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Old 17-12-09, 03:17 PM   #22
Bluepete
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Location: Ex motorcyclist
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Default Re: Helicopters are brilliant!

Quote:
Originally Posted by keith_d View Post
Effortless my ar$e, that's hundreds of flying hours practice.

IIRC, you've got collective (up/down) and throttle (rotor speed) on your left hand while your right hand controls cyclic (roll and pitch) and your feet control anti-torque (rotation). Add to that managing communications with local ATC and ground units and you've got a pretty full-on job.

Anyone who can make that look effortless is doing pretty well,

Keith.
Exactly! Pilot has 24 years military helicopter flying and five with GMP. He deals with air traffic control, the rear observer does all the job radios, four channels at once.
I monitor three or four in the job car, but to do it up there as well as all the other stuff is very impressive.
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