New Mexico Phi crash video released

Flyinhigh728 said:
I'm sure that was an awesome experience. Those BK's sure are beautiful machines. I agree with you about the A-star. It doesn't seem to be too high on the list of preferable helicopters by the majority of pilot's out there. It's crashworthiness, or lack there of would be concerning too.
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The AStar is a good overall helicopter in terms of multi mission, low average operating cost, and good product support. Like anything, there are missions it's good for and missions it's not necessarily optimal for. Good bird for news reporting, observation, general light utility. Not the best for what I'm doing, probably not the best for EMS in terms of interior room and weight carrying ability.
 
Boris Badenov said:
I flew fairly often with highly experienced pilots in the BKs. Thought it was awesome. But they were the same dudes who wouldn't touch an A-Star with a ten foot pole. *shrug*. I mean, there's lots of stuff I did as a young fixed wing pilot that there's no f'ing way I'd do again. All a matter of perspective, I suppose.
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Don't hate me because I'm an Airbus pilot...:)
 
You're not a REAL Airbus pilot until you take pictures of your tray-table in cruise and complain about the quality of the meal. Good luck with that, mouthbreathing rotor-swine!
 
Flyinhigh728 said:
It always baffles me how many fixed wing pilots think helicopters are scary and unsafe. Being rated in both, I feel more comfortable in a helicopter and would much rather have an engine fail in a helicopter than an airplane. It doesn't matter whether you are in a helicopter or airplane, things can go wrong at the drop of a hat.

I think most fixed wing guys have never had the chance to fly in one or really understand how exactly they work. There are thousands of helicopters that fly everyday accident free. Besides, they are worth getting a few hours for the fun factor alone!
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Care to share why you feel more comfortable in rotors? I understand that rotors can land or auto rotate in very tight places but when that space is over congested areas or hilly/mountainous terrain where you going? I'm still interested in rotor but apprehensive.
 
MikeD said:
The AStar is a good overall helicopter in terms of multi mission, low average operating cost, and good product support. Like anything, there are missions it's good for and missions it's not necessarily optimal for. Good bird for news reporting, observation, general light utility. Not the best for what I'm doing, probably not the best for EMS in terms of interior room and weight carrying ability.
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I'm sure it is still a very nice and capable helicopter. Like you said, mission is important in determining an aircrafts capablilities. Given the opportunity once I start flying for a living, I would certainly fly one without hesitation.
 
bc2209 said:
Care to share why you feel more comfortable in rotors? I understand that rotors can land or auto rotate in very tight places but when that space is over congested areas or hilly/mountainous terrain where you going? I'm still interested in rotor but apprehensive.
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Well you aren't going to be able to auto a helicopter to a smooth hard surface anywhere you please, but that's the accepted risk involved with flying. Over mountainous terrain with limited options, I would have trouble landing an airplane or helicopter . I'd say overall, there are a lot more places to set down a helicopter if a problem arises or you run into some unexpected weather. In my previous post, I was just trying to say that I don't think they are as dangerous as a lot of people make them out to be.

If you're interested and haven't already, I would suggest taking an intro lesson to get a feel for it. It's a lot of fun and a very different feeling compared to fixed wing.
 
Gotcha. I've taken 3 intro rides in helos but for whatever reason I feel "safer/more safer" in fixed wing. Just the path I chose good or bad I guess. Maybe someday i'll build my balls big enough to get my rotor certs. Thank you for your reply.
 
bc2209 said:
Gotcha. I've taken 3 intro rides in helos but for whatever reason I feel "safer/more safer" in fixed wing. Just the path I chose good or bad I guess. Maybe someday i'll build my balls big enough to get my rotor certs. Thank you for your reply.
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Like anything, it does take time and experience to get comfortable in helos. Especially coming from fixed wing since there are many new sounds and sensations. It took me quite a while to get used to it and actually slowing below 60 knots on final approach. Good luck with the path you chose though!
 
@bc2209 I flew traffic in an an airplane over a metro area and have had an engine failure in a single engine airplane over a rural area. Flying traffic, my favored route was hop-scotching from football fields and parks. With wires and cars, roads weren't reliable FLA's. If performed flawlessly, you still need a few hundred feet to control the landing (ie not ripping off wings or hitting something) and dissipate the energy.

You can do a zero-ground run auto in a helicopter to an area the size of the pad in the video. Even a run on landing will take much less real estate than a 172.

In helicopters, engine failures don't scare me. Having the main transmission seize or a blade fail --- no bueno.
 
MikeD said:
You'd be ice cool as a jewel if you had one unannounced? :D
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Well of course. :cool:


Seriously though, it more the idea of having one. I should have written "Sitting here on a Friday night, bs-ing on a message board, the thought of having an engine failure in a helicopter doesn't scare me. That's not to say that when I actually have one, the seat cushion will be easily located."

I feel those other r/w examples are comparable to watching your wing fold up, and for the most part, gravity once again wins.


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deadstick said:
Seriously though, it more the idea of having one. I should have written "Sitting here on a Friday night, bs-ing on a message board, the thought of having an engine failure in a helicopter doesn't scare me. That's not to say that when I actually have one, the seat cushion will be easily located."
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I knew what you were getting at, I was just messing around.

I hear you. In terms of, for example, engine failures in FW versus RW, single engine or even light twin engine, both are going to result in you landing someplace. And depending on any number of factors, one could just as easily die in a FW doing that as they could a RW. No guarantees either way on either side of the house.
 
I know Mike. It's all good.

I was just trying to put some of the f/w-r/w differences into perspective for those who are following this discussion and don't have r/w experience.

The best of both worlds....I just can't wait until the 609 comes online. It'll be tight for some scenes, but at KA speeds it can compensate. Hope it's FIKI.
 
deadstick said:
I know Mike. It's all good.

I was just trying to put some of the f/w-r/w differences into perspective for those who are following this discussion and don't have r/w experience.

The best of both worlds....I just can't wait until the 609 comes online. It'll be tight for some scenes, but at KA speeds it can compensate. Hope it's FIKI.
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Are you just flying fixed wing at the moment or R/W as well?
 
deadstick said:
I just can't wait until the 609 comes online. It'll be tight for some scenes, but at KA speeds it can compensate. Hope it's FIKI.
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Hahahahaha. You one funny Joe, GI!

Maybe they'll sell all of the Long Rangers and buy one 609, but you won't need to worry about FIKI, it'll be a VFR program!
 
Boris Badenov said:
Hahahahaha. You one funny Joe, GI!

Maybe they'll sell all of the Long Rangers and buy one 609, but you won't need to worry about FIKI, it'll be a VFR program!
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Yea, AEL will never get 'em. I could see PHI, more so because of dual applications (EMS and GOM), or AMC possibly getting into that program. The next few years and more experience with the ACA will tell.
 
I suppose anything is possible, but AMC is pushing pretty hard to go all single engine...I've even heard they're deliberately (if slowly) shedding hospital programs for this reason. Hard to imagine them doing a 180 and buying a 30 million dollar potential white elephant. But then, as you say, the ACA could conceivably change everything if anyone can finally figure out WTF it's actually going to be.
 
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