My first helicopter solo - Cabri G2

Join me in the cockpit as I get sent to fly the Cabri G2 solo for the first time!
Help support the channel: / themicropilot
For info on helicopter training in the UK visit: www.flyheli.co.uk
It was the 16th of March 2020 just before the Corona Virus sent us all into lockdown. The conditions were good enough that once we had finished circuit training at Leicester Airport my flying instructor decided I was competent enough to go and fly the Cabri G2 Helicopter on my own solo for the first time! Hopefully, once we come out of lockdown, I will be able to complete my PPL (H) and move onto studying my CPL (H) with ATPL and IR theory.
Disclaimer:
I am not a flying instructor so my video content is for pleasure only and not to be used for training as editing removes context. Be aware some flight-critical checks and radiotelephony may have been edited out but are always completed on the actual flight. All video content is my own, or it falls under KZbin's fair use policy and music used has been downloaded from either the KZbin music library or Epidemic Sound where I have a KZbin subscription!

[@BenAtkinsonVideos]

Congratulations Tom - never forget my first solo in the skyranger and I’m sure you’ll be no different with this. Nicely put together vid too mate

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks pal, hope you're doing well!

[@musoseven8218]

Ben Atkinson BTW are either of you flying at the moment or is that in lockdown too?

[@jreilly3041]

"I'd love to do one by myself".... Instantly re adjust knee board paper work for no reason **😂👍👍 Well done mate!! Bang on 👍👍

[@TheMicroPilot]

Haha thanks! I was making sure it won't get in the way as it sometimes can when I have the cyclic in a more left position.

[@RoryOnAir]

Very nicely flown Tom. 🚁 You had a nice bright day for it too. I’m very much looking forward to doing my solo Nav flights and land-aways once we’re allowed out again. Stay safe. 👍

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks mate, same!

[@ForFunFlyer]

Nice, well done! Congratulations! 👍🏻

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you!

[@user-ei2nt2qd2b]

Excellent vid. really shows what its like. you looked well prepared and calm.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you!

[@regwatson2017]

"We'll go back for tea and medals I think"......my kind of instructor !

[@JodelFlyer]

Well done Tom. Congratulations on the solo and a great video.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks! it was great fun.

[@jasonrwilkinson9216]

Congrats on your first heli solo!

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you!

[@philipgledhill7227]

Philip says brilliant congratulations on your first solo buddy. I wish it was me.philip is interested in learning to be a pilot it might be me one day. Take care buddy and have a brilliant Christmas phil.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks Phil nice of you to say!

[@flybe146]

Congratulations my man very well done!! Judging by that time I tried to have ago with a chopper at Shoreham, there is no way I could have done that, mind you I am quite good with the other sort of chopper "the bedroom chopper" (according to the Mrs) LOL, Did you say or mention something about auto carb heat? How does that work then, we don't have that on fixed wing or at least not on the stuff I flew. I take it you will still be flying Micros as well won't' you.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks mate! I'm still in the process of fully understanding the systems onboard but the aircraft's system is very clever and knows where the carb heat needs to be to keep it in the green so it adjusts hot or cold as required. We can fly manually selecting hot or cold. I will get back into my microlight stuff once flying helicopters is my day to day career to change it up a little (and when there is some spare money once I get into a job haha).

[@musoseven8218]

Well done matey! What a fab journey! Tea and medals indeed! Poor instructor, stood out in the cold! LOL! Is it a bit easier RT wise and procedurally etc, having been a fixed wing pilot first? Also the left button on the cyclic is that trim? Loved the diagrams, schematics and the like - helpful.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you and more than welcome. Aviation videos are much better the more info that's presented as you can get a better picture of what's going on! Yes definitely makes it easier. For one, you don't get nervous about talking on the radio and any extra previous knowledge helps free some mental capacity when trying to learn how to fly the heli.

[@musoseven8218]

The MicroPilot I understand, one less thing to think about (RT etc) - thanks, interesting insight. BTW is that left button on the cyclic the trim?

[@AlbaSkies]

Congratulations! Great to see what’s behind the dark arts of paraffin palm trees.

[@felixwilson5130]

Awesome video mate and a massive congratulations!!!!!!!!! Out of interest is the cyclic always that juddery? And if so why is that? Something to do with some engine vibrations I'd imagine? Just something I noticed. Thanks mate, all the best

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks mate! It varies really, I realized that it actually looks worse on camera as you don't massively notice it whilst flying and yes, all heli's have at least some more pronounced vibration than your average fixed-wing will!

[@felixwilson5130]

@@TheMicroPilot Interesting stuff. Thanks mate

[@aidbon9850]

How tf do you trim a helicopter when you have both hands in use?!?! Flying a helicopter looks so difficult, congratulations man!!

[@TheMicroPilot]

Haha thanks, we have an electronic trim for both pitch and roll in the form of a hat switch on the cyclic where my thumb rests.

[@patu5798]

The vibration through the cyclic looks a lot more than normal ?

