helicopter

[SarDragon]

Plus helicopters don't fly.  They just the beat the air into submission.

Helicopters are the purest form of flight my friend.  Forwards, backwards, sideways, hover.  Pull off the ramp and go straight up.  MMMMMM.....Love it.

Well, I wouldnt say theyare the purest form of flying. I would gliding is the purest form of flying. No engine. You are actually "flying" the aircraft the entire time from take off to landing.

Please tell us what the guy in the left seat is doing in a powered airplane if he isn't "flying" it.

As an aside - to fly is heavenly; to hover is divine.

[Flying Pig]

Being a glider pilot, helicopter pilot and fixed wing pilot, I would have to disagree.

[SarDragon]

Disagree with whom? Me, or flyguy?

Just asking. No biggie either way.

[Flying Pig]

flyguy. Sailplanes are subject to the lift.  When the wind says your done, your done.  A helicopter, I can go ANYWHERE I want in any direction. I can even fly backwards to get there.

[Major Lord]

I am sure this will seem blasphemy to both fixed wing and rotor wing diehards, but there is another option; The AutoGyro. Low acquisition cost, low operational cost, low fixed wing training transition costs,  low and slow flight, short take off roll from unimproved strips, and if the engine quits, unpowered autogyroing ( is that a word?)  is still better than just falling out of the sky....

There was a company awhile back trying to market an approved airframe ( most are experimentals) for police use. I am not sure if they ever sold anyone on the concept.

I think we can rule out blimps, hangliders and jetpacks for CAP use.

Major Lord

[sparks]

Since we're thinking out of the box how about balloons or blimps for low and slow observation? We see lots of blimps advertising at sporting events and there is a company offering rides in the San Francisco area. No CAP doesn't have blimps but at one wing owns a hot air balloon. Of course the balloon can only go where the wing allows and only when it is light so the blimp would be the better choice. That would mean we'd be the Civil HOT AIR Patrol!

[bosshawk]

Seems to me that there is no shortage of "hot air" on this blog.

[RiverAux]

Since we're thinking out of the box how about balloons or blimps for low and slow observation? We see lots of blimps advertising at sporting events and there is a company offering rides in the San Francisco area. No CAP doesn't have blimps but at one wing owns a hot air balloon. Of course the balloon can only go where the wing allows and only when it is light so the blimp would be the better choice. That would mean we'd be the Civil HOT AIR Patrol!

The AF is starting a blimp program according to AF times.  Primarily for comm relay. 

[lordmonar]

Just a question.

If 60-1 says we don't do lighter then air craft......how is it that CAP owns hot air balloons and has a balloon pilot rating?

[sparks]

Correct, 60-1 paragraph 2-4a excludes flight activity in numerous air vehicles including hot air balloons. I can only speculate how a hot air balloon could operate. My guess is a waiver for a particular activity would be involved and it would be tethered.

[SarDragon]

Where's Christie when we need her?

[Rotorhead]

flyguy. Sailplanes are subject to the lift.  When the wind says your done, your done.  A helicopter, I can go ANYWHERE I want in any direction. I can even fly backwards to get there.

..and land when you arrive, without the benefit of an airport.

[raivo]

I have nothing to contribute other than to say that SimCopter was one of my favorite games ever.

[Rotorhead]

I have nothing to contribute other than to say that SimCopter was one of my favorite games ever.

Hey, I loved that game!

I always flew the Hughes 500 when I played it.

[ascorbate]

There was a company awhile back trying to market an approved airframe ( most are experimentals) for police use.

I think you are referring to the Groen Brothers Hawk 4 gyroplane which played an integral part in [flying] security during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, UT.

I believe Groen Brothers Aviation is still operating from Buckeye airport about an hour west of Phoenix, AZ.

[MikeD]

http://www.historicaviation.com/product_info.po?ID=10927&product=Apparel&category=military&subcategory=Military%20Helicopters 

This is relevant to some of our interests.  And I got told by one guy a work that it was "offensive" (he was a glider guy and a really good aerodynamicist.  I really wish we still had some in our hangar.

[Major Lord]

There was a company awhile back trying to market an approved airframe ( most are experimentals) for police use.

I think you are referring to the Groen Brothers Hawk 4 gyroplane which played an integral part in [flying] security during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, UT.

I believe Groen Brothers Aviation is still operating from Buckeye airport about an hour west of Phoenix, AZ.

Doc,

Thanks, that's the one I had in mind. Very nice concept. http://www.groenbros.com/hawk5.php

Major Lord

[Flying Pig]

I see an advantage over airplanes because it cant stall and has a slower airspeed.  46mph.  However, it cant hover.  Which keeps it from competing with helicopters.

[Gunner C]

I see an advantage over airplanes because it cant stall and has a slower airspeed.  46mph.  However, it cant hover.  Which keeps it from competing with helicopters.

It can in a 46 mph headwind! 

[airmanbooker]

Plus helicopters don't fly.  They just the beat the air into submission.

LOL!