bunch of blogs: Motor

Flying is something that humans can’t do physically. This is why flying a helicopter attracts many people. It gives you the opportunity to soar into the sky and see the world in a different perspective.
Many people are trying their skills in flying helicopters. You can learn how to fly to satisfy your desires. Before you finally decide to fly a helicopter, it is best to know the pros and cons.
Helicopter Flying Pros
There are favorable points in being able to fly a helicopter. You can take these aspects as a way to inspire you further in this venture.
Delight
Helicopter flying simply brings delight to your heart. Nothing compares to the experience of reaching different heights. It can get really exciting. This is also a good chance to explore how daring you are in unfamiliar terrains.
Developing a Skill
Of course, it is a plus for you if you are able to fly a helicopter. Not everybody can do this. Flying a plane or chopper is the best way to travel quickly. However, you need the right skills.
Career Opportunity
It pays to learn how to pilot a helicopter. This can provide you with good career opportunities. You can take helicopter pilot jobs and tasks. Now that is something that is worth looking in to.
Helicopter Flying Cons
There are also factors that make helicopter flying a disadvantage. This is something that you have to weigh and evaluate seriously before flying a helicopter.
Expenses
You have to allot a considerable amount of money to be able to learn how to fly a helicopter. Aside from the fees for the instructions, you also have to consider the fuel expenses. Safe helicopter flying will rely heavily on your capability to supply all the materials to support the flight.
Danger
Another thing that deters most people from flying is the fear of encountering accidents during flight. The fear of danger is due to the unfamiliar terrains of being in the air. However, this can be effectively remedied by ensuring that all the safety procedures are followed before taking off.
Conclusion
Flying a helicopter would be a feat for anyone. You can enjoy this same perk too. Just be sure to get to know first the pros and cons of helicopter flying. This way, you can take the proper precautions to make the experience safe and worthwhile.

An autorotation is a helicopter piloting maneuver that consists of an entry (gaining altitude then dipping towards your target point at a certain speed), a glide (a smooth pace from your entry point to the target), a flare (a sudden balance adjustment to the helicopter rotors that turns it in midair on a designated vector), and the last move which consists of a touch down (if you’re intending to land) or a power recovery (meaning you used the auto rotation to “drift” in midair and change course rapidly, so now you travel along your new vector).
In Automotive Racing terms, the autorotation is best compared to a drift, where rapid changes in direction are done by making the car slide into and with it’s forward momentum while steering the nose directly into a new attack angle. Once the car completes it’s drift-slide, it’s pointed squarely at the new direction and goes straight into it. Now, imagine doing that but add a THIRD dimension of altitude instead of operating on a flat plane.
One of the keys to learning autorotation is awareness of the balance of your helicopter. Most civilians learning to pilot aircraft fail to take notice of mild changes in the pitch, yaw, and attitude of the aircraft. In simple terms, remember that tilting the nose too high makes you go up, dipping it down too much makes you eat pavement, and rolling too far to the left or right also affects the balance of the aircraft. Keep the helicopter on an even keel at all times to avoid loss of control. IF you can’t physically get used to “feeling” the balance of the helicopter, then pay close attention to the meters on the dashboard.
Balance aside, another key to mastering autorotation is control. This means that you should put enough pressure on the pedals and stick to make your turns and changes in balance precise. I used the analogy of a car racing drift because it’s easier for people to relate. Just like you should avoid over or under steering on a drift, avoid stomping on the pedals or yanking on the stick.
Lastly, know when to adjust power in an autorotation. Like applying gas and brakes properly on a drift, the helicopter equivalents are boosting the power for speed and cutting the power back to arrest your forward momentum. Given the four parts of an autorotation, ramp the power UP on entry, maintain it during the glide, cut it back during the flare, and either kill it on touchdown or boost it back up if going for a power recovery.

