Another good question...

"...Hanning's Law of mechanics, attributed to my father when first learning about the big noisy beasts (Armoured Tanks) in 1940 or so. The law runs 'It is not possible to lift the engine covers of a tank when you are standing on them.' As one of my friends wrote, 'Only strict adherence to that law enabled the Guards Armoured Division to fight its way successfully from Normandy to the Baltic.'..."

                                                                 Henry Hanning, Lieutenant Colonel Rtd. Grenadier Guards



I've musts had a very good question posted on one of the video clips on you tube.

jerrodcorey25 2 days ago

Very great video. I come from a family of helicopter pilots and am about to start my Private Certificate for Helicopter in Southern California. I am curious if you have flown the R-22 or R-44 and if so what do you prefer, the R-22 or the 300 and why?? Thanks

So where do I start? Firstly many thanks jerrodcorey25 for the kind comments. I can understand your quest to fly especially with such an influence from your family. Your question is a very good one and one that is often debated between flying schools and pilots. This website (http://www.ukhelicopterpilot.com/robinson-vs-schweizer) gives a very good and pragmatic view of the R22 and the H269/300. My personal preference is the 300 and I did have a choice of 300 or R44. My reasoning was two fold. First has to be cost, as the lessons were cheap in the Schweitzer. The other reason, and probably the most important for myself, was the progression to other aircraft that I intended to take for future flying and hopefully commercial would be fully articulated rotor system aircraft. My ultimate goal is search and rescue (SAR) or air ambulance which 'across the pond here in Blighty' and most other countries are commonly fully articulated like the EC135, AW139 or MD900 as opposed to twin bladed aircraft  for example, Bell 206. 

There are other flight characteristics that would also favour articulated heads for example greater rotor inertia which can buy. You a valuable two seconds for entering autorotation as one benefit but also mast bumping. A serious consideration when performing low-G manoeuvers or even in rough turbulence. I've never flown as Pilot in command (PIC) hover sitting in the left seat you get a good comparison to size and feel of the aircraft. It also helped that the first time I was in one was with the chief pilot heading into 40 knots of head wind which was all over the place. Probably not the best time to hear about the finer points of mast bumping. See previous post - It all seems to happen at once . The Schweitzer has a very good success rate and safety standard compared to the R22 which, when the closest comparable helicopter to the Schweitzer, was not designed for training in mind. However the lower cost of buying and running has made it very popular with training schools. The Schweitzer was designed with that purpose in mind and as a result as a very 'robust' aircraft. I liken it much to my Landrover defender 110. You may have a bit more long term maintenance schedules to deal with and the component part to change but over all it's like a giant flying set of Meccano.

The other factor to consider is the career path to the final goal. If going down the helicopter business computer route there a lot of R44 and more recently with the introduction of the R66 another contender in the turbine twin bladed helicopter market. Some friendly competition for the Bell's out there. It may be easier to get time flying with companies that run the R44's to build hours and keep the pennies coming in. The 'end goal' has to be the decider for the individual. So what ever you plan on doing as your career in flying, I'd say with my limited knowledge, use that as the decider to which aircraft you primeraly learn in and how your type ratings develop. 

On a personal note the Schweitzer has been a pleasure to fly and has done me proud but that is based on my sole experiences and a good handful of second hand information and opinions. So it's Teflon coated shoulders time. I hope you and others have got some useful information from this and I hope it helps you make an easier choice. 

Best wishes for your flying career and let us know how you get on. Safe flying