Ops-Normal.org

It looks as though they are preparing Caco's R44 at Headcorn for his trial lesson....
.

...and he's up and away!
.

Uh-oh! Looks as though Caco and his instructor have taken to their chutes......
.

It's OK. landed its self.

....and our hero saunters back for a stiff drink in the bar......
.

Well as you all know I had my first helicopter lesson today and I managed not to make the Kent TV news!
Caco

Next two lessons booked for 3rd May @ 12:00 hrs UTC

And 17th May @ 12:00 hrs UTC

Really nice company and thanks to Phil, the Boss Gerald and the charming Polly at the desk...

Video will be sent by post today and I will post on YouTube when I receive it.

Now have to hide costs from T (my better half). Another divorce looms large...

Caco

Did I follow the wrong flight then - looking at those logbook timings?

You did I am afraid C16. Never mind you can watch the inside view of my "hovering"!

I was going to pretend I was the good looking guy who flew later but I can't deny twas not me!

Caco

Well done Caco. Judging by the big smile, you must have enjoyed yourself

limeygal wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 16, 2018 3:00 pm

Well done Caco. Judging by the big smile, you must have enjoyed yourself

Thanks Limeygirl. Was a superb experience and I am going to continue.

Caco

CharlieOneSix wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:34 pm

....and our hero saunters back for a stiff drink in the bar......
.
webcam4.JPG

That's Gerald (the Boss at Thurstons) with an attractive girl who came into the office after my flight.

Caco

CharlieOneSix wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 16, 2018 2:51 pm

Did I follow the wrong flight then - looking at those logbook timings?

Cacophonix wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 16, 2018 2:59 pm

You did I am afraid C16. Never mind you can watch the inside view of my "hovering"!

That's me all over - always late to the party!

CharlieOneSix wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 16, 2018 3:42 pm

CharlieOneSix wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 16, 2018 2:51 pm

Did I follow the wrong flight then - looking at those logbook timings?

Cacophonix wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 16, 2018 2:59 pm

You did I am afraid C16. Never mind you can watch the inside view of my "hovering"!

That's me all over - always late to the party!

Blame me C16. I did not specify if the time was UTC or British summer time.

Sides you got to see the golden aired girl.

I will invite you to the party when I go solo.

Caco

You've gone over to the dark side Caco.
Any aircraft that can display zero airspeed when airborne and not fall out of the sky
is the devil's work.

Glad you enjoyed it

It is indeed a novel experience, flying backwards even more so.
BOAC is our expert there.
Congrats Caco!

I tried using the webcam at 1200 BST but the damn thing still wasn't working.

Anyway mate well done. Michael Cacophonix esq has eggbeaten his way into the Ops-Normal hallowed halls of chopper flogging!

Thanks to all here for the encouragement and particularly to CharlieOneSix and FD2 who finally persuaded this wayward person to see the light and go and try something that he had been mulling over for years but who had never got around to actually doing. Both C16 and FD2 seem to genuinely still love what they did, so skillfully, and so much better than I could ever hope to do, let it be said, but still to have retained a genuine sense of joy and wonder in that, which is infectious and very refreshing to my jaundiced soul.

I must say that Headcorn was a revelation, retaining something of what I remember was the kind of louche, fun, landing zone school of aviation I used to know in the good old days in SA, with a bundle, what is a good collective noun for a group of skydivers, actually living in a colony on the airfield, with various very good looking young lady skydivers and assorted hangers on and washing actually flapping in the breeze behind their clubhouse and the Turbo Porter (or whatever) being fettled on the field! These guys always seem to bring everybody down to earth in a manner of speaking. I almost expected to see the irascible ALC (who I have never met) to appear like a phantom at the parachutist's feast.

This sense of a community, of people doing what they like and having fun, was brought home by the fact that the young lady officer manager's brother flew in a twin just ahead of us on final at the airfield and was quickly fuelling up for a return survey flight as he also runs a business there. All around were people talking, plotting and "enjoying" aviation. I suspect Ex-Ascot and his lady wife may see something of that same kind of spirit at Maun mind you!

Long may it last.

Caco

Well done Caco - down safe and sound. Did anything start to twitch when you saw the airspeed falling off coming to the hover?

The Trident pilots used to have a break for a few hours in Aberdeen and we took one out to a rig and back in the jump seat. I turned and looked at him when we were slowing to the hover to land on 17 when we got back - it was a picture!

Well done Caco. 30 years since I last piloted a chopper. Gazelles of 32 Sqn NHT. Flying the helio route down the Thames through the middle of London was terrific fun on a nice day. Touch and go at Battersea then back to NHT for some auto rotations and hover practice. One was not cleared auto rotation. And, they were paying me! The Jet Rangers here are also great fun. Skimming across the delta at 50'. Those are expensive but we have been fortunate enough to be transferred in the bush when the camp strips have been closed. The safari company has to pay.