First solo

[tattooed]

 

FINALLY....the weather cooperated and I got my 1st solo in. Been 2 weeks, and I have been mentally ready for it for awhile now. Feels really good to finally do it.

 

 

It was no where near as "scarey" as originally expected. Since I top the scale at a gi-normous 115 lbs, I was anticipating a certain amount of "squirrly-ness" from the helicopter. No biggie. Took my time picking up...did MUCH better than I anticipated. My CFI did a great job of having me practice what it *MIGHT* be like...having me give a bit of forward cyclic since it'll try and go backwards solo'ing....didn't have that problem...so I guess the practice worked.

 

I think I pulled a whole 16" MAP and was in a hover.

 

I found it MUCH easier to keep my "numbers" solo. I was able to maintain a steady 700'/60kts no problem. Admittedly I had to really dump the collective to descend.

 

I definately want to thank everyone who helped me get thru my "set-back", especially all of you HAI folks. GROUP HUG!

 

What a HUGE confidence builder that was.

[rodrop]

 

FINALLY....the weather cooperated and I got my 1st solo in. Been 2 weeks, and I have been mentally ready for it for awhile now. Feels really good to finally do it.

 

 

It was no where near as "scarey" as originally expected. Since I top the scale at a gi-normous 115 lbs, I was anticipating a certain amount of "squirrly-ness" from the helicopter. No biggie. Took my time picking up...did MUCH better than I anticipated. My CFI did a great job of having me practice what it *MIGHT* be like...having me give a bit of forward cyclic since it'll try and go backwards solo'ing....didn't have that problem...so I guess the practice worked.

 

I think I pulled a whole 16" MAP and was in a hover.

 

I found it MUCH easier to keep my "numbers" solo. I was able to maintain a steady 700'/60kts no problem. Admittedly I had to really dump the collective to descend.

 

I definately want to thank everyone who helped me get thru my "set-back", especially all of you HAI folks. GROUP HUG!

 

What a HUGE confidence builder that was.

 

Congratulations! Nice job...keep moving forward..

[slick1537]

Congrats!

[Goldy]

 

I think I pulled a whole 16" MAP and was in a hover.

 

Geez, with that little weight, who needs an engine? Just catch a stiff wind to get the rotor up to speed and off ya go !!

 

Dont forget carb heat below 15" if the conditions warrant, so for you thats basically on all the time !

 

Super congrats....very very cool, you helicopter pilot.

 

Goldy

[Wannabe1]

Tattooed..

 

 

Excellent! Congratulations! How much ballast are you adding under each seat?

[tattooed]

Tattooed..

 

 

Excellent! Congratulations! How much ballast are you adding under each seat?

 

(FYI, R22 in case anyone asks).

 

My CFI added 40 lbs. We flew a ship with a single tank. Worked out well (thanks aclark79!). It was really interesting having the thing set down with the back of the skids 1st. I must admit, it was easier to pick up than to set down.

 

Can't wait for Saturday to do it again!

[tattooed]

Geez, with that little weight, who needs an engine? Just catch a stiff wind to get the rotor up to speed and off ya go !!

 

Dont forget carb heat below 15" if the conditions warrant, so for you thats basically on all the time !

 

Super congrats....very very cool, you helicopter pilot.

 

Goldy

 

 

Oh, and don't think those jokes haven't already made their way around the school.

 

Can't tell you how many times I've heard this one ..... "Gosh, you're the only person I know that can enter an auto and ASCEND!". (no thanks to C.R.O. AND my CFI)

Nice one.

 

 

Admittedly, getting myself to establish a descent rate was alot like entering an auto....full on "lower collective, right pedal". Required rather aggressive inputs to get a response.

 

I'm sure if I didn't have weights I'd still be up there floatin' around like a leaf.

[FlyNHighNFast]

Congrats to you!! Want to trade body weight? LOL

 

Goldy: I thought carb heat was used below 18" not 15," I'm no where near a R-22 at the moment to double check on that.

[tattooed]

Congrats to you!! Want to trade body weight? LOL

 

Goldy: I thought carb heat was used below 18" not 15," I'm no where near a R-22 at the moment to double check on that.

