Mechanic work on Norman’s Helicopter

Today marks 3 short/long weeks since I’ve been in Tampico, Illinois training with Norman Headings (who owns a helicopter crop dusting business).

The normal day schedule is, we train in the helicopter flying 4 to 6 hours and breaking those hours up into several different flying sessions. Between flights, I normally study for the upcoming helicopter test and do maintenance and repairs on Norman’s helicopters. The days are long, but go by fast. We’ve been able to make great training progress and stay on a fast track schedule. We’ve only had 2 days that we were not able to train due to mechanical issues, and the weather has also been great allowing us to fly everyday, which is a huge blessing!

The morning of May 4th, 11 days after we started training, I did my first solo flight in a helicopter for the first time. Later that evening, I flew the helicopter solo from Tampico to Nappanee, Indiana and landed at my aunt’s house to meet up with Mom and Veronica for the weekend!

Solo Flight

We have just scheduled my helicopter commercial checkride (a flying and oral test to get the helicopter certificate) for Thursday the 17th in Bowling Green, Ohio. It’s going to be a very busy next several of days finishing up training and preparing for the checkride test.

 

Video of my first solo flight in a helicopter.