Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (Full Version)

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Mike545 -> Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/6/2008 10:59:17 AM)

I fly airplanes and helicopters, my thought is if i want to be a good copter pilot does flying planes help or hurt? The reason i say this is that i went flying planes this sunday and got confused. and took a soil sample. Yes they are same but different. ideas?



HeliTB -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/6/2008 12:10:00 PM)

Mike545...There are many pilots at my local flying field that can do both in the same day with no problem. The problem I see or better yet the thing you need to keep in mind is this.

A plane can be flown with aileron/elevator and no rudder or elevator/rudder and no aileron or all three.
A helicopter must flown with all three.

New airplane pilots who fly helis teach themselves a bad habit of flying the plane with aileron/elevator and no rudder. The heli needs the rudder to be flown to get the tail around unless you fly in non-AVCS (heading hold) mode. The airplane only flies in one direction, well supposedly, while a heli can be flown in many directions. Typically heli pilots have no problem transitioning to planes where as the other is little difficult.

My advice would be to fly the tail(rudder) on your plane to ensure when you switch to your heli you are still flying rudder.



evan-RCU -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/6/2008 3:40:20 PM)

I fly both, usually take both on the same day. I see how confusion could happen as sometimes I have problem going from hotliners to gliders because of where the crow and flaps are. With helos i have them all set up the same so I have no/ minimal confusion. I've been flying planes consistantly for 40 years and helos on and off for 32 though.



redvtr1000 -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/6/2008 3:52:19 PM)

I fly both as well and don't have much problems switching between the two but everything HeliTB said rings very true. My plane skills haven't had much of an effect on my heli abilities in opposition I think heli skills spill right back into the planes. Flying fixed wing stuff is pretty straight forward going back to them after flying just helis for a while alot of fun because there really is not much stress for me.




BarracudaHockey -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/6/2008 5:20:13 PM)

There's a few bad habits airplane pilots need to break and I usually encourage long time plank pilots to put the airplanes up for a couple of weeks till they establish the minimum helicopter skill set, then its easy to switch back and forth.

I take a whole suburban full to the field every week, helis, airplanes, even a glider.



Mike545 -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/7/2008 12:42:01 AM)

thanks guys for all the input, i just got to fly more, pure and simple



archiebald -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/7/2008 7:04:36 AM)

The only problem I have with flying both is that I find planks too easy.

Don't get me wrong, I am no expert but what I mean is, with a plank I can take-off and bumble around the sky while having a conversation with someone, putting on / taking off gloves / hat etc. and I find myself getting too relaxed and complacent.

Then, when I get my helis out of the car I have to remind myself to switch on the rest of my brain because it needs 100% concentration.

Oddly, that makes flying helis more relaxing because I find that I have to purge my brain of all the week's hassles before taking off and getting my pilot mind-set in gear.



blvdbuzzard -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/7/2008 3:10:53 PM)

I fly anything I can. I went flying with (2) 30 sized nitro helicopters, (2) 450 sized electric helicopters, (4) electric park flyers, Goldberg Chipmunk, Goldberg Cub, YS63 powered pattern plane, .10 sized ugly stick, E powered wanderer 72.

I find that if I fly just one type of aircraft for a long time it is hard to switch. But if you fly several types all the time, the switch becomes easer. It is liek when you practice long and hard on the sim to learn, say inverted hovering tail in, then you try to hove normal but nose in. It takes a few seconds for your brain to switch to what your are doing now.

Try going from a nitro helicopter to a 7 oz parkflyer. Your brain does freak a little. Believe it or not after 3 1/2 days of camping/flying I came home all but 2 aircraft. I lost (1) nitro heli and a parkfler.


Dru.



Big feet -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/7/2008 10:34:28 PM)

Hi,
I fly both and started with planes. After 16 years of planes I started helis 2 years ago. My thoughts are these,
A heli pilot that has never flown planes learns to hover, then they move onto forward flight. This is where the plane pilot that takes up helis ( like me) has a considerable advantage. I was used to seeing my model fly through the air at high speeds with little to no nerves, the new heli pilot has to make the break through of pushing the stick forward and causing forward flight. This must be extremely difficult.



tadawson -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/7/2008 11:32:28 PM)

I kinda did the best of both worlds . . . . learned to hover, and then got a Zagi and learned FFF on a basically indestructable airframe, and then FFF with the heli was no big deal. (Pior to that, I had the same problem you describe - too much pucker factor, and knowing that I was looking at a $1000+ potential *thud*.) And as far as planes go, the first three times around on a "real" plane was in a 20+ MPH crosswind, and I just greased all the landings . . .

I think the heli skills (especially flying the rudder) carry a lot better back to planes than the other way around, but there is still some transfer of skills and orientations in FFF from plane to heli.

- Tim



Mike545 -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/8/2008 1:44:41 AM)

my biggest problem is when i use rudder, ill give rt alerion and for some reason left hand gives left rudder, instead of rt rudder, hmmm



Zelatio -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/12/2008 11:13:10 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Big feet

Hi,
the new heli pilot has to make the break through of pushing the stick forward and causing forward flight. This must be extremely difficult.


I have been flying a Blade CP and CX for about two years on and off now, and I still have only once flown in FFW with my CP. I find it terribly difficult to get it going. I know I can do it, I've spent ten times more hours on G3 than in real life, I know the movements. And once I got into FFW I was really comfortable. But I like to just watch my not wrecked heli hover.

