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General Climbing Discussion

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OT - Climbers who like flying, fixed or rotary. 22-Apr-2011 At 3:07:17 PM Tommo

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Yay! I thought I was going mad, and that my helicopter forum (I just closed the tab) and Chocky had gotten their cyber-wires crossed!

I LOVE to fly! I moved from the Blueys to California and started my helicopter training late last year, and about two weeks ago this culminated in the successful pass of my 'check-ride' and the granting of my Private Pilots Licence (Helicopter). A lot of hard work and a lot of money, but very satisfying. I'm now starting my Commercial training, of which the first part is an Instrument rating.

Helicopters are safer than you think. They are not very forgiving to fly though - pilot error is the number one cause of accidents. But if the engine quits, and the pilot does the right thing (and we are a safe distance from the ground proportional to our speed at the time) a helicopter can GLIDE. Yes! Autorotation is a wonderful thing, and we don't need a runway or a deserted playing field, we'll plonk it down just about anywhere.

"helicopters only fly because they are ugly and the earth rejects them".

This is a classic vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pKr3XVufkQ