[@TheMicroPilot]

I didn't note anything unusually abnormal, might have been my nerves making me a little more twitchy on the cyclic and the chest mounted camera always makes it look worse than it is.

[@helicopterdeeznuts]

​@@TheMicroPilot That helicopter definitely had too much vibration in the cyclic. May have been felt in the collective too. Likely a bit out of RTB (rotor track & balance) and/or indicating a problem with the lead/lag dampers. I'd be a little more cautious of that in the future. If it was still able to auto good, it may not be too big of a deal but it can cause ground resonance in an articulated rotor system with an ips that high. Great work though!

[@zubairahmed3280]

What's solo mean here is two person

[@TheMicroPilot]

Later on in the video my instructor leaves me to then go fly by myself

[@WConn100]

Well done. I passed my PPL Helicopter one year ago today. Had a commercial fixed wing airplane, glider and seaplane, the helicopter is an entirely different skill set.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Well congrats on your first year flying a heli and thanks!

[@Official_Infern]

First comment

[@grahammills8733]

Congrats. Remember my first solo (in a G2 as well) like it was yesterday! Currently sitting out the lockdown and was looking out at amazing weather all last week wishing l could get back up there.

[@TheMicroPilot]

I know, last week was the worst for pilots haha

[@flyingkub]

Brilliant! Reminds me of me one and only solo in a Bell 27G4, I joined the RAF, which stopped me going on with my Helicopter flying, that said I still managed a few hours with my father (he flew for Bristows).

[@RonnWaters]

Congrats! I remember my solo in the TH-55. My IP just jumped out and said "Don't break my aircraft". My face hurt from grinning.

[@amandakellib]

Congrats! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@r0bbyr0b98]

Great video and congratulations! I live on the south coast and going to start my PPL-H in the next few months (if we are all ever allowed out) at Bournemouth Airport. It was really helpful to see what a first solo actually looks like - thank you.

[@flyingscotsman5032]

Well done Tom, great work and fantastic video!

[@Official_Infern]

Micro can I be a moderator for live chat? I'm a mod for 5 already and u can tell me everything u don't want in your chat

[@TheMicroPilot]

Not too sure, private DM me on Instagram about it

[@Official_Infern]

@@TheMicroPilot I don't have insta or any of them? Phone won't let install big apps like that

[@cylindrical_1058]

I came down to leicester about a week ago down that taxiway seen at 1:31 on my QXC as part of my PPL in the cessna before everything shut down. Great video - helicopters look fun. Good watch. Cheers

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thanks pal, hope your QXC went ok!

[@tonyradford6274]

Very nice video! Here's a poem I wrote right after my first solo flight a few years ago. Solo Flight The day is just right for companion-less flight, winds are calm with no clouds in the sky, the critical gear has received the “all clear” - now she’s fueled and deemed ready-to-fly. The mixture’s full-rich, I confirm that the pitch will adjust as I move the controls - and the tach isn’t fazed as collective is raised, since the grip automatically rolls. I pull it up slow - wonder which way she’ll go until finally she’s light on the skids - then I counter the yaw and correct for the draw that could lead to what safety forbids. She lists to the side as collective’s applied, ‘cause the fuel weighs a bit more than me - but the wonderful gift of additional lift makes the earth set the two of us free. It’s hard to describe what it feels like to ride on a cushion just feet from the ground in an aerial sled - as the blades overhead beat the air with a thunderous sound. The pound of my heart when I’m cleared to depart, makes me wonder if all that I’ve learned will ensure I survive, that I’ll get back alive - still intact when my flight is adjourned. I know I’ve progressed and that leaving the nest is a ritual all must transcend, but I find it profound that there’s no one around, if I panic - that might be the end! I start on my roll with the cyclic control, get in trim with the help of a string, then I push for the shift to translational lift and I climb like a bird on the wing. I’m really content with my rate of ascent, it’s much faster than any before - the reduction in crew makes this R22 fly a lot like an R44. I’ve reached AGL in my flying gazelle and the tower has cleared me to land - I’ve already seen that the gauges are green and the cyclic is firmly in hand. I reach by my seat and I pull in some heat so my rotors continue to spin - then I pilot my coach onto final approach and the two of us softly descend. I try to be neat with my hands and my feet, keep her straight ‘till we come to a stop, and I’m back to the stand where my journey began - the experience - over the top. My memory’s tossed to the hurdles I’ve crossed and the times I was ready to quit - the tasks I assailed and consistently failed, and a few that I hate to admit. This tunnel has light that is barely in sight and there’s no turning back now for me - I’ll stay on this course if it leads to divorce, but a pilot - I’m destined to be!

[@TheMicroPilot]

Haha thanks, that's awesome! I couldn't write a poem to save my life haha.

[@stephenashby9858]

Fantastic solo, very impressive! I did 11 hours years ago, sadly no more….

[@charleshannant252]

Great video! I am planning for a PPL(H) this year and I cant wait.

[@JoeRichardson02]

Very nicely done! Congrats and best of luck with the rest of your training.

[@TheMicroPilot]

Thank you, will be ok once we're not in isolation!