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Transitioning from a fixed-wing pilot to a helicopter pilot
While both are aircraft, airplanes and helicopters differ greatly in how they fly and maneuver. Switching from one to the other requires understanding the fundamental differences between them.
Helicopter pilots are used to managing cyclic, collective, and anti-torque pedals, which allow for precise control in hover and low-speed flight. Airplane controls, on the other hand, rely more on aileron, rudder, and elevator systems.
According to Pure Flight, in emergency situations, helicopters require faster reactions than airplanes. The controls are also more sensitive compared to airplanes which tend to have more stable and forgiving controls.
Transitioning from one to the other requires adjusting to these different control mechanisms.
Transitioning from a fixed-wing pilot to a helicopter pilot involves learning new skills and undergoing specific training.
From flying the F-4 to flying the CH-53
John Chesire, former US Navy F-4 Phantom II pilot, explains on Quora;
‘A long time ago I got a chance to fly a CH-53 helicopter a few times. My Navy boss asked if I would like to join him while he practiced some things. “Sure!” I said.
‘He was doing some touch and goes (hover and goes?) and finally said, “Here, you try it.” Here were my impressions:
- We were 120kts at the “180”. Then I found it very uncomfortable to watch the airspeed drop… and drop even more to speeds so slow I had never seen before in an aircraft. He had to really coax me to slow down more. It was unnatural and scary! I expected to stall out any second!
- The CH-53 apparently has a great stability augmentation system, so it was a lot easier to fly than I expected… that is until I approached a hover at the end of the runway.
- The vibration, shaking, and high engine noise as I got into a hover really bothered me. I did not like it at all.
- Then the unthinkable happened! I started going backwards! What the hell!!??? I was going backwards, flying and no clue as what to do. I just lost it, and my boss thankfully took over. Whew!
General impressions
‘General impressions: Helicopters are not easy to fly. They do not fly like airplanes. I am afraid of heights and while I am not bothered flying in airplanes, hanging in the air held up by some driveshaft spinning the rotors gets to me. It was nevertheless quite an experience, and quite a bit of fun.’
He concludes;
‘I flew a few more times, perhaps getting as much as 30 hours in that helo. And I did get better and it was fun, but I will stick with fixed wing, thank you.’
Photo credit: Mate 3rd Class Kristopher Wilson / U.S. Navy
