Comments on: I Dry Cherries http://www.marialanger.com/2008/07/02/i-dry-cherries/ Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:42:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Maria Langer http://www.marialanger.com/2008/07/02/i-dry-cherries/#comment-111435 Maria Langer Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:27:00 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2008/07/02/i-dry-cherries/#comment-111435 It's the crosswinds that really get you when you're moving slowly. Robinson helicopters have <em>excellent</em> tail rotor authority so I'm spoiled. (I do recall being in a serious LTE situation landing a Bell Long Ranger in a crosswind at the Grand Canyon some years ago; Bells have notoriously poor tail rotor authority.) One of the other pilots on the radio as I was flying Tuesday warned his fellow pilot that he needed "full pedal" on his Sikorsky to make a turn. I never got into a situation like that. I didn't get into helicopters for the glamor, although I know plenty of pilots who did. I enjoy the technical aspects of flying. This was a challenge, but not one beyond my capabilities. It actually got boring for about 5 minutes and I wished I had my iPod along. But dodging obstructions and making creative turns and just finding the darn orchard blocks kept things interesting. I really do look forward to doing this again. It's this kind of work -- agricultural and utility -- where a helicopter pilot can actually earn some decent money, too. The glamor stuff -- tours, air-taxi, etc. -- generally pays pretty poorly, likely because it doesn't require much skill or patience and you never get dirty. It’s the crosswinds that really get you when you’re moving slowly. Robinson helicopters have excellent tail rotor authority so I’m spoiled. (I do recall being in a serious LTE situation landing a Bell Long Ranger in a crosswind at the Grand Canyon some years ago; Bells have notoriously poor tail rotor authority.) One of the other pilots on the radio as I was flying Tuesday warned his fellow pilot that he needed “full pedal” on his Sikorsky to make a turn. I never got into a situation like that.

I didn’t get into helicopters for the glamor, although I know plenty of pilots who did. I enjoy the technical aspects of flying. This was a challenge, but not one beyond my capabilities. It actually got boring for about 5 minutes and I wished I had my iPod along. But dodging obstructions and making creative turns and just finding the darn orchard blocks kept things interesting. I really do look forward to doing this again.

It’s this kind of work — agricultural and utility — where a helicopter pilot can actually earn some decent money, too. The glamor stuff — tours, air-taxi, etc. — generally pays pretty poorly, likely because it doesn’t require much skill or patience and you never get dirty.

]]> By: Greybeard http://www.marialanger.com/2008/07/02/i-dry-cherries/#comment-111425 Greybeard Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:29:59 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2008/07/02/i-dry-cherries/#comment-111425 Downwind turns are a b***h at that altitude, aren't they Maria? Thank God for Frank Robinson's muscular tail rotors! Here in the Midwest in Spring when temps drop below freezing we frequently are called to hover over peach trees to draw warmer air down into orchards and save the buds that become fruit. So to your list of dangers, add darkness and drowsiness while flying the final hours before the sun rises. So much for the glamour of flying helicopters, huh? (I linked to ya.) Greybeards last blog post..<a href="http://pitchpull.blogspot.com/2008/07/once-eagle.html" rel="nofollow">Once An Eagle</a> Downwind turns are a b***h at that altitude, aren’t they Maria?
Thank God for Frank Robinson’s muscular tail rotors!
Here in the Midwest in Spring when temps drop below freezing we frequently are called to hover over peach trees to draw warmer air down into orchards and save the buds that become fruit. So to your list of dangers, add darkness and drowsiness while flying the final hours before the sun rises.

So much for the glamour of flying helicopters, huh?
(I linked to ya.)

Greybeards last blog post..Once An Eagle

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