Upper Air Work

Rotorway with helipac for luggage

Today, did the ground exam and some upper airwork on the R162F.
Ground exam was very interesting. It is open book, which means you get to really look at the flight manual, not something one does enough. The questions made me think. For example, how exactly are the controls made up - of cables and rods, but which type and how. What is the best fuel to use on the 162, and which fuels can you take if they are available. Unleaded MOGAS is best, but ask yourself, is 4-Star leaded or unleaded? In a car it matters, but in a helicopter it matters more. I really enjoyed doing the exam.
We then went off and did upper air work - wow these military guys are daring when it comes to choosing confined areas!
Autos to a spot - needs work, again it was surprising how little distance the 162 covers in auto compared to the H500, the B206 or even the R22 - the Schweizer does have rather a brick like glide so that is not unsimilar!

We did FADEC errors. Here if there is a problem an amber or red light will appear on the FADEC. The number will be in the A or B viewer. Looking up the number (they are listed below) tells you what is affected, and then you think if it is, for example, a water pump, how much that will affect you. Advice from the manufacturer is: red light - land at once. Amber light, land when it is safe to do so. In truth, it is better to land and sort out the problem while on the ground, than hanging around in the air and (distracted) perhaps not hanging around... if you get my drift.