What would prompt a pilot who’s mastered gliders, hang gliders, micro-lights, the supersonic F-18, and the awesome manoeuvrability of a Red Bull race plane, to try his hand at flying a helicopter? The sublime joy of hovering, that’s what!
In a unique venture put together by Matt Hall Racing, Newcastle Helicopters, and Vertical Australasia Magazine, on Wednesday 22 January Matt took to the skies for 45 minutes of ab-initio instruction in a Robinson R-22. The results were nothing short of remarkable: Under the trusting guidance of Newcastle Helicopters’ flight instructor Ian Sinclair, Matt was able to master the hover, take off, land, handle the helicopter through translational flight, and even had control through two complete autorotation manoeuvres.
Matt receiving instruction from Ian Sinclair
But the day’s fun didn’t end there. Once Matt had completed his dual stint in the R-22, the tables were turned as Matt took instructor Ian Sinclair for the ride of his life – throwing his Giles 202 around the sky over Maitland, New South Wales. For all involved in this special event, it was a day to remember.
But this won’t be the last time Matt finds himself at the controls of a chopper: To find out why, read the full story of the day Matt strapped on an R-22 to try his hand at flying helicopters in issue 3 of Vertical Australia, available end March 2010.
Two Birds in action
Photos by Leighton Wells
