Night Vision and No Vision!

Frank's report of recent helicopter training events:

Night Vision

One of the requirements I need to meet for my commercial helicopter license is five hours of flying solo at night. I landed on Tuscon's main runway just before and after two airliners landed, saw a shooting star, avoided all the mountains, flew through some turbulence but came home in one piece. I think I still prefer flying during the day!

No Vision!

Another requirement for my commercial license is five hours of "instrument time". Similar to the airplane, this is flying only by looking at the instruments and gauges inside the cockpit and not looking outside at all (to simulate flying in the clouds). Unlike an airplane, there is a lot more window to cover up in a helicopter! So we taped a big sheet of paper up on my side of the helicopter. Then I taped paper onto the visor of my helmet to block out the rest. This way, I could fly around but not see anything outside. I also taped up some angry eyes (although I like to think of them as "determined" eyes) as a joke to my instructor. :-)

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Pinnacles and Confined Areas

Pinnacles

These pictures were taken from a solo flight up to a mountain ridge 3000' above the valley below.

One of the great advantages of a helicopter over an airplane is that we can land almost anywhere. Two of the more difficult places to land are pinnacles (up on a mountain ridge or a hospital helipad) and confined areas (down in a deep pit or tight among some tall trees).

Confined Areas

It's hard to tell, but in these pictures I have landed down in a large pit.

Thank you all for your faithful prayers, support and encouragement to our family. You are a blessing beyond words!