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For all the instructors:

 

In your experience does a pilot who has a fixed wing license learn any quicker than one who has no flight time at all? a little bit, especially straight and level, and approaches

 

 

Can a program like flight simulator that has an actual cyclic, collective, and rudder pedals help a student progress through flight training?

not really, but it does help with instrument procedures

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In both cases I would say it depends on the Student. I have seen Fixed wing pilots take to helicopters really fast, where others have not done so well.

 

As for Flight sim.... It can be a valuable tool in teaching and learning but it depends on what it is used for I would say the actual fight control part not so much. But decision making skills, airport entrees, and communication can all be practiced with a flight sim of that nature.

 

CROOK :mellow:

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In your experience does a pilot who has a fixed wing license learn any quicker than one who has no flight time at all?

 

Think about all the stuff a fixed-winger already knows: weather, regs, patterns, aerodynamics, engines, see & avoid, flight planning. When I crossed over I was able to concentrate more on motor skills because I had already been dealing with the aforementioned items. Admittedly there are some differences (regs, patterns, etc) but overall one can focus more on control manipulation. That was my experience. On the negative side, a fixed-winger is more prone to push forward on the cyclic when he suddenly encounters birds, a kite, or another aircraft. Works fine in an airplane, but of course we all know the consequences in an R22. So there is some "unlearning" to do.

 

Regarding the Flight Sim: a young man with many hours of practice on his computer took his first lesson in a Cessna 172. With the CFI following up closely on the controls, he managed to taxi, takeoff, and land with almost no assistance. This was his very first flight in a light aircraft - so sounds to me like the sim time in this case was very beneficial. Your mileage may vary. Kevin

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I've taught a number of fellows with fixed wing, with varing levels of skill, to fly helicopters. In my experiance, they all very quickly went through the aerodynamics that were unique to helicopters. Possibly becuse they were already in the right frame of mind regarding those things.

 

As far as the flying goes, the ones who had the least experiance (one was 100 hour commerical, one was 20,000 hour ATP), the ones with the least experiance picked it up the fastest. I did find one who really had a hard time avoiding forward cyclic in response to problem situations. (not teh 20,000 hour guy, another relativly high timer).

 

Either way though, they all pick up the flying faster than someone without any time at all. I agree with the above posters, I think it is due to the fact that htey are alraedy aclimatized to aviation, know the radio, know the environment, know the rules etcetc, so they aren't overwhelmed by these things and can concentrate from flight one on flying a helicopter, instead of just flying in general.

 

What I don't know is how much it would be worth it to go that route first, considering prices... how much do you save... not realy sure I could quantify that.

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I would say that fixed wing guys are a bit heavy on the pedals as well. It takes a bit to have then use the balls of their feet versus the whole damn foot!

 

My fixed-wing students did have a better control-touch and referenced the horizon a lot better than a complete newbie. Radios are also easier (if they are current pilots with some real flight experience).

 

It's still amusing to do a steep approach and see the fixed-wing guys get nervous. It seems they always want to do shallow approaches with running landings!

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