he blue stripe down it, had only 30 hours, brand new, nice leather seats and everything, must be nice to fly. I can't believe you flew a 500, that must have been a blast! Wow, the biggest I have ever flown was a Bell 206B JetRanger and that was pretty nice. I am 15 and my stepdad is currently teaching me to fly so once I leave school I can be a pilot for our school, Ocean Helicopters , I currently have 10 hours, 8 in the good ol' R-22, 1.5 in an R-44, and 0.5 in a JetRanger. It was a great exhibition, but I didn't get to see all the flying, hey did Robinson introduce their new helicopter there has been talk about, the R-66? Its supposed to be a 6 seat turbine helicopter. That kit built turbine was crazy, 170mph with a light pilot, thats quick!
02-18-2002 Over year old.
 
 
SemiArticulate
Veteran
Location: On Location

I didn't know Robinson was even thinking about a turbine. I am sure it will be a winner. I didn't see Frank Robinson either. I would have liked to have met him. My Dad did most of his instruction with an R22. He could auto one to the ground, pick it back up, rotate 360 and land again without engine. Not too bad for such low inertia. He got a Jet Ranger latter on to deal with larger students and more passangers. The Jet Ranger is just a little bigger than the 500 and has much more passenger room. But the MD500E is a real sportscar with a 155mph/249kmh max cruise. The backseat is a little better than it used to be but is still kinda small. I am 6'1" and was still fairly comfortable in the backseat. But it is a pilots machine.

Your really lucky to have access to those helicopters. Especially to get to fly them. If you can handle an R22 then the others should be a piece of cake. The R22s are a great training helicopters.
02-18-2002 Over year old.
 
 
whrlybrd
Senior Heliman
Location: Little Rock, AR

Great stuff. I have just under 1000 hours of fixed wing time single and multi and some turbine as well but the most fun time in my log book is the rotory dual in a H300 and a Bell 206. I went to Rotorway in Phoenix when I was out there this year and before one judges kit built machines I encourage you to go out there and look around. First class op. Quality control and flight training first rate. Accident rate and research reveals all fatal accidents (5) were due to things like aftermarket mods (laminating your own rotorblade design) to suicide. So I don't think it is the ship. There is no doubt that a serious modeler who takes time to really learn the academics of the hobby and become a first rate builder and set up master of our helos could build a full scale ship. Hey if you consider a fully outfitted 60 is about a grand all you need do is go thru 60 and you have your own Rotorway. I do agree that there have been other kits not so well engineered and proven.

I am glad you had such a great experience.
02-18-2002 Over year old.
 
 
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Mikado Modellhubschrauber . GrandRC . CanoMod

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