Transition from helicopter

[Blain]

Just sold an Robinson R-22. Have about 200 hours in that ship with no fixed wing time. Looking at buying a RV-4.

Anyone here make this transition without training in something else first?

Blain

[turbo]

i havent made that transition but if you can fly a r-22 then you can fly anything. the landing will be a bit faster but have at it. good luck.

[Blain]

Originally Posted by turbo

i havent made that transition but if you can fly a r-22 then you can fly anything. the landing will be a bit faster but have at it. good luck.

I do miss putting it down on a dime. Had a conversation with one of my old instructors and he related the tail rotor to a tail dragger.

Blain

[FlyArmy]

Originally Posted by Blain

Just sold an Robinson R-22. Have about 200 hours in that ship with no fixed wing time. Looking at buying a RV-4.

Anyone here make this transition without training in something else first?

Blain

Getting fixed wing add on and even transition training in a -4 is difficult due to limited rear seat pedals and brakes where the CFI would sit. I guess you could train in a cub or citabria to get tail wheel experience and basic fw instruction...I doubt insurers will underwrite zero fw and zero tw time. Most seem to want 25 hrs of tw time to even consider insuring it, so I would try to train in a tail wheel. Or buy a -6 with full dual controls and a CFI experienced with RVs.

[Blain]

Originally Posted by FlyArmy

Getting fixed wing add on and even transition training in a -4 is difficult due to limited rear seat pedals and brakes where the CFI would sit. I guess you could train in a cub or citabria to get tail wheel experience and basic fw instruction...I doubt insurers will underwrite zero fw and zero tw time. Most seem to want 25 hrs of tw time to even consider insuring it, so I would try to train in a tail wheel. Or buy a -6 with full dual controls and a CFI experienced with RVs.

Hadn't considered the insurance aspect.

Blain

[rjtjrt]

I guess it will be surprising to owners of RV's, but when I flew an RV-6 after owning a 22, I was amazed how heavy the controls felt, and how stable and non twitchy it was. Very direct response to any control input (ie no slop on the controls), but RV just flew with little control input needed it seemed after the 22.

R-22 or any helicopter experience with pedals will be of great help with flying a taildragger.

RV is such a lovely aircraft, and you suddenly have the ability to use your right hand to write stuff down.

John

[N15JB]

I agree with Turbo. While they are apples and oranges, if you have the coordination to fly a swing wing, you will have no trouble mastering a fixed wing. I went from a Bell to a Pitts to a RV-10.

Jim Berry
RV-10

[Mike S]

Blain, welcome to the good ship VAF.

You are just down the hill from me, you are welcome to stop by anytime.

I do not have a 4, but I have a buddy close by who has one in the late stages of construction. I do have a 10, is you want to see it.

Good to have you aboard

[PCHunt]

If you only have helicopter time, then the biggest thing in transitioning to fixed wing flying will be getting used to the very small pitch attitude changes that are required for fixed wing flying.

Most helo-only pilots want to make HUGE pitch changes, which are normal in Helo flying.

Once you get used to the very small pitch changes (when compared to helicopter flying), you will be fine.

[Richard Connell]

Did my first hour in a R22 today.

Didn't have too much trouble keeping it straight and level, but it was a mix of great excitement and deep discomfort. I squirmed noticeably as the ASI dropped towards 20kts at 1000' !

I have a newfound respect for our rotary wing brothers! If you can fly one of them, an RV should be no problem!

Cheers