Interesting Videos

[Johan G]

If I ever would start flying IRL, accidentally getting into IMC* as a non IFR** rated pilot would be one of the scary things that could happen. "Get-there-itis" (in essence time pressure) is one of the more psychological dangers with that (more so if you have passengers complaining).

FlightChops - Flying VFR into IMC - a top KILLER of pilots - My close call! (15 min)

He has more good videos too. One of my favorites is this one:

FlightChops - Scariest Take Off I've Ever Seen - Aircraft Performance and Personal Minimums (4 min)

* Instrument Meteorological Conditions
** Instrument Flight Rules

[curt]

I haven't met Flight Chops myself, but my good friend Tim (who I worked closely with for 10+ years) gave him a hovering lesson. That's Tim in the left seat and Tim's enstrom helicopter in the video. Flightchops is a great youtube channel to subscribe to (for anyone who isn't already subscribed.)

[Johan G]

Good video.

Also:

If you are thinking about what to do next you are already behind.

I remember the first time I really tried to fly a helicopter in FlightGear* and had read in a bit and watched some tutorials on YouTube. Just as I had got the hover together I decided to reach for F3 (with my left hand, the right was still on the "collective"). Boom, instant crash. As I reached I a) let go of the hoover cognitively and b) moved the collective a couple of millimeters. The low hover did not help either.

* In essence not the time I tried to follow along a FGUK flight and made a complete mess. Crashed dozen or so times at the departure airport, and when I finally gave up and took a GA aircraft they where halfway to the destination.

[wlbragg]

Last two videos were really nice. Rotary is not for the faint of heart. You can really appreciate someone who flies them all day long.

[Johan G]

Stumbled upon this little homebuilt the other day:

Spread Flying - Archon SF-1 RG in Flight - Outside View | NEW PAINT SCHEME (5 min)

[Picun_1812]

A few weeks ago I recorded this flight at low altitude between Villa O'Higgins (where I live) and Coyhaique, the regional capital. Between the SCOH Aerodrome and SCCY.
It is the fastest way of connection that we have the inhabitants of this commune to move north, being the most autonomous commune of the Region of Aysén.

[Johan G]

Highly impressive piloting of the Erickson Skycrane, and guts of antenna installers:

sjbclimbs - Best helicopter antenna pick ever! (3 min)

Pro's make things look so easy.

[wlbragg]

That is hard to watch even when you know it is going to turn out OK. Precision of the pilot is amazing. At first I thought those were ropes hanging down, then you see they are decent sized cables.

[wkitty42]

i have a friend that flies the skycrane... he was in australia a few years ago fighting their wildfires... recent comms indicate he is back in the southwestern US, now...

[Johan G]

Some of the activities at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station back in the days.

AIRBOYD - "Testport (1971) Naval Air Test Center, Pax River" (27 min)

AIRBOYD - "U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (1959)" (14 min)

The flight tests are not only for enlarging and establishing the safe flight envelope and characterizing the handling qualities such as spin recovery. Flight tests are also the source to the data in the flight manuals performance sections.

In case anyone is interested in getting deep into the details of flight testing there are few better resources that the USNTPS's flight test handbooks. You can get the gist of them even without the math. They can be found at the USNTPS Alumni Association website.

Side note to the first video: The satellite based emergency transmitter system is probably related to the Cospas-Sarsat system used by ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter), EPIRB (Emergency Position-indicating Radio Beacon) and PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) emergency beacons. They are used in literally thousands of rescues every year.