Your very first flight instructor will have a lot of impact on your learning, that is why it’s important to find one who can make the training process pleasant, organized and worth all the time, effort and money you put into it. If becoming a pilot is your dream, here are some tips on how to choose the flight instructor who will best fit your needs:
Your flight instructor must be qualified.
Your flight instructor became one because he or she earned an advanced pilot certificate. That means that they hold an airline or commercial transport pilot certificate. They can’t teach unless they have a flight instructor certificate or CFI. Look for this with your primary flight instructor.
Your instrument instructor, on the other hand, must have received his or her instrument instruction rating or CFII. You’ll need to meet some FAA requirements and if you received your training from unauthorized flight instructors, you may not be able to receive your pilot’s license. All your training hours and the cost that went with it will be for nothing.
Test fly your flight instructor.
It’s a good idea to go with a potential flight instructor during a routine flight to observe how they fly and the way they teach. Most of them will offer an introductory flight anyway, so take advantage of the chance and see for yourself.
Your flight instructor should have a genuine interest to help you reach your goal and you should feel comfortable with his teaching style. However, he doesn’t have to be extra amiable to be the best choice. You want a flight instructor who will expect excellence, discipline and hard work. If he’s too lax and you’re undisciplined, you might have some problems with learning effectively.
Check if documentations are kept.
There is no point of getting any training in aviation if your flight instructor or the school doesn’t keep accurate records. Documents will prove the type of training you have undergone and how many hours you have put in. You’ll need to fly a minimum number of hours to get your pilot’s license and if these can’t be corroborated, you might be forced to repeat your training.
Where to find them
If you live near an airport, call them up and ask to speak to a flight instructor. You can also arrange to attend some classes taught at the school. Flight academies also often put ads in the yellow pages, so you might want to check those out, too.

To venture into flying planes and choppers is a big decision. This is one activity that you have to seriously think about. You can’t afford mistakes. Thus, you must do everything within your means to do things properly. One aspect that you have to carefully consider is your navigation instruments.
Flying planes and choppers will definitely expose you to the great outdoors. You will discover new places, explore certain heights and even see the surroundings in a different perspective. As such, you need to have a good navigating system to find your way around. If you still think that you need to find you old compass for the trip, then think again.
The GPS device is now your main tool. GPS or Global Positioning System will enable you to determine exactly where you are. This can also indicate to you where you need to make turns and where you should make your stops. This is your key to navigate.
GPS Buying Tips
As such, you really need to have a good GPS device when you fly a plane or a chopper. In this regard, you can make use of some helpful buying tips when you get your own GPS. Here are some buying tips to keep in mind.
1. Determine the GPS Type
GPS devices have varied prices that can range from $50 to $10,000. The range depends on the features and capabilities of the devices. Thus, for your flying endeavors, it is best to choose the type that will best suit your outdoor exploration needs. You can make use of the PDA/GPS hybrid type.
2. Specific Functions
You may want to get a GPS with other specific functions helpful to you. For example, flying a plane may require much of your concentration. As such, getting GPS devices that provide oral instructions will definitely be a big help.
3. Multi-Purpose Devices
There are GPS devices that serve multi-purpose functions. You may benefit from the talking instructions. However, keep in mind that you need to work efficiently with the GPS. If the extra functions only confuse you, then it is best not to get them. Just get a device that is durable and efficient enough for your flying needs. That is all you need for a good investment with your GPS purchase.
Conclusion
Use the GPS buying tips provided here to grab hold of the right device for your navigation endeavors. This is your key to safety and accuracy.

Other than navigation and the airworthiness of your plane, it’s the weather that will determine whether you have a successful flight or not. When you’re flying, weather will affect everything you do and no amount of technical preparation can help you control what’s going to happen next. That is why you’ll have to consult a weather forecast before flying.
Why you should be wary of the weather
Weather changes and even with the very best instruments, it’s subject to many unpredictable things that occur when we least expect it. It would be very foolish indeed to try to fly an aircraft in the direction of gale-force winds. Not even the very best pilots can do that and neither should you. Even spiders try to read the weather before they throw out their webs to change locations. Why shouldn’t you?
Use your resources
Weather forecasts are provided by many local weather offices who regularly announce changes that should be cause for concern especially for pilots. Keep in touch with these sources whether on TV, the radio or on the internet. Your local air traffic control can also assist you in this area.
A weather forecast isn’t something you can ignore and forget about before you fly. The elements in the air are an integral part of your flight plan and you can’t leave the ground without it. Besides, it will be difficult for you to get clearance if the weather forecast isn’t good. Weather forecasters are also able to produce more accurate predictions of local weather because of newer technology, making it safer for many pilots to fly.
Don’t trust an old forecast.
Try to obtain the most current weather forecast you can find, preferably those that were made within 12 to 24 hours before your intended flight. These forecasts can be trusted for their accuracy. If what you have is a weather forecast made two to three days ago, that’s also pretty good – not as accurate, but can be a decent guide. However, if the weather forecast you’re using is 5 days old, you’d be better off not flying because accuracy is no longer reliable.
Also, when it comes to weather forecasting before a flight, the bigger picture isn’t always a good source. You’ll need details on air pressure, humidity and temperature, along with wind directions and speed in order for you to determine whether it’s safe to fly.

