I have now introduced eight people to flying in the helicopter! My buddy Mike was first just after I got my certificate. A short while later I flew my buddy Wes. My mother in-law Olga went for a flight, as did my Dad and his wife Nancy. More recently, I took my buddy Chad flying, and his boss Joe, and last but certainly not least – I took my bride for a flight!

Here is Maja just before her second takeoff from my Dad’s house! That day I was fortunate enough to pick her up at my house, and then land at my Dad’s for a quick visit. Then we flew back to Frederick. Maja is a little nervous flying – and helicopters with their unobstructed view can be even more intimidating. I decided to leave her door on!

Recently I also started my transition training for the larger Robinson R-44. The 44 is a four seat aircraft with the six cylinder lycoming. In addition to having a much higher useful load there is plenty of extra power.

My buddy Mike joined me for one of the training flights in the R-44. We flew down the Potomac near Hudson’s Ferry, West Virginia. It was a great flight.

I’ve done a bad job of documenting my helicopter training and flying on this blog – but I guess my only excuse is that I’ve been too busy having fun and working hard.

Here is a quick video compiled from several recent flights in the helicopter – including my wife’s flight and my flight with my good friend Chad and his boss Joe.

I had originally intended to record all of my experiences in helicopter training on this site, unfortunately my schedule has been too intense to keep up with many of my projects. In late August 2018 I completed my Private Pilot Add-on in the R-22. Here is a photo taken immediately after the successful check ride.

I have had the opportunity to take several family members and friends flying since completing the rating. My mother-in-law, Olga, was one my first victims. I landed at the house and picked her up for a short flight. She really loved it.

The same day I stopped at my Dad’s and took my step-mother Nancy for a flight.

And of course my Dad got a flight too!

My buddy Wes got a flight!

My CFI Mike over Towson Maryland.

This photo was taken as I was set to leave on my first solo flight.

The photo below was taken before my first flight with the doors off. Flying the R-22 with the doors off is one of my favorite ways to fly. Period. Its an exhilarating experience. The visibility and perception of flight is unparalleled.

As you may know already, I’ve been doing a fair amount of flight training in my spare time. I recently got my CFI, CFII, and my Commercial Multi-Engine Add-on. Now I’m getting my helicopter certificates as well! I haven’t decided if I’ll get my private helo certificate or go straight to the commercial add-on. The commercial add-on will require 35 hours of PIC, which means a lot of solo cross country flights. If I get my private cert first, I can make those XC flights a little more fun by bringing along some passengers, but then I’d have to take an additional check ride. Anyways, right now I at least plan to get my commercial and instrument tickets in the helo, and I may even get my CFI.

My first flight was scheduled for earlier in the week, but high winds meant we only did some ground instruction. We covered some helicopter systems and did a point by point pre-flight of the helicopter. Everyone says helicopters have a thousand moving parts. Sure – but when you peek behind the curtain, they really are not complicated machines.

Here is one of the R-22s I will be flying.

Middle River has one of about 20 new Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopters. From everything I have read and watched about this helicopter it is an exciting addition to training and rental fleets. Its safer and cooler than an R-22! If you want to see some cool helicopter flying in a collection of well made YouTube videos, check out Mischa Gelb’s channel Pilot Yellow. He runs BC Helicopters and they operate not one, but two G2 helos. After I get some time in the R22 (because its cheaper on an hourly basis) I’m definitely going to get some time in the G2!