In april of last year I achieved the milestone of being certificated as a commercial pilot.  This means that as of that date I'm able to exercise commercial pilot privileges for the purposes of being remunerated for various (limited) flights.   Contrary to popular belief I can't ferry people from point-A to point-B or do charter or on-demand ( Read more... )

This weekend I needed a break and had planned to take a trip to Las Vegas.  Originally slated from Thursday through Monday, it had to be delayed because the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) had been out for repair and been returned but was not yet installed in the aircraft.  George, the guy who owns the hangar and the Bell Jetrangers, installed ( Read more... )

I earned my FAA commercial pilot certificate in early 2014.  Since then I've been wanting to actually do commercial flying, that is flying for money ( Read more... )

It's been a while because not much noteworthy happened but now lots has so this is a placeholder to remind me to fill in the blanks ( Read more... )

I write in this journal to remember important milestones in my journey to have fun in the helicopter. If you've been following for six years and one day then you know that goal is pretty much met ( Read more... )

Halloween is fast approaching and with the theme of The Shining showing the writing of "Red Rum" on a mirror really reflecting the letters in reverse really spelling "murder" (with a free space for those who like shiny free things) that's been a popular meme used in everything from The Simpson's to shows that aren't funny ( Read more... )

CONTINUING WITH THE THEME OF ONLY POSTING SPECIAL FLIGHT REPORTS ( Read more... )

Someone recently observed a hospital emergency medical services (HEMS) helicopter taking off to the south... then a little while later turning around and going north. When I explained that the pilot took off into the wind, the person asked why. Here then is my protracted explanation of lots of things that ARE related to that answer ( Read more... )

Amongst the many maneuvers we get to practice there are the easier ones like normal approaches, straight-and-level flight, and normal takeoffs. Then there are those used for emergency procedures (EPs) like autorotation, running landing, and recognition of settling-with-power ( Read more... )

THIS IS LOTUS NOTES #1. It is in time-forward order. There will be another post, entitled LOTUS NOTES #2, which is in time-backward order (so newest entry first). It will be linked to here when I write it ( Read more... )