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After the Catalina Island adventure, Susan knew just what to buy Greg for his birthday. Though it took more than twelve calls to find a place to give them, Susan was anxious to see Greg's face when he realized she bought him his first helicopter flying lesson.

After the busy holiday season was over, MLK weekend proved to be the perfect time to take advantage of the first flight gift certificate. Returning home from a visit with grandpa and grandma Seal in Cottonwood, we headed to Chandler Airport to watch Greg go up and away. Armed with his own fan club, Susan, Preston, Brooklyn, and even Kindra cheered him on from the parking lot as he headed up for his first flight. Greg's narrative of the experience is below.



I have to say that I've done a lot in my life and I never really get a scared feeling. However, this one tickled my stomach just a little bit. I felt that I had a good step into the right direction since I had been practicing flying a helicopter on my computer flight simulator at home.

I met my flight instructor, Mr. Masahiro, and he gave me a brief idea of what was about to happen. The first thing he asked me was if I was a pilot. I thought that my response of being a pilot would help my situation. He replied that fixed wing pilots are usually the hardest to train. Thus, I didn't talk any more airplane stories with him. The next thing that interested me was his discussion on this particular helicopter. He said that this was the most dangerous helicopter to fly because of the sensitivity of the controls. If I qualify in this helicopter, I would be qualified to fly any other helicopter according to the FAA.

With a brief walk around the helicopter, we stepped inside and discussed the instrument panel and flight controls. Before I knew it, the engine was up to rpm's. I knew that I would have no trouble lifting off and flying away from the airport. However, my instructor informed me that it wasn't going to happen that way. I had to actually taxi the helicopter to the runway. Thus, hovering became my first obstacle. I quickly found that flying a helicopter was not the same as flying the simulator on my computer.

After I finally got it to the runway and took off, the helicopter actually started flying like an airplane and I felt more comfortable with the controls. We went 20 miles southeast into the canyons. Just like in the movies, I found myself weaving in and out of canyons. The next maneuver was to actually land the helicopter on top of a 1,000 foot high needle shaped rock. There was only enough room to place one skid on the needle. I'm sure I had a lot of help doing this.

We then simulated an engine failure. He disengaged the clutch to the blades and we began to fall. Again, I think I had a lot of help on this maneuver, but he was so good I didn't feel a thing as he helped me with the controls. As we dropped 3500 feet in a matter of seconds, he helped me flare the helicopter at the last minute and we landed gently on a dirt road.

We then returned to the airport where for the first time, I began to really work with the helicopter. He made me practice taxiing the aircraft from one end of the airport to the other. Of course, I only used the runway to cross over from one side to the other side. Occasionally he would straighten me out, but before long, I would be off to the side again. I actually think I did pretty well.

We then practiced skidding the helicopter on the runway. We simulated the possibility that the helicopter could not hover. Thus, just like an airplane, we had a good speed as we approached the runway and touched down just like an airplane. I'm sure if it were night time, the sparks from the skids would be spectacular.



We finally returned to the helicopter landing site. We had to make an approach just like a normal airplane.


The kids had spent their time "starring" in a video, but were quick to spot me when I returned to the airport.



Coming in just like an airplane, I finally become more able to control my airspeed and height. The goal here was to slow down and eventually hover over the runway.


Taxiing, I thought I had it under control. However, I think the entire flight started to drain me mentally. The controls were extremely sensitive and I would always over correct.



I thought at this point, my instructor would take over and park the helicopter. Not... He told me to taxi it back to the hangar in between the other helicopters.


I came pretty close, but to move the helicopter another 10 feet would have meant flying backwards at least 30 feet and sideways 40 feet.





He eventually showed me to just drag the skids on the ground and this gave me much better control of the helicopter.




After letting the engine cool down for 5 minutes, we talked a little more about the performance of the aircraft.



I truly appreciated my instructor giving me lots of room to fly without much interaction from him... or maybe he did. I don't know but I sure felt like a flew by the seat of my pants for an hour and a half . I shook his hand and told him I would be back soon since my dad had also bought me a lesson for my birthday.


The kids did great waiting for me to return. They had made a video for me while I was gone. It was very good. It was about me going and taking my first flight lesson.

Click here to see actual video footage of my first lesson. Requires latest version of Quicktime. If you have less than Quicktime 4.0, click here to download the latest version. Earlier versions cause the screen to be black.


My instructor, Mr. Masahiro, said, "You're the best student I've ever had. Most of my first time students actually try and kill me."