Calling all helicopter pilots

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12-12-2008, 01:35 PM

#11

Scout

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Joined APC: Sep 2006

Position: B737 FO

Posts: 138

Former Army Scout Pilot here.....10 years Cav/Attack, 15 years Army FW. Living the dream.......

12-14-2008, 10:04 PM

#12

tehehodi

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Is it better to become a fixed wing pilot or rotatory? pay better?

12-15-2008, 12:00 AM

#13

FlyArmy

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Joined APC: Aug 2007

Posts: 111

Do you like to fly high and fast or low and slow. Do you like to pull G's or hover. Neither is better, it is what you like that makes it better. Pay is nothing to write home about no matter what you fly. If you are going straight civilian, fixed wing is a better option. Much cheaper training, much more job opportunity and opportunity for slightly higher paying jobs (generally speaking) in the FW community. There are much fewer helicopters in the world, thus fewer helicopter jobs. Most require quite a few hours as well.

12-15-2008, 05:20 AM

#14

Spongebob

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Joined APC: Nov 2006

Position: Grumman Torture Device (weekends only)

Posts: 445

Navy SH-60B's for 5 years, then E-2's for 6. Working as a contractor for NAVAIR now after a stint flying the whale with a shoddy cargo carrier.

Sponge

12-19-2008, 06:05 PM

#15

Romulus

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tehehodi

Is it better to become a fixed wing pilot or rotatory? pay better?

Better pay and more jobs in fixed wing, but rotary wing is the most fun you can have with your pants on. Truly the most fun I've had flying is in a helicopter. The second most fun is flying aerobatics in flight training (T-34C). Airlines are fun, but nothing compared to those first two.

12-22-2008, 07:07 AM

#16

rmepilot

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Position: OH-58D ME

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Soon to be redeployed/retired -58D driver.

12-22-2008, 07:16 AM

#17

rmepilot

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Position: OH-58D ME

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tehehodi

Is it better to become a fixed wing pilot or rotatory? pay better?

With pay and allowances, I grossed $116k this year, which is not too bad (I think FW guy's make more than that). Very high risk work, but a whole lot of fun.

12-22-2008, 09:35 AM

#18

Vampilot

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Posts: 13

AH-64D's. Still chasing the airline dream (nightmare?).

12-22-2008, 04:26 PM

#19

scarface

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Posts: 67

USMC UH1Es; PaARNG UH1Hs,OH6As and CH47As.

12-22-2008, 06:01 PM

#20

mswmsw

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Joined APC: Jan 2008

Posts: 117

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehehodi

Just wanted to see how many helicopter pilots were on this forum!

Currently flying the Eurocopter AS350B2 A-Star for the last five years. Before that, flew MD500's and MD520 Notars. I also regularly fly a King Air B200 and Cessna 210's. But I will "second" the guy who said helos are more fun than fixed wing ........... waaaayyy more fun. The younger guys tell me that helo flying also has a much higher CDI factor than fixed wing flying; but I'm an old guy now, so that stuff doesn't count for me anymore.