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Often, NOT ALWAYS, I find that high time fixed wing pilots starting with their initial helicopter license have this “I’ll show you how it’s done” attitude. To put it a bit simpler there is not much you can teach some of them about helicopter flying. I agree that some basic flying principals are the same but I personally believe helicopter flying is a more versatile academic and therefore requires a different mindset than fixed wing flying.

Recently such a high time fixed wing pilot started his initial helicopter training but much to my surprise his attitude was completely different than I expected. He basically started the course as a complete novice from his point of view and sucked up every bit of information that was given to him. He constantly reads books about helicopter technical and aerodynamics and asks questions non stop.

To use another example, a particular student has been struggling with certain concepts involving helicopter flying for some time. Out of the blue his flying skills improved overnight. When I asked him what made the difference, initially thinking he stole the helicopter after hours and practiced, he simply stated that he changed his whole mindset about flying. In his case instead of analyzing and interpreting every movement the helicopter made he decided to fly with his gut feel (seat of the pants). Jokingly I said to him that is what we were trying to tell him from the start but to put the response in his own words: “I had to sit and think and change my outlook (mindset) over a couple of days”.

I often think students have this perception that when it comes to flying, initially anyway, that you can put on your flying cap when you walk through the flying school door and take it off when you leave again, and that no further thinking (flying in your mind) is necessary. I remember when I started flying how often I use to fly a particular sequence over and over in my mind, trying to understand what the instructor said before I go to sleep. I’m not saying you must eat, drink and sleep flying but I do believe that the mind (or mindset for that matter) plays a very important role when you do your initial flying course.

Happy Flying
info@askharryhelicopter.com
http://www.harry-helicopter-training-syllabus.com

Harry_Cameron

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