I went to my local flying club and was just watching the guys fly, and once I got to know them I got the chance to fly a small foamie plane. I spent tons of time with planes on the sim too, but once I got to fly it in real life, it was like a heli. I was like, "Noooo, stop moving forward!!!" But it was a blast and I hope to get a foamie soon.



Mike545 -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/13/2008 12:58:36 AM)

i hate to say it, im starting to like copters more than planes, for the mechanical side of them. i still like war birds but now im up to 5 copters, nitro ones.



[]TEX[] -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/13/2008 1:03:44 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike545

I fly airplanes and helicopters, my thought is if i want to be a good copter pilot does flying planes help or hurt? The reason i say this is that i went flying planes this sunday and got confused. and took a soil sample. Yes they are same but different. ideas?

Sounds like you need more practice flying planks. I fly both, never had an issue since I remember that I am flying one or the other.

Does one hurt the other? No, practice more.



Mike545 -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/13/2008 1:07:38 AM)

i can fly planes ok, just starting to like the helis more and more,probably right , one can make me better at the other



[]TEX[] -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/13/2008 1:11:11 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike545

i can fly planes ok, just starting to like the helis more and more,probably right , one can make me better at the other

I grabbed the sticks of a friends plane this winter and I was surprised after not flying one for more than 7 yrs I had no problems. I enjoy helis more myself, you're not alone.....step away from the airplane slowly......


On another note, I find flying airplanes very easy and basic since becoming a heli pilot...



homeunt -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/13/2008 1:13:16 AM)

I fly real planes every month and fly rcheli almost everyday. Here's my thoughts
Planes= needs more perception, speed and good eyes
Heli= needs more attention, sensivity, endurance and good orientation (3d thinking skills)



Mike545 -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/13/2008 1:00:35 PM)

homeunt, i like that, and concur, just two different types of flying



jgunpilot -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/13/2008 8:41:30 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: archiebald

The only problem I have with flying both is that I find planks too easy.

Don't get me wrong, I am no expert but what I mean is, with a plank I can take-off and bumble around the sky while having a conversation with someone, putting on / taking off gloves / hat etc. and I find myself getting too relaxed and complacent.

Then, when I get my helis out of the car I have to remind myself to switch on the rest of my brain because it needs 100% concentration.

Oddly, that makes flying helis more relaxing because I find that I have to purge my brain of all the week's hassles before taking off and getting my pilot mind-set in gear.


It's a zen thing. It's also called, "getting into the Zone."

Very theraputic.



helikiller -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/16/2008 8:17:15 PM)

For what it's worth I think planes are much easier, I flew the real thing and RC's for over thirty years. The first time I picked up the radio on an RC Helicopter I was immediately in trouble. I ASSUMED that flying is flying, nay not so, forward flight in a heli isn't nearly as natural as in a plane and most planes don't hover. Once in the air and trimmed you can fly a plane with one hand. Helicopters will hover hands off, then everything else requires constant attention. I learned to fly helis on a coax, indoors which has all kinds of things to run into. not to mention the hazzard of the chains on the ceiling fans and the cats trying to snatce the thing from the sky. I'd say it's a lot easier to transition from rotary wing to fixed.



planepounder -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/16/2008 11:48:17 PM)

You are right! I found when I was learning to hover, a minute or so in I was almost like in a trance, just my thumbs and the heli. When I fly my planes, I am now much more relaxed and make better use of the rudder. I would say heli flying enhances fixed wing flying while fixed wing flying really relates very little to heli flying.



Mike545 -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/17/2008 12:04:07 AM)

i heard that about the trans, i forget to blink im so intense,



Big feet -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/17/2008 11:12:51 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: planepounder

You are right! I found when I was learning to hover, a minute or so in I was almost like in a trance, just my thumbs and the heli. When I fly my planes, I am now much more relaxed and make better use of the rudder. I would say heli flying enhances fixed wing flying while fixed wing flying really relates very little to heli flying.


Yes and no. I agree that heli flying helps in plane flying, you seem to have so much more thinking time now with planes even during hovering, knifeedge, etc.
However, while going from planes to helis, as I did, there is a very steep learning curve both in terms of setup and flying, I believe the automatic reactions to nose in is already in a plane pilots head as we need to think backwards when the plane is coming towards us, or inverted.
The other instint that we already have is the 'don't give up until after it hits the ground' one, including panicing while still giving small control inputs. A total beginner, with both helis and planes, 'forgets' to fly the model when things go wrong, or they start banging the sticks about which obviously makes matters worse more often than not.
The other thing that may transfer is the fast approach speed during an auto. Planes land fast, especially the jets, and whereas a heli is normally landed from a hover after a controlled low speed approach, the auto is generally a much more rushed affair, fast descent and an immediate landing. This I found to be nerve wrecking when I did my first few more from the, can I save my heli worries, but the speed of descent never caused me any concern.

After saying all of the above, I definately get the adrenaline rush from the helis that I used to get many years ago from the planes, I think that when you are confortable with your model ( both types) in any attitude, the fear is reduced and along with the fear goes the 'rush'. I have reached the stage where all upright flight with the heli is confortable, now, inverted, theres a different story.



planepounder -> RE: Helicopter pilot vrs Airplane pilot (5/17/2008 12:07:48 PM)

Yeah I agree there are similarites, and you are already familiar with the format, but a heli is a whole different beast. Given two heli/plane pilots of the same skill level and I think the heli pilot will have less trouble flying the plane.



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