It isn’t enough to take the word of someone you know when choosing a helicopter flight school. Reputation aside, it is important that you search for a flight school that offers you the best deal and gives you value for your money.
Even if you can afford the most expensive helicopter flight school, it is imperative that you do your homework before making your final decision. There are important aspects to consider before you settle on your option.
1. Consider the fees. Think twice before saying “Yes” to the first helicopter flight school you visit. Review the background of each school you will
be scouting and research the history if possible.
Search for a helicopter flight school that offers complete training and payment options. A good helicopter flight school should always offer a payment option to their trainees to ensure that the course will the finished and paid for at the same time.
If your option doesn’t happen to be any of the above, look somewhere else. Don’t limit your chances of getting the best service.
2. A good helicopter flight school will normally offer their trainees a training plan that tells them where their money will be going. Training materials, cost of instruction both on land and in the air, cost of fuel, instructor’s fees, insurance and others should all be covered by the price they are offering. You can always ask the helicopter flight school administration for the detailed services during your scouting.
3. Make a practical decision when selecting the location. If you want to save on other expenses like food, transportation and lodging, you can always opt for a helicopter flight school within your area. The price of the training itself is very expensive, and cutting on unnecessary expenses will help you financially.
4. When scouting for a good helicopter flight school, always take the opportunity to check out the facilities and the equipments within the premises. Inquire about flight simulators and if they are readily available for trainees.
Generally, helicopter flight schools with flight simulators help the trainees financially by cutting down the cost of the entire training fee.
Check for the ground school and the amenities. A good helicopter flight school will always have a good ground school to help trainees learn and progress during the training process.
5. Learn about the instructors and their backgrounds. Reputable helicopter flight schools will always employ the best trainers, but of course there is a price to pay if this is the case.
If you have found all of the above from one particular helicopter flight school, sign up right away.

Flying a plane is probably one of the most exhilarating activities you can do but it requires a substantial amount of skill to perform. In addition, training to become pilot isn’t cheap, as the flying schools normally charge large tuition fees to cover the use of their equipment. Readying yourself to become a pilot won’t just require you to be mentally ready but also financially ready. However, for those who want to fly a plane but aren’t interested in having a career with a commercial airline or in the Air Force can study to become a Recreational Pilot.
Flying enthusiasts can get a recreational pilot certificate. This avenue for wannabe pilots isn’t as difficult compared to normal flying courses because it includes less training but the privileges are considerably lower compared to those offered by a private certificate. A recreational pilot certificate was conceptualized for those who want to pilot small single-engine aircrafts. The main edge of pursuing a recreational pilot certificate is that you eventually get to fly but the training is cheaper.
If you eventually decide to become a potential pilot, there are some things you need to know before getting swayed by the different pilot schools that are out to get your cash. Attending “ground schools” is a very useful pre-flight course. Such schools can be seen at a local college or airport and lessons are taught via the traditional classroom-style. However, attending ground schools isn’t required by formal flying schools and the FAA. The FAA only requires potential pilot students to pass a written test and flight test in the future. For those that want to save money, it is best to skip ground schools and use the money to buy books about the basics of being a pilot. A person who is interested will easily learn from pilot books that are readily available.
Another good way to prepare for flight school and also save money is by taking the written test as early as possible. Verify with the different testing areas in your home state and check the schedules for the tests. Doing this will help you save money, as you want have to go through the hassle of studying and paying different fees during the middle of flight training. Keep in mind that the best prepared are those that immediately finish the small requirements in order to fully focus on the major course.
Many potential recreational pilots prepare for the written tests and also save money when performing flight training. This is an ideal option on a number of levels.

When having a pilot uniform customized, it’s easy to get swept away by beautiful designs. If, however, you’re using the uniform for an actual flight, make sure that it’s not only designed according to your aesthetic preferences but also according to comfort, safety, and performance.
SHIRTS – As they serve more as an undershirt in this case, it must be made of lightweight dry-fit material so you can wear it comfortably and prevent you from sweating too much during cases of extreme heat and humidity.
JACKETS – They must be an exact fit without making it hard for you to move. It must be made of considerably thick and durable material so it can serve as cushion for your fall during accidents. They should have the necessary epaulettes or badges sewn on the shoulder and breast area to make you easily identifiable. Buttons must be big so that they’re easy to use. Sleeves must be properly sized or one that you can roll up to your elbows without difficulties when necessary.
Jackets must also be chosen according to their ability to provide heat and insulation. If you crash during the winter and you need to wait for help, a thin jacket would serve as poor protection against the cold.
TIES – In terms of practicality, your necktie won’t be of much use except perhaps to bind the hands of a hijacker or for knotting broken parts together. Whatever design you end up choosing is okay, but just make sure that it’s at least made from durable fabric.
TROUSERS – For uniformity, it must be made of exactly the same color and fabric used for your jacket. It must also be the proper fit – one that allows you to move with maximum ease without being too bulky. Durability is a must as it will serve as cushion for your legs.
GLOVES – Again, choose one with the perfect fit or one that allows your fingers to move efficiently. Secondly, choose gloves made from durable material so they can serve as adequate protection against heat and sharp objects. Ideally speaking, gloves should at least end a couple of inches beyond your wrist bones for additional protection. Make sure they’re easily removable as well just in case you need to take them off.
PULLOVERS – These aren’t worn as frequently as your pilot jacket and trouser but consider them as part of your uniform as well. These should be made from extremely durable materials because you’ll use them when you’re fixing the plane or you’re in unsafe conditions.
And there you have it: a proper pilot uniform. Style it anyway you want, just as long as they’re all included!