 

 

 

I'm pretty happy with my current "body condition"....LOL

 

 

Yes, it's 18"....at least that's what I have been taught, and what is all over my notes.

Interestingly enough....I did keep my eye on the carb heat throughout my flight, and it really never moved from 20 degrees. So I left the carb heat alone. With my weight, I didn't think I needed to worry much about needing more power, and I thought it'd be best if, for my 1st time alone, I didn't mess with pulling on things!!! So, I just kept checking it during my scan.

[ADRidge]

Beta or BII? Even at 200lbs, one of our Beta II's will do a touch over 1000fpm ascent if you just go by what you were taught to pull instead of seeing how the ship reacts.

 

...and you thought your intro flight gave you the bug. This means it's utterly incurable now. Welcome to the club.

[C.R.O.]

Can't tell you how many times I've heard this one ..... "Gosh, you're the only person I know that can enter an auto and ASCEND!". (no thanks to C.R.O. AND my CFI)

Nice one.

 

Wait, was I just accused of having a sense of humor? That just can't be right.

[Goldy]

Goldy: I thought carb heat was used below 18" not 15," I'm no where near a R-22 at the moment to double check on that.

 

Holy Crap Batman- Yes, major typo..18"

[tattooed]

Yah, I sorta ignored your "15" inches. Wrote it off as a brain fart. Smelly one at that.

[heligirl03]

Hey, you didn't txt me!!!! Yeehaw!!!!

[tattooed]

Hey, you didn't txt me!!!! Yeehaw!!!!

 

 

OMG!!! Sorry girlfriend! Funny, but word gets 'round fast...been inundated with text message from people congratulating me. Makin' me feel purdy special.

 

 

Yup. I "got urr dun".

 

 

My over-achiever of a CFI wants me to do my 2nd supervised and my ramp solo tomorrow, then off to x/c's!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!

[Privateer]

Congrats Yup your hooked now for sure!

[Hovergirl]

Congrats and good job! The more you do, the funner it gets Have fun tomorrow!

 

HVG

[Kelly N.]

 

FINALLY....the weather cooperated and I got my 1st solo in. Been 2 weeks, and I have been mentally ready for it for awhile now. Feels really good to finally do it.

 

 

Hey, major congratulations! I can't wait until I'm there too.

 

One question: In one response you seem to say that you didn' t mess with carb heat because the temp never went below 20*C. We're taught that, downwind abeam on the checks before beginning descent to 300' AGL you always pull full carb heat because, even though the guage may read fine, you could get icing above the butterfly valve at low power settings.

 

Is this the same across all schools? If so, wouldn't you want to pull full carb heat regardless of what the gauge says before descending?

 

If I misunderstood your original statement, my apologies, just trying to understand what you were saying.

 

Once again, congratulations and well done!

 

Thanks,

Kelly

[C.R.O.]

Hey, major congratulations! I can't wait until I'm there too.

 

One question: In one response you seem to say that you didn' t mess with carb heat because the temp never went below 20*C. We're taught that, downwind abeam on the checks before beginning descent to 300' AGL you always pull full carb heat because, even though the guage may read fine, you could get icing above the butterfly valve at low power settings.

 

Is this the same across all schools? If so, wouldn't you want to pull full carb heat regardless of what the gauge says before descending?

 

If I misunderstood your original statement, my apologies, just trying to understand what you were saying.

 

Once again, congratulations and well done!

 

Thanks,

Kelly

 

Kelly,

 

I think that she meant that she left the carb heat full up, and due to her low weight, and being solo, she is unlikely to run out of power.

 

I could be wrong though.

[tattooed]

Kelly,

 

I think that she meant that she left the carb heat full up, and due to her low weight, and being solo, she is unlikely to run out of power.

 

I could be wrong though.

 

 

Yep, C.R.O. is correct....Plus, we didn't have "icing conditions", so keeping carb temp at 15-20 degrees was safe.

My 2nd "logic" on deciding NOT to mess with my carb heat was that on my 1st time out, I didn't want to be pulling on levers by myself.....could have accidentally pulled the wrong thing...like MIXTURE! So, I decided carb temp was well in the safe range both in a hover and aloft....in fact, it really didn't move....AND not needing much power with my pewney butt....I left carb heat in the 3/4 up position.

