fixed wing first?

[rocky]

hey all,

new to the forum. i am a private pilot (fixed wing) with some instrument training. i want to pursue helicopter training and was wondering if i should finish fixed wing training first or just continue my training from now on with helicopters. money is always an issue but not necessarily a deciding factor. any advice?

thanks

rocky

[PhotoFlyer]

It depends on what your goals are. Do you want to fly helicopters as a career, or just for fun? A little more info about what you want will help you get a better answer.

 

Now, for my answer: Finish your instrument (because you started) and then jump in the helicopter and forget about flying a plank.

[rocky]

oh i am definately planning on helicopters as a career, and i am so anxious to start. i stopped my instrument training over 2 years ago too so i would basically have to start over. i have been told to finish my flying in fixed wing and then add on but i dont see why i cant go the other way... what do you think?

rocky

[Witch]

Aw heck, go with the copters.

 

I was speaking with my soon to be CFI, and he was telling me that it's better to forget almost everything about planes because heli's are so different in the control aspect. IOW, different control inputs than a plane, mostly coordinated turns and stalls.

 

The way I see it, if you're going to have to forget everything you learned, it's better to not learn it in the first place... I think.

 

Hey, didn't I see your handle at the JH forum not long ago?

 

Later

[rocky]

hey thanks guys,

that exactly what i needed (wanted) to hear. now i just need to start studying and saving

oh and no i never posted on the jh forum but maybe in the future...

 

thanks again

[HelliBoy]

Just one thing concerning your instrument rating. If you complete an instrument rating in a fixed wing it carries over to heli's, there is no class or category stipulation for an instrument rating. However, building time is important and while you'd save a load of money geting instrument rated in a fixed wing, you'd still need to spend a load of money to get to an employable number of heli hours, 150 min. So you might as well spend it in a heli.

[jehh]

Just one thing concerning your instrument rating. If you complete an instrument rating in a fixed wing it carries over to heli's, there is no class or category stipulation for an instrument rating.

 

Actually, that is not correct.

 

If you do the fixed-wing instrument written, then do the instrument checkride in airplanes, you don't have to do another instrument written, but you still need 15 hours of simulated (or actual) instrument dual instruction in a helicopter and you still have to take another checkride.