Flying a helicopter is a challenge for most pilots simply because helicopters struggle with opposing forces in order to keep itself airborne. As such, there is a need to ensure the safety of helicopter flights using proper energy management. Energy management can help the helicopter fly safely in case of engine failure and prevent it from rising to unusual altitudes.
All aircraft safety relies on energy management. An airplane, for example, relies on potential energy to maintain altitude and kinetic energy to maintain forward speed. A pilot needs to play between these two kinds of energies in order to successfully maneuver the plane and bring it gently to the ground if they need to land it or if they experience engine failure.
With a helicopter, a pilot has to manage three types of energy: potential energy to maintain altitude, kinetic energy to maintain forward speed and angular momentum to maintain blade speed. Unlike airplanes in mid-air, helicopters can’t fly without an engine. If the rotor blades slow down, you simply can’t convert potential energy into kinetic energy and make the rotor blades spin.
Say for example the helicopter is losing altitude because the engine stops. There is no need to waste more energy on trying to kick start the rotor blades. You’ll have to lower the helicopter’s collective pitch to flatten the rotor. They will now be spun by the wind that passes through them as the helicopter falls. You can then use the remaining energy on adjusting the cyclic to maintain forward speed, all the while aiming for your landing zone.
As the ground nears, you’ll have to pull back the cyclic in order to reduce forward speed. This helps flare the helicopter. Seconds before it touches the ground (about 6′ feet from the ground), you can stop the flare and keep the helicopter parallel to your landing area. Once you raise the collective, you simply use the potential energy on the blades against gravity and allow the helicopter to land safely.
Maintaining the descent rate means using more power. To settle, the helicopter must be flown forward, away from the vertical descending column of its rotor downwash. A full collective will only deplete the helicopter’s energy reserves, which are better off used to produce a forward motion.
If you have a high-performance helicopter, energy management may not be as much of a concern. These helicopters allow sufficient power reserves that prevent vertical descent, provided of course, that your helicopter flies without an extra load.

Learning flight planning is as important as learning to operate an aircraft. After all, the safety and success of every flight depends on the efficiency of the flight plan. Before a pilot can hope to spend hours airborne on his aircraft, he must first learn how to prepare a flight plan.
What is flight planning?
Essentially, flight planning is simply the process of creating a plan that describes the flight of an aircraft. There are two important safety aspects involved in flight planning: fuel calculation and air traffic control compliance. Fuel calculation determines the amount of fuel needed in order for the aircraft to travel safely from one point to the next while air traffic control compliance involves following the terms required to ensure a safe flight.
Fuel calculation is based on the fuel consumption of the aircraft, which is essential information for the pilot to plan how much fuel he must carry or, if necessary, where and when he should make fuel stops. For this reason, safety regulations require aircrafts to carry extra fuel. Air traffic compliance, on the other hand, is necessary in order to avoid collisions in mid-air by ensuring that the pilot keeps his aircraft within the pre-agreed route(s).
Other than the safety of the pilot, his passengers, the plane’s cargo and the plane itself, these critical areas are designed to ensure flight costs are kept to a minimum simply by planning the aircraft’s route, its speed, height and the minimum amount of fuel it can carry to sufficiently carry out a flight.
Flight planning tutorials
Flight planning is one of the most basic lessons taught in flying school. Your flight instructor can teach you the most essential things you need to learn about flight planning. However, there are web-based flight planning services you can turn to for help, in case you need tutorials and other information.
A good source of flight planning information and tutorials is AOPA.org, the website maintained by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. In addition to the various information you can get online, AOPA.org also offers an online flight planner which you can access and use in real time. You’ll have to download the program and if you need a tutorial, you can access it from the site, which explains what information you need to get and what to do with it.
FlightPrep.com is another website that offers a brief tutorial on how to use their downloadable flight planner. It will walk you through your first session in flight planning and let you know what information you need and how to use it. Other sites you can access for info and tutorials are FSBuild.com and AeroPlanner.com.