Chuck Aaron - Red Bull Helicopter Pilot

Meet Chuck Aaron, the only pilot in the U.S. approved to to aerobatics in a helicopter! We talked with him at the Wings Over Houston Airshow to get the story on WHY in the heck would he do something like that!
This story was produced and edited by Baylor Univ. Senior Film & Digital Media student Rhett Gill. We enjoyed working with him this semester!

[@HGR693]

Great interview and a pilot who has his act together!! Nice job! Thankx

[@Slaktrax]

Charley Zimmermann was doing this in a stock (German) military Bo-105C thirty-odd years ago. Google the name.

[@kennethhowell5291]

Miracle man! Thank you for the video!

[@jennifercaresssmith7956]

I love it! Thank you for kind words on Tom Cruise!! You're an Angel. Stay safe stay awesome xoxoxo

[@oregonflatland]

20,000 pilot hours achievement unlocked: Epic mustache

[@jsieg16]

Hahahaha

[@vinyltapelover]

Chris "Epic mustache" for sure. It should be noted in his log book:)

[@c.e.benson3263]

My family is friends with him....WILD MAN!! GREAT GUY !! ❤ POLLY BROWN AND PATSY LARSON MCELHANEY....SAY HEY !

[@damien-paulgriffon4772]

royal air force display team with westland lyinx helicopter has been doing the same thing for years, so he is an impressive pilot but he is not the only one doing this

[@LiveAirShowTV]

Remember, while you may have just discovered this video, it was produced 6 years ago.

[@USCFlash]

This may seem like a dumb question....I know this is a seriously modified chopper and everything, and i certainly know very little about helicopters, but wouldn't something like the new MD530 (or a military type little bird version), which is smaller and quicker and probably more maneuverable, be better for doing even more daring acrobatics? I am certainly not trying to insult Chuck Aaron or any other great helicopter pilots, i Just am confused about why a seemingly faster smaller more agile and maneuverable helicopter, would not be better to do all these amazing things?

[@lessevdoolbretsim]

Chuck's voice sounds exactly like Kurt Russell.

[@cwli1]

Cool. What about the helicopter pilot in “The Spy Who Loved Me”?

[@AndrejPodzimek]

Can this aircraft set a negative blade pitch and hover inverted? It looks like all the tricks are done with a positive or near neutral lift. That makes me curious whether a full-size helicopter can actually hover inverted like RC models do - and if not, then why. :-)

[@jmdesertadventures803]

Andrej Podzimek Full size helicopters can't hover inverted because the blades aren't stiff enough to sustain negative g's they have the tendency to flex down and collide with the tail boom, Chuck can perform these manuvers because there is always positive g on the main rotor. A RC helicopter has relatively stiff blades since they are much smaller and spinning at much higher rpms.

[@ThemBlinkingLights]

Blades flexing is not the problem. When a rotor is spinning the centrifugal force makes flexible blades stiff. It is the control system that makes inverted flight not possible. All helicopter's collective control, the one used by the left hand which controls the rotor's thrust, are designed that when put full down the blades are put at the angle needed to allow the rotor to enter autorotation. To make a control system that could handle the range of motion needed and allow for safe autorotation entry is the reason for not being able to sustain inverted flight. The weight of the system would be a huge factor also. Weight is always an issue for aircraft but especially helicopters. With fly-by-wire systems it may be possible that a system may be designed. RC helicopters do not have the safety aspect that a person carrying helicopter requires so their control system is not limited. Also the type of rotor system is a huge factor. The BO 105 has a rigid rotor, one bearing to change blade pitch while the blades flex for all other helicopter aerodynamics that take place, which has strong control authority even in low G. Which allows for its maneuverability. Most people would be surprised at what helicopter types have done loops and rolls.

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

If designed to yes. As his Helicopter has upgrades that allow him to do these stunts...I might cost a fortune. But Red Bull has deep pockets...

[@rahilahmad3070]

Dear Mr chuck I have send this question to some other helicopter pilots as well and yet they did not reply to my answer I think you know the best since you are the best helicopter pilot in the USA. So I am really looking forward to get my answer so if anyone else does not reply please can you find out for me and inform please thanks.

[@josephramirez557]

What did it cost to build a modified helicopter like that one? My guess is at least 2mil maybe 3...

[@LelouchViBritania0904]

Its not rly modified except for the cockpit but for the most part its just a Normal Bo105 CBS

[@Jonas889665]

@@LelouchViBritania0904 That's wrong. The entire lubrication system got changed and customized in order to guarantee proper lubrication while flying upside down.

[@dellanirachang3975]

Chuck I want you to train me!!! How do I get a hold of you?

[@askjt8090]

I could teach you! Anyone could! To to a roll, take off, get to a suitable altitude and pull the cyclic to the left or right! To do a backflip, pull the cyclic towards you. Vice versa for a front flip.

[@bobsugrue2983]

I saw a venison pilot here in New Zealand over 20 years ago do barrel roll and a loop the loop in a D-model 500 but he had 20-30,000 hours of real high risk type flying and by god he could throw that machine around so it can be done but not recommended

[@treadlightly6427]

My only question is how does the helicopter take off with his massive balls on board?

[@rahilahmad3070]

I have a important question is there any kind of organisation that assesses the different helicopter schools around the world or USA alone and gives annual ranking to the helicopter schools just like some do for universities? if so please tell me i live in the united kingdom so that is why i wrote in my question first that if there is any kind of ranking organisation that does around the world.

[@LiveAirShowTV]

Excellent question Rahil. Let's see if anyone chimes in here before I can get some more info.

