Examining on the Loach

Loach in its hangar

Today, it was back to the day job! Examining a very good student on the OH-06 Loach (older version of the H369). He should be good - he is an A2 RAF instructor on the Bell 212s (Griffen.)
We flew from the pad up to Blackpool via various upper airwork sites and it was a very enjoyable flight including 360 autorotations, quick stops (RAF style) and confined landings.
Needless to say he passed.

Anyone interested might want to look out for the Loach and its co worker the Huey on the airshow circuit.

Paris Le Bourget Air Show day two

James Wang with Project Zero

Day two at Paris, Le Bourget Air Show. Interesting talk with James Wang the innovator of Project Zero a helicopter technology test bed. Choosing the shape of the test bed he apparently said: helicopters have been flying for 60 years and the shape has not changed at all - why don't we try something new.
The test bed, which flew remotely, is powered by batteries stacked in-line, with an electric motor and individually accuated blades. The body and the blades are composite - although with metal where necessary, eg on the electric motor and the rivets etc.
The project flew 6 months ago and since then has been the design team's secret (some 20 people). However, current circumstances (they say) which presumably means the India bribery scandal, has led to them bringing the project to Paris to get some positive PR.

More in the Summer issue of Helicopter Life magazine.

Paris Le Bourget Air Show

Soon to be unveiled Turbomeca engine

Day One at the Paris Le Bourget Air Show, and you have to give Bell a prize for this one. They and Turbomeca have produced what was probably the only interesting thing at the show - speaking from a helicopter viewpoint - the New JetRanger to be....

Turbomeca have made the Arrius R2 engine specially to meet the necessities of the new Bell Short Light Single helicopter. Or the JetRanger Lite.
So far we have been told that it will use some of the dynamic parts of the B206 - ie it will be a teetering head and use the same gear box, but that many parts including the cockpit, skids and, I think John Garrison said, the fuselage will to totally new. Garrison declined to name the helicopter - that will be done at HeliExpo, but he did say that the engine will be fully tested by the beginning of 2014 and they hope to do text flights in 2014 and have certification after that as soon as... It will almost certainly be on the same type rating.

Well done Bell.

Arrius R2 engine

Other than that there has not been much new at the show. We were told some more about the Relentless - see the Summer edition of Helicopter Life magazine - and the V22 is doing well.

Eurocopter and AgustaWestland have briefings tomorrow - so maybe a couple of 'almost new's from there...
Sikorsky is not here - but they are busy with tenders - more of that later -

No MD, but they don't do Paris do they.

H369 Proficiency Check

After trying for three months to get my proficiency check on the H369 done today we finally succeeded. It was an early start - left London at 7 for a three and a half hour drive to Devon, but definitely worth it. The H500 is such a great machine to fly, so powerful, so manoeuverable and just such a lovely beastie. We had to do two hours and they were both full of interesting stuff.
Autos were excellent on the little bird (hoho) and I learnt a new way to deal with stuck pedals if the problem happens when you have just taken off. Keeping the yaw left and using it as you turn into wind and slow, then bring in the power and see the machine straighten.

The 500 is based at the examiner's house and what a nice set-up he has with his hangar in the garden - could hardly be better.
We did the airfield work at Dunkeswell. I'd never been there before but it is a lovely, energetic but not too busy little airfield. Well worth a visit and also had a good restaurant.

Sky Watch, Civil Air Patrol

Xenon gyrocopter from Poland

Sky Watch Civil Air Patrol uses entirely private pilots on a volunteer basis. This is especially true in Scotland, where there is only one government funded police helicopter, and where funds are being rescinded rather than increased.
In Scotland, the civil air patrol have two gyrocopters and an R22. All the pilots are ex-military and their work is mostly observation, looking for lost mountain climbers, SAR and any work where they can aid the police.
There are also two gyrocopters in Cumbria doing the same work.
Sky Watch gives briefings and training sessions to new pilots and will send an experience pilot with newbies, to help navigation and advise where necessary. They will also arrange mountain flying courses.
There are currently 200 gyrocopters in the UK, many of whom are working in some capacity with the Sky Watch Civil Air Patrol.

AeroExpo 2013

Agusta 109

Well, here we are again at another AeroExpo - this time back at Sywell instead of Czechie and 2013 instead of 2012, but they roll around.

Bit of deja vue but less so. Same helicopters but many fewer gyrocopters. I have a feeling this kind of show, with its much greater emphasis on fixed wing and ultralight, is not really a good place for selling gyrocopters. Still may be more tomorrow.

One interesting booth is the Campaign Against the CAA! This group, which comes from Panshanger in Essex, thinks there should be an ombudsman to regulate the CAA. They feel that the CAA are just pushing up prices to increase their incomes and pensions and no one is able to stop or regulate them. They may be right, but chances are an ombudsman will push up the prices even more.

No one, incidentally, seems to be interested or worried in the current consultation by the CAA to charge for using the radio... in fact most people haven't even heard of it..

Apache pilot's course

Went to Middle Wallop in the UK to see how to become an Apache pilot starting from ab initio and all paid for by Her Majesty's government. Sadly I am way too old, and when I was young enough women did not fly in the UK military, anyway I doubt if I ever had the 'right stuff'. Bit too wet, me.

Anyway, it was fascinating. Pictures were a bit limited, though if I saw anything secret I would never know. I also went round the sim - very lifelike graphics for a sim.

I would put a picture here but blogspot is playing up, so later!