Classic British Flight Sim

I might have remembered Anneka.....if I'd ever watched it

When I took a familiarisation flight in an R-22, the instructor sat in the left seat. Does that mean I was technically in command?

An interesting question George and one that's been on my mind since this lot started I think the 'command' tag is negotiable depending on what it is you're flying. I think Tonks has instructed on numerous types in the RAF albeit fixed wing and as the instructor on somthing like a Grob/Tutor.. he's been in the RH seat (the opposite to where a Captain would normally sit) Someone in 'autohority' will ultimately pop up and put us all right on this

ATB

DaveB

Garry Russell wrote:I might have remembered Anneka.....if I'd ever watched it

her last name is'nt "Uponyu" was it?

From what I gather,it really has to do with the rotation of the rotor. The pilot sits on the side on the aircraft of the advancing rotor blade.
(probably has to do with an evenly loaded craft when he flies solo.) Although it's truly based on the rotation of the engine... plus gears.

GHD

Congratulations , you passed the first test in pilot training.... do what the instructor tells you to do.
The pilot training seating arrangement is: trainee in the pilots seat because that's the seat he/she will one day occupy when they get their ticket.
... at least that has been the case of all my training flights. Which has always been LH , so now you know what type of ac I've been trained in.



I found some info in a few different places (just to confirm) the rotation of American helos has been CCR where as the French and European are CR.
This comes from the Focke-Achgelis FA-223, a twin rotor French hélicoptère , at least that's the scuttlebutt going around.
It crashed and one engine went to Americans and the other the French kept.

There are however European and French Helos that rotate CC..... probably done just to confuse the heck out of us...

I think you're confusing the Aircraft Commander and the PIC. Basically in the RAF and Army the Aircraft Commander is the senior pilot in the aircraft, authorised as such to carry out the mission, in the Navy it's the senior member of Aircrew authorised as such, so often the Observer is the Aircraft Commander*. Where the people are sitting doesn't actually effect who is the Aircraft Commander, and in training the instructor will be the Aircraft Commander while the student will generally sit in the seat the PIC normally uses to get used to flying from there. In UK military helicopters this is the right hand seat, irrespective of which way round the spinny bit is going, this is also normally the side they put the winch on helicopters which can help when you're playing skittles, I mean doing secondary roles.

In anything much bigger than a Squirrel the weight of a solo pilot isn't going to affect how level the thing is in the hover, although in the early lower powered machines it would have had an affect so historically it probably had an influence.

Also since the collective is in between the seats it allows the PIC to use his right hand for the cyclic

I don't know where that comes from as every type I've poked around in has two collectives, in fact I understand on the makey instructor course at Shawbury they demo flying with the left hand on the cyclic and the right on the collective (as if you'd taken it off a ham fisted student) just to make sure everyone is sufficiently scared not to try doing it again.

*Actually this isn't always the case, if a senior officer is having a refresher, changing aircraft type etc. the more junior instructor may well still be authorised as the aircraft commander. So ultimately it's up to whoever authorises the flight.

Cheers Skip.. works for me

ATB

DaveB

I realise that seat switiching and PIC etc. takes place ...but the article stated he would fly as a co pilot.....which is why I thought it odd he would be in the RH seat. that was my only comment........a co pilot in the RH seat

It was a s much as the BBC setting the shot up wrong as much as anything

airboatr wrote: I found some info in a few different places (just to confirm) the rotation of American helos has been CCR where as the French and European are CR.
This comes from the Focke-Achgelis FA-223, a twin rotor French hélicoptère , at least that's the scuttlebutt going around.
It crashed and one engine went to Americans and the other the French kept.
There are however European and French Helos that rotate CC..... probably done just to confuse the heck out of us...

Cheers, Joe - that is fascinating background info...
But which way do they rotate down here in Oz?

Sorry, friend, 'tis the Irish blood that makes me do it

MikeW

I was chatting to a friend who is currently converting to Airbuses having flown 737s and 767s before.

He has just flown the A321 for the first time. He sat in the left hand seat, the instructor on the right and there is a third pilot in the jump seat. So he is the "Pilot" and the instructor is the "Co-pilot" although the instructor is the aircraft commander. The conversion requires 36 flights in the real aircraft, obviously after lots of time in the classroom and simulator.

Earlier during the conversion he said that the airbus has been designed by engineers for engineers and the fact that somebody might have to fly it was an afterthought. He seems to like it better now.

For Garry and Joe who never saw Ms Rice in Treasure Hunt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViYNSFLN ... 1&index=18

Jon

...but the article stated he would fly as a co pilot.....

I think I warned earlier that the report by Aunty should not be trusted.. or words to that effect

ATB

DaveB