[@josmith4531]

you flight training experience will depend on your flight instructor, their experience and personality. and not being in a hurry to complete the required instruction in the least amount of time. in a big school your flight time will likely be more regimented and the least required to get certified.

[@3204clivesinclair]

“He is the only pilot in the world who does air show aerobatics with a helicopter”. Not true. Many pilots have done ‘flips’ and rolls in a helicopter UK Army Air Corps display team Lynx pilots for example.

[@thefreedomwarrior]

Clive Sinclair True. But they are not allowed to in the USA. FAA and all that. Cheers, Chap.

[@Chris-ui5ju]

American bubble : The US is the "the world"

[@biggie_cheese1067]

That’s my uncle lol

[@Greggspies]

Sounds OK, but can he re-felt a shed roof?

[@LelouchViBritania0904]

Hes not the only one in the World how can do this

[@kuznebzov]

Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm Bo_105..👍👍👍👍

[@theosaayman632]

fly with the best uncle that's a b 105 do it with the lynx that's flying wanna see u in combat flying apache saluut

[@jakepittman9818]

Big deal, barrel rolls, I wonder if he can longline.. . . . . . Doubt it.

[@vinyltapelover]

Jake Pittman What is a longline and have you performed such a manuever yourself? The only thing I could find relevant to "longline " is the[Patent number US3724817] Long line loiter technique which would be used by fixed wing aircraft: A unique technique for remotely locating a mass tethered by means of a tow-line to a fixed wing aircraft in a loiter position over, or on a selected target by initially forming the tethered tow line into a long loop preferably by use of a high drag device, while the mass is held within the aircraft, and subsequently free falling the mass from the aircraft to its remote, loiter position on target, while the aircraft is engaged in an on-pylon circling maneuver to thereby stall the line.

[@jakobseidl5523]

Siegfried "Blacky" Schwarz is better!!!! He´s an Austrian pilot.

[@jamesholt7340]

Cant be that hard,just pull bavk until ot goes over then ride it out...He just just says that so nobody else tries it...ill do it ,i aint skeered...

[@josmith4531]

James Holt if you helicopter won't break!

[@rlondon1958]

I taught Chuck how to fly choppers, he was a horrible student...

[@vinyltapelover]

rocco London "...he[Chuck] was a horrible student..." . And your point is??? A similar thing was said of Einstein who failed Mathematics. Sometimes student learning can be affected by lack of interest or motivation or by inadequate teaching methods of instructors or a combination of all the above. Curious how well these gentlemen did, as they got older and matured. Is that not something to applaud and celebrate?

[@jetfueljp4]

He's a super nice guy met I'm at the KC airshow last year. He gave my daughter a hug and signed a picture card for her.

[@treadlightly6427]

That's badass!

[@Mr_Exterminator828]

Only pilot in the world which does airshow aerobatics with a helicopter?? is that a joke? what about the Sigi "Blacky" Schwarz in Europe flying the same aircraft and actually doing better aerobatics on it than Chuck Aaron.

[@KKM57P]

Wilke was Scharwz’s and Aaron’s aerobatic instructor.

[@Mr_Exterminator828]

KKM57P And? He is not the only pilot doing aerobatics on the Helicopter.There is many pilots doing helicopter aerobatics...

[@LiveAirShowTV]

Exterminator, the description says "only pilot in the U.S". Beyond that, whether someone is better than another is a subjective view. I have not seen Blacky fly. I'm sure he's amazing. This video was produced to showcase Chuck and what he does. Thanks for watching.

[@Mr_Exterminator828]

0:26 Oh really? I know that Every American don't even know that there are other countries apart from US but come on people doing commentary on this video should know it...

[@maximorlov9081]

LOL My favourite US propaganda! Watch this German do aerobotic stunts: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omaQoYefbKyZbKM

[@DocRockTheDj]

Hey! Can someone hold my beer while I slam down a Red Bull and try to fly this helicopter? If I wasn't so damm dyslexic I could fly this thing straight and true! 😁

[@joelrausch4824]

This guy is due...

[@UKTroll]

What about the Blue Eagles and the Black Cats - the British Army Air Corps and Royal Navy Helicopter Display Teams? They both do aerobatics. Even the Royal Air Force do limited aerobatics with their Chinook Display Team. Sadly, the really good aerobatics were done when the Lynx was in service. Not only does it still hold the world speed record, but you could throw it aeround the sky like there was no tomorrow, including upside down!

[@rahilahmad3070]

Dear Mr Chuck Aaron I really want your opinion on what you think is the best helicopter school in the USA or at least one of the best ones in the USA and in which USA state those helicopter schools are based in.

[@edwardlewandowski5473]

🌹✋🌟

[@renelaplanche]

aaron please stop de parler avec le diable

[@vinyltapelover]

"Hes not the only one in the World how can do this". The description got it more correct, back in 2j014. Maybe there others now, in 2020. If folks noted, in the video, during an air show demonstration, the air show announcer, for that time frame, got it right also. The individual that did the voice over for the video conveyed the wrong information. Why not get on him for the inaccuracy? That would seem to be a more proactive way to address an error.

[@LiveAirShowTV]

vinyl, this video was produced in 2014. At that time he WAS the only one doing this type of flying. It was NOT an error at that time. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@vinyltapelover]

@@LiveAirShowTV👍

[@shLSS]

@@LiveAirShowTV I'm sorry, but this not correct. Reiner Wilke, who is with the flying bulls, too, has been doing this stuff for quiete some time.

[@wesleymccurtain166]

LOVE IT!!!!!

[@maximorlov9081]

Redbull is dangerous!