Rotary Wing Show - Interviews from the Helicopter Industry

  A great example of the utility of helicopters is their use in firefighting support. There is more to it than meets the eye though. [Warning: This is a longer episode, approx 85mins, so you might want to download the file and play locally] Using underslung buckets or bellytanks helicopters are able to provide water … Continue reading "RWS 20 – Aerial Firefighting with Gordy Cox"

Whether you walk away from a landing after an helicopter engine failure or not depends on many things but one good predictor is the Height Velocity(H/V) diagram. The H/V diagram (also known as H/V curve and dead man’s curve) represents combinations of airspeeds and altitudes that have been determined for that helicopter type where it … Continue reading "RWS 19 – Height Velocity Diagram with Shawn Coyle"

A box full of maps, a sat phone, a support crew of 1 in a British hangar, full tanks and off you hop for an around the world record flight in an MD500 helicopter – that’s what Simon Oliphant-Hope did. Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download 00:45 Thanks for your feedback … Continue reading "RWS 18 – Around the world solo in 17 days with Simon Oliphant-Hope"

Its time to dust off your CV and step behind the scenes of a helicopter aircrew recruiting office so you can be better prepared for your next job application. Several times in our flying careers we’ll need to go through the process of applying for a position and mostly likely interviewing against other candidates. As … Continue reading "RWS 17 – Helicopter Aircrew Recruiting with Mark Weeden"

Educating or instructing can be it’s own skill set regardless of the actual content taught. Philip Greenspun is a MIT lecturer and a flight instructor and shares his own approach to flying training. If you are a helicopter instructor or in a check & training role then brush up your thought processes as we chat … Continue reading "RWS 16 – Helicopter Instructing Tips with Philip Greenspun"

This is part 2 of the interview with British helicopter display pilot Dennis Kenyon. For part 1, listen to Episode 14 In this episode we delve deeper into the preparation, setup and mindset needed to be a display pilot. Dennis is a CAA appointed Display Authority Examiner and does train and approve other pilots but … Continue reading "RWS 15 – Display Flying with Dennis Kenyon – Part 2"

Display flying has captured the imagination of the public ever since the very first flights. One the longest performing and well respected helicopter display pilots in the world is UK pilot Dennis Kenyon Note: This is part 1 of the interview. Look for part 2 in Episode 15 Dennis ‘the maestro’ Kenyon got his flying … Continue reading "RWS 14 – Display Flying with Dennis Kenyon – Part 1"

Do you remember how humbling it felt first learning to hover? If you ever want to experience that feeling again then give longlining a go. The ability for helicopters to move equipment and loads to remote or hard to reach locations makes them incredibly useful machines. Helicopter longlining notches that capability up several levels of … Continue reading "RWS 13 – Helicopter Longlining with Andre Hutchings"

NASA is not just space shuttles, Mars robots and moon landings! Susan Gorton has been leading the NASA Rotary Wing Project for the last 8 years helping to pave the way for faster, quieter, safer and more economical helicopter designs and operations. You are in for a treat today as you get to hear about … Continue reading "RWS 12 – NASA Rotary Wing Project with Susan Gorton"

Whirly Girls International president(2014) Dianna Stanger got her start in flying thanks to a need for breakfast eggs on her island home. That started a love affair that most of us can relate too. Dianna is one busy lady. She manages an airfield and FBO in Texas, operates a flying school amongst several other businesses, … Continue reading "RWS 11 – Whirly Girls International with Dianna Stanger"

For most young helicopter pilots opening your own helicopter training school is probably not high on your list of things to do. But this is exactly what Heather Howley, this week’s guest on the show, did when she was left in the lurch with a helicopter lease contract to cover. Heather is the owner and … Continue reading "RWS 10 – Owning a Helicopter School with Heather Howley"

John Eacott’s aviation career has spanned 49 years and he’s still adding time on top of that today as an active commercial pilot. He has spent a huge amount of time flying over oceans as an ex-Royal Navy pilot and multiple stints in the oil industry. He is also the first nuclear qualified helicopter pilot … Continue reading "RWS 9 – Never Work a Day in your Life with John Eacott"

Alaska is still largely wilderness and remote communities rely heavily on helicopter operations. Air Ambulance services like the one that today’s guest Lorena Knapp flies for can drastically reduce the time needed to get a patient to primary care given the terrain and ground conditions. Find out about flying conditions in Alaska and get an … Continue reading "RWS 8 – Helicopter EMS in Alaska with Lorena Knapp"

30 seconds ago you were airborne but now you are in the drink and water is quickly filling your helicopter cockpit while the machine starts to roll upside down – what do you do next? If you are not 100% certain then you will want to listen to this interview with Mick Dowling, Commercial HUET … Continue reading "RWS 7 – Helicopter Underwater Escape Training with Mick Dowling"

In this episode of the Rotary Wing Show we head to Zululand, South Africa to hear about how helicopters are being employed in the fight against Rhino poachers. Etienne Gerber is the chief pilot at Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing and shares first hand the challenges his crews face in performing their role. Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes … Continue reading "RWS 6 – Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing with Etienne Gerber"