 

Now YESTERDAY'S SECOND supervised solo was a different story entirely! It was cold, slight breeze, and visible moisture was an UNDERSTATEMENT! Field went IFR before I could kick my instructor out. Had to hold off until the cell passed us.

Then, gave my CFI the ol' "heave-ho", and off I went. You BET I adjusted carb heat with each T/O and approach!

 

 

2nd solo went well. This ship was dual tanks....and it sure made a difference in the pickup and initial hover. ALOT more difficult to pick up....but I did it, quickly corrected myself, stablized my hover, looked at CFI for hand signal, and off I went!

 

Has anyone elsed noticed that (at least during these initial solos) that it's easier to keep your numbers AND keep it in trim? I'm curious as to why? Is it because I"m paying more attention....having that "heightened awareness" since I'm alone and a bit nervous? Or is the R22 easier to control and stabilize with less weight?

[Kelly N.]

Yep, C.R.O. is correct....Plus, we didn't have "icing conditions", so keeping carb temp at 15-20 degrees was safe.

My 2nd "logic" on deciding NOT to mess with my carb heat was that on my 1st time out, I didn't want to be pulling on levers by myself.....could have accidentally pulled the wrong thing...like MIXTURE! So, I decided carb temp was well in the safe range both in a hover and aloft....in fact, it really didn't move....AND not needing much power with my pewney butt....I left carb heat in the 3/4 up position.

 

 

O.k. Cool and thanks so much for the explanation. Definitely understand the desire to simplify things and eliminate potential hazards like pulling the mixture instead of carb heat. Also, the clarification of the conditions helped me understand better as well.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to explain and, again, well done and congratulations!!

 

Kelly

[500E]

Congrats Tatooed great feeling and it gets better every time, the only down side is your a hcj. now, there is no known cure, welcome to penury

[Helidownunder]

Well done Tattooed, thats wonderful - sounds better than my first and second solos - I just wasn't gentle enough and it was like one of this bucking bronco machines! Either my instructor didn't tell me about being off the ground at 16 - 17" instead of 21.5" or I just didn't listen.

 

Getting down was interesting as at 80Kilos I just seemed to float - anyhow well done and look forward to your XC's

 

Out of interest my first solo was actually to do a circuit (pattern? in US talk?), I have read here quite a few people just did a hover taxi around the field and back to where they started - was mine unusual?

[tattooed]

Out of interest my first solo was actually to do a circuit (pattern? in US talk?), I have read here quite a few people just did a hover taxi around the field and back to where they started - was mine unusual?

 

 

Yes, at least at our school we do "patterns". Parallel to one of our 2 r/w's is a taxiway with 3 helipads. This is called "Charlie" pattern. Up to 3 helicopters can be in it practicing maneuvers. We have to request "charlie" from ATC before we take off. For our solos, we 1st need to complete 2 "supervised" solos where we both fly out there, warm up by doing the pattern a few times, then the CFI gets out and gives hand signals for 30 minutes while he listens to you on a hand-held radio. He cannot talk to you, only listen.

 

For your 3rd solo, or "ramp" solo, you do everything from checking out the a/c from dispatch, starting it up, getting clearance from ATC to cross both r/w's into charlie pattern...fly the pattern for about 50 minutes, then request from ATC to return to "ramp". The requirement is 1.0 hours hobbs time.

 

I did my ramp solo today, and it was great! On one t/o, I hit a nasty thermal at about 400', which really bucked me around and spooked me...no biggie though. And later when I req'd to return to HAI (ramp) ATC immediately cleared me "as req'd" so I air taxi'd over there. I heard another call....R44 coming in to the ramp at the same time I was. I watched to see what they were doing, and I decided to just hover in a nearby taxiway and wait for them to land on the dolly. I honestly wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing or not, but I figured I was out of everyone's way, there were no f/w's in the area wants to taxi...so.....I kept waiting until the 44 landed (turned out to be our very own C.R.O and choppedair from this forum).

Other than that, I think it went VERY well.

 

So, now I'm free to do my x/c's. I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!!!

[Copterpilot213]

Congrats Tat! I knew you could do it, glad you got over that hurdle. How sweet it is!