Good Day's Flyin!

[helipaddy]

Got a lot of the test flying for permit issue today, Here's an air to air photo, with my mate Derek taking the photo and his lady Helina flying their Cub. Brilliant machine!
Paddy

[Tina]

Great picture! Likes like you where having fun.

[dimwit]

Outstanding Paddy. Good to see out having some fun exelent looking machine. Best to ya.

[MikeBoyette]

Paddy,
Congradulations!!!!!

[tyc]

Nice! Very nice indeed!

tyc

[Joe Pires]

Great stuff..have fun!!!

[C. Beaty]

Paddy, I expect that as an experienced helicopter pilot, you found flying a Dominator to be a piece of cake.

I’m curious as to the training route you took; most helicopter pilots are able to handle a Dominator after a couple of circuits with an instructor in a tandem Dominator. It’s mostly a matter of learning the rotor start-up drill and becoming acclimated to run-on landings without collective. And learning to handle the wretched toe brakes.

[bpearson]

It seems the Irish aviation authorities have a very sensible regulation route. I would love to fly a Dominator in the UK.

[StanFoster]

Paddy- Looks like you are having a good time. Thanks for sharing it. Stan

[helipaddy]

Finally Got my Full Permit to Fly on the Dominator last Friday. Really enjoying it and learning all the time. Ive flown in lots of conditions for the testing no-wind, 20kts headwinds and 10kt 90 degree crosswinds. Its a very stable platform that gets more stable the faster you fly. the no roll landings are easy, the first few flares were slightly high (about a foot) but the gear soaks it up.
I did a bit early last year in a Magni in the UK, but I couldnt get the Solo part of the Syllabus done due to the lack of a machine to solo on due to the insurance setup in the UK. So I organised to do the Add On Gyroplane to my FAA heli ticket with Ron Menzie in Searcy. It was a brilliant learning experience and I had a great time learning with one of lifes true gentlemen.
Ron seemed to think that I had the required feel to fly the Dominator straight away and with his advice I took a very slow methodical route, getting used to the ground handling without the blades on, then running up the field with the blades turning getting used to prerotation and managing the RRPM then wheel balancing then short hops the length of the runway then circuits. The Dominator flys really well but I can really see how someone can get into real trouble without training. What also helps me to fly the Dom is My tailwheel flying,so my feet tend not to be asleep, once you keep it absolutely straight on takeoff and landing its half the battle. All in all a good stable Machine that I would highly recommend ( I turned down a 222 job yesterday to fly the Gyro, Must be good!!)
Paddy

[C. Beaty]

A stable gyro is one of life’s blessings; an unstable gyro is one of life’s curses.