Rotary Wing Show - Interviews from the Helicopter Industry

Jerry Grayson returns to the Rotary Wing Show with an update on his next adventure following a packed career in the cockpit as a SAR and film pilot. Now-a-days he keeps his feet on the ground but leverages his experience in the operation of drones – and he thinks it might be a good time … Continue reading "RWS 97 – A Possible Helicopter Career Plan B with Jerry Grayson"

Richard (Rick) Howell started spinning spanners on aircraft in 1960 as a QANTAS apprentice. Since then he has flown all through Australia and PNG including a 29 year run as a pilot for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.  Rick and his twin brother John both started in aviation at the same time which presented a number … Continue reading "RWS 96 – What I’ve Been Doing for the Last 60 Years with Richard Howell"

Working in the helicopter media part of the industry Elan Head gets to talk to a wide range of people and over time has had the opportunity to take the controls of a wide range of helicopters. This gives her a unique vantage point to talk about the many roles that helicopters perform and some … Continue reading "RWS 95 – Adventures in Helicopter Media with Elan Head"

Electronic news gathering or ENG is the term that those in the helicopter news corner of the industry use to capture their operations. As a platform to provide real time on-scene video at short notice over a city nothing so far beats a helicopter.     As consumers of news media we have become pretty accustomed … Continue reading "RWS 94 – News Helicopter Ops Over Los Angeles with Larry Welk"

Most piston engine pilots will be at least passingly familiar with the theory behind the formation of carburettor icing. However most textbooks lean towards the operation of the carburettor in a fixed wing mounted engine. Helicopter engines, predominately the Robinson helicopter types but applicable to others as well, have their own unique challenges when it … Continue reading "RWS 93 – Carburettor Icing in Helicopters with Richard Mornington-Sanford"

As versatile as helicopters are there are still tight places where they just can’t land to get people in or out. For overwater flights, rescue teams and some utility operations that means using a hoist or under-slung line to reach someone. A hoist fitted helicopter is not always avaliable. Hence we have the considerations that … Continue reading "RWS 92 – Human External Cargo Helicopter Ops with Jeff Yarnold"

The general line thrown out there is that most helicopter pilots try to spend their careers staying away from wires – the guys and girls flying in the powerline industry get right up close as part of their job. David McColl is a powerline pilot in the US and has built up experience in a … Continue reading "RWS 91 – Helicopter Powerline Operations with David McColl"

The pace of consumer electronics development far outstrips that of aviation equipment and helicopter installed functionality. Electronic Flight Bags are becoming a fixture in cockpits throughout the industry. For about AUD$799 in 2020 you can bring a range of features with you into any legacy aircraft that would have previously either been impossible or would … Continue reading "RWS 90 – Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) with Andrew Boniface"

We first looked at night aerial firefighting in episode 65 when the capability had just finished the first trials in Australia. Now with two more fire seasons of experience fighting fires at night, Richard Butterworth is back to give an update on the continuing road map and what as been achieved so far.  Richard Butterworth … Continue reading "RWS 89 – Night Aerial Firefighting 2020 Update with Richard Butterworth"

Today’s topic is First Solo flights. If you are a student getting ready for your first helicopter solo this is the episode that you want to hear.If you are an instructor sending students solo then you will also definitely want to listen to this one. For everyone else there are some good risk management considerations … Continue reading "RWS 88 – First Solo Flights with Peter Holstein"

We spend a lot of time training for emergencies in the air but how much do you know about what happens next or what kicks into gear if you go missing? Luke Brandley is an ex-Huey pilot now working as a Senior Search and Rescue Officer with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). He and … Continue reading "RWS 87 – Search and Rescue at AMSA with Luke Brandley"

Even if you are not an avid movie goer it is still very likely that you have seen some of Fred North’s work. Fred has been involved in many of the largest Hollywood Blockbusters in recent times either flying helicopter stunts or providing the aerial filming platform. There is a lot that goes into setting … Continue reading "RWS 86 – Going for Height and Film Flying with Fred North"

In the market for a helicopter or just want to know some of the ins and outs of the process? Stephen Boyce has been working in helicopter sales since 2011 and flying them since 1994. Helicopters are high cost purchases and almost always a case of buyer beware. Should you buy new or used? How … Continue reading "RWS 85 – Buying a Helicopter with Stephen Boyce"

Forward Looking Infra-red (FLIR) systems have been around for a while and used in a search or surveillance function normally by an operator with a control panel. A small number of aircraft are now incorporating FLIR as a pilot vision tool, tracked to the pilots head, as another way of seeing at night or through … Continue reading "RWS 84 – Pilotage FLIR with Tony ‘Squid’ Norton"

Ditching a rapidly yawing helicopter into the open ocean is one of those experiences most of us would happily pass on. Jim Palmquist and his crew onboard a SH2 Sea Sprite survived just such an event during his time as an aircraft carrier search and rescue pilot. The Kaman Sea Sprite is a unique helicopter … Continue reading "RWS 83 – SH2 Sea Sprite with Jim Palmquist"