The First functional helicopter- Focke-Wulf FW 61

Introduction

For starters let me clear that the Focke-Wulf FW 61 was built in 1936 and the VS-300 built by Igor Sirkosky first flew in 1939. So I have just established that the FW-61 was the first functional helicopter ever built.

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Medical fitness needed to be a pilot

Introduction

Medical fitness has always been the most important aspect of a pilots life. If your not medically fit as per governing authorities in your country, you cannot fly. Its been one of the frequent questions I have been getting from budding pilots.

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Life of a Helicopter pilot

Introduction

My name is Capt Sanjith Christopher, and I’m a helicopter pilot. I have been flying since the last 4 years. I have accumulated around 2000 hours of helicopter flight time as of now. Though its not much, but its pretty good for a guy who is 26 years old. The machines I have flown are Schweizer 300, Robinson 22, Robinson 44 and Dauphin AS365N. Presently,  I am flying for the Indian Govt and my base of flying changes every month.

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Pilots find it tough maintaining relationships,why??

Introduction

So, why do pilots find it difficult maintaining relationships?. This might seem to you as a very funny topic to you. But I myself is sitting in this huge luxurious hotel room , hundreds of miles away from home and worried about certain issues in my family.

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How much money do you need to be a pilot??

Introduction

How much money do you need to become a pilot?? Well, I get this question a lot, and my answer is  also the same, ALOT!!

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Delays in flying training

Introduction

So, when my dad brought me to this flying school 2 years ago, we never expected such delays in flying training. Im not going to write a long post like I usually do. But I find the need to prepare you guys for something very unexpected- Delays!!.

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Student pilot License (SPL)- Earning wings to fly

Introduction

Walking back home, tired but happy, I’m typing this on my phone. A Student Pilot License (SPL) is the first step before you start flying. Ofcourse there are things you need to do on ground before it, but without an SPL you cannot fly. For a pilot, this is a very significant and memorable day in his/her life. Continue reading Student pilot License (SPL)- Earning wings to fly

Cut grass all day…

I want to start writing today by saying, these are some really dark days and I have never encountered days like these in my life before. Now, by dark I didn’t mean there’s no sunshine in Bangalore or the tube-light in my room has fused, but inspite of all the light around, I’m not able to feel it, which makes it dark for me!!

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Making my first friend in the field

Omg words are dancing around as I type, but it’s a great day as well, so I have to write this!!

So it’s been a month now since I have been staying in this new house, and i don’t know how to describe the time I have passed here. The stay has been pleasant but at the same time I do not want to even describe the time at RWA(the flying school). But all this isn’t the highlight for today, I made my first friend in Bangalore!!

So the whole day went on schedule, when I mean on schedule, that’s the only thing I have in my life right now, living life as per the watch, by the minute, by the seconds!! So at exactly 8pm I had dinner and when I was returning back to my room, a shadowy figure emerged out of the dark, he was a guy in his late twenties, not very tall, wheatish and shabbily dressed. He asked every Malayalis favourite question, “Malayali alle??”(your a Malayali right) I answered in surprise, “ya”. Well I was in surprise because I hadn’t spoken to anybody in a few days, all I have been saying is “yes sir”!!

Further he asked, “your a pilot right”, and I proudly said “yes!!” And he told that he’s a trainee engineer with jet airways. He then took my hand to shake hands and said, “my names
Dony” and I told him my name. He said come meet the others, though I wasn’t very keen, I still went with him. He and his friend where staying in a room which was near our mess.

I should say, when I reached the room, it reminded me of the old room I used to stay in, shabby and all in a huge mess. A tall, dark guy wearing specks was sitting on the bed, looking at me in surprise. Dony introduced me to him, and I got to know his name is Alwyn. Would you believe the first question he asked me? It was, “do you drink?”. I was dumbfounded with this question of his, i have never really drank before, I have tasted beer a few times, but never really drank, but at the same time I had to make friends, and also keep up an image!! So I said, “ I have tried beer”, so he took out a bottle of brandy out of his cupboard and said, “now try this, Malayalis only brand, MCB Brandy!!”  I said, “I have never tried this”, to which he replied, “c’mon your a Malayali right, you can’t refuse this”, after some convincing I readily agreed.

Dony came in with 3 glasses , water and some chips in a flash and in no time drinks were served. Tonight I had 3 drinks, and I have puked my guts out after that. Ofcourse I was laughed at, but I knew I was in the group. Well more about alwyn, he is an engineer with jet airways too and he was having a really bad day, because of which we had this drinking fiesta!!

I had to be escorted back to my room, and now as I’m typing all this, words are dancing around, and I have nothing in my stomach to puke out. God, I’m never going to drink again!! Just make me feel alright!! But inspite of all the physical issues, I’m sleeping with content tonight, I’m not alone anymore!!