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Forum >> Adventure FlyingCurrent Threads Flying Helicopters in AustraliaFor 2 weeks I spent time training in Maroochydoore, Australia with Becker Helicopters. This commercial flight school was unlike any other school in the states that I encountered. It was a much more aggressive training program with was based in theory and classroom or ground school experience. There were plenty of off airport landing and practice facilities, something that was non-existent at my training school in the states. We worked on long lining and pinnacle/confined area approaches. I never found that my training facility in the United States compared to the program that Becker Helicopter offered.
Re: Flying Helicopters in AustraliaThat sounds like a blast... Do you have any photos of that?
Re: Flying Helicopters in AustraliaGates - A school with a very similar curriculum and focus on "working" with the helicopter is Western Helicopters in Rialto, California. I've been sending my pilots up there for years for recurrent and advanced training courses. Their pilots are mostly old school utility pilots who are masters of gleening maximum performance and efficiency out of a helicopter to work at high elevations or in confined and remote environments. I also use them for long line training and emergency procedures including full down autos. While they are certainly not a highly spit & polished organization, their experience in "train like ya work" helicopter instruction has the respect of many, many folks who fly for a living.
Fixed Wing in AustrliaLike Gates, I have flown in Australia. I lived and worked in Hervey Bay Queensland, north of Brisbane, at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. I had a great time there. I worked with Seabird Aviation producing their Seeker fixed wing aircraft. Hervey Bay is adjacent to Fraser Island, the worlds largest drift sand Island, and had to opportunity to land C172's, C205's and C206's on the Beach. It's interesting the first time you do it. During the day you compete for space with fishermen, cars, beach buggies and people wading in the water. Fortunately it's not really a kid swimming area, as there are lots of sharks in the water. Also flew out to Lady Elliot Island a lot. I got rated as a safety pilot on a Britten Norman Islander, and DHC Twin Otter. Also got to fly a Max Holste Brussard, some of the early Jabiru's and a Tiger Moth. I flew Skydivers at the weekend using a beat up C182. All in all a great flying experience.
Denver to LA in a Gobosh LSAThe most adventurous flight I've had of late was my trip from Denver's Erie Municipal Airport to Cable Airport in Upland, California (near Ontario... not too far from Los Angeles). The 11.5 hour flight took me from Erie to Santa Fe to Winslow, Arizona to Lake Havasu, and finally into Upland, CA. I flew the Gobosh Light Sport Aircraft over some of the roughest, most desolate terrain this country can dish out. What fun! I've got some pictures from the trip posted in my PilotMag public profile area. I've got a full account of my journey (which actually started in Oshkosh) posted in my flying club's August newsletter (http://www.skyraideraviation.com/Newsletters/AUG08.pdf).
Re: Denver to LA in a Gobosh LSAAwesome. That's the sort of trip you dream about.
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Gates Oct 22, 2008 17:57:57
reggiepaulk Oct 22, 2008 17:58:28
Rotor Wrangler Nov 13, 2008 18:00:51
Gobosh Dave Nov 14, 2008 18:28:19
skyraider Dec 16, 2008 14:24:23
JJ Dec 18, 2008 00:04:53