EP 13 Do You Fly Experimental Helicopters?

[@tomsled9617]

I have been following you guys for a while and saw you are doing this episode today. I am a retired Army helicopter pilot class 69-13 (June 1969). I learned to fly in the Army, helicopters first and went to the "real flying school of hard knocks" Vietnam end of June 1969. Many, many years latter, I was one of the first to build a Turbine powered Helicycle and after the FAA inspection by the head of the CA, San Jose FISDO, she had her first flight on the EXACT 100 year anniversary of flight 12/09/2003 @ 10:39 AM. I have flown 9 different helicopter types, the Helicycle is the MOST responsive & agile helicopter I have ever flown. It cost me about $38,500.oo total to build with radio, transponder, GPS and all. (I think the price is now around $58,000.oo). I sold "Two-To-Tango" several years ago to build a fixed-wing (REALLY wish I would have kept her) last I heard she has over 1,700 Hours and still going strong. I did a web site of my 2 years of construction to help other builders: www.helibuilder.net/ Here are some starts and flights, there are many on KZbin. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZyXZnx3qLN6mK8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6ucpZStbbOsaMU

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for sharing your experience with everyone Tom!

[@clarencewatson6226]

Your out of San Jose? Awesome!!!

[@devildogkilo]

Hey Tom, I’m near you in the East Bay. Definitely going to pick your brain on this one.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Great stuff, guys! As a mechanic of anything with an engine, I can say that any time someone else has worked on my cars repairing, replacing, or adjusting things that were outside my area of expertise (body work & paint, front & rear glass, and alignments), they screwed something up, or didn't take the time to do things the way I would - EVERY time. I've had my wipers and trim broken by windshield installers, awful buff jobs with swirl marks everywhere with broken interior switches and panels, and countless issues with front-end alignments (loose toe adjustment collars, loose camber bolts, tools left on the adjusting nuts/bolts, crooked steering wheel, etc.). With all that in the back of my mind, I would buy a Mosquito in kit form brand new, and build it myself - that would be the only way I'd feel 100% safe in it. If I bought a used one, I'd have to tear EVERYTHING down and inspect it to have that same comfort level. If I ever was able to buy a certified aircraft, it would pain me to have to pay someone else to do ALL the work to it. I'd have to get an A&P rating (more time, more $$$). I'm just thankful I didn't send my wife commuting 65 miles to work down a MA highway with adjusting collars the alignment shop failed to tighten! I can only imagine what would've happened if she had brought the car there on her own, and just drove it trusting the shop did everything right ...

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for sharing.

[@grevis101]

Hi guys, great channel. On this subject having had a go in a Mosquito myself there is another point you may not have thought of. The Mosquito is a great toy for those that want to do some flying for fun, but it has so much power on tap for its weight that it just doesn't compare with other certified small helicopters, and so the owners could get bad habits when it comes to power management. Hop from a Mosquito to a Cabri or R22 with 2 people and lots of fuel on board, or other machines operating commercially with heavy loads and the inexperienced pilot could easily get caught out. So its maybe not just hours, its the experience gained operating those commercial machines closer to their operating limits that may have more importance. Havent been in a Rotorway but it might be more comparable to other commercial machines so skills in that might carry over better (and Safari too).

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for sharing

[@danb715]

Hi Kenny how much is the flying hand Book is and I like the video and I think it is safe to land Kim

[@HelicopterGround]

You can download the Helicopter Flying Handbook for free at www.faa.gov.

[@lookingforwookiecopilot]

I flew an experimental R22 once (had a digital sign attached underneath). It couldn't take two in that configuration, so my first flight in it was solo, at night, and I had to spiral it up to 3,000' (in a rural area) then fly over the field (once I found it again) so the owner could see how readable it was from that height. I won't lie, it was a bit rickety feeling and I was a little nervous watching that mesh of metal and lights bob up and down at bit (my door was off),...but overall, it was a fun flight. Would love to fly a Helicycle,...if I ever get the opportunity.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for sharing.

[@lookingforwookiecopilot]

@@eddyriley2055 With the sign attached it was considered experimental,...even had paperwork under the seat for it. Remove the sign though,...and you're back to being certified. ,...but yes, with that sign on, I was kind of a ginny pig.

[@devildogkilo]

They are nice and relatively cheap.. But no maintenance requirements to FAA standard. I prefer an aircraft that is regulated to a standard for both pilot and aircraft.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting Clarence

[@truestory3307]

Unfortunately everyone takes shortcuts Certified or not

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting.

[@gilkennedy7638]

Some Private pilot on a budget own an experimental so they can save money by doing there maintenance and repair, if done right there is no problem with that. The problem is a commercial pilot on a budget that do not like to wrench or have no interest in mechanic and want to get an experimental to save money$. So lets be honest here ! Just saying :)

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting.

[@gilkennedy7638]

@@HelicopterGround I appreciate your honesty when you say " I don't want to comment on experimental because I don't know to much about it " It gave you a lot of credibility, and just make me want to follow your chanel on other thing that you know about.

[@clarencewatson6226]

Awesome video Kenny and Chris. I remember asking Kenny this question during Coffee With Kenny. I met two Experimental owners who added six pack, ADSB and Comms to their aircraft so they are in compliance. But I’m like you, unless it’s a certified IA/AP, not sure I’m going to have 💯 in the airworthiness.

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for commenting Clarence.

[@stephen5147]

I have 14,000 hrs fixed wing turbine, and 1000 hr fixed wing piston... turbines are much simpler to fly. Don't understand why there's such an emphasis on turbine time? You can adapt to a turbine very quickly. Of course, turbine aircraft have much more complicated systems, so maybe that's the logic?

[@HelicopterGround]

We agree!

[@labeachgeek]

Experimental vs Certified (both used). Like buying a used car from somebody's yard vs Certified pre-owned... Either way you better do your research 🙂 . Can park a car on side of road, they frown when you park a Helo on side of the road. 😏

[@HelicopterGround]

Thanks for the feedback Beach Geek!