(George Tonkin) – Almost simultaneously, both Gareth Pahl (one of my regular crewmen) and I received the message notification on our phones while flying a routine VISPOL (Visual Policing) sortie somewhere over Pretoria East: “Armed robbery in progress. Wonderboom area.” LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN, being a helicopter pilot canRead More →
SOUTH AFRICAN ATE was the first company to modify the MIL helicopter HIND into a SUPER HIND with new gun, FLIR and other refinements . The first customer was the ALGERIAN Air Force who were very happy with the changes, and thus giving a new lease of life for manyRead More →
It seems that the more I fly, the more I see how much I still need to learn (about flying). Learning takes on many forms in the cockpit and it always seems easier when you have a great teacher. Interestingly, and here comes a real bit of ancient wisdom, youRead More →
Despite enduring a world-changing pandemic in 2020 and facing an uncertain future, I suspect it’s nothing compared to living in a country at war. Which is what I found myself contemplating recently as I flew what is now a civilian version of a South African military stalwart, the Aérospatiale Alouette III. “My favourite helicopterRead More →
South African National Parks (SANParks) celebrates Captain David Simelane “Blackhawk”, South Africa’s first black game capture rated pilot. On 2 December 2020, Simelane completed his game capture rating, as an endorsement on his helicopter pilot license. Simelane has been a helicopter pilot for 16 years and has flown all overRead More →
Monday 16th November 2020. After taking on fuel the seven-seater helicopter experienced an unconfirmed EFATO incident. The pilot managed to put the aircraft down in a river and no fatalities were reported, but the aircraft is considered damaged beyond repair.Read More →
The world’s first ‘practical’ helicopter, designed by Igor Sikorsky, took to the air at Stratford, Connecticut, on September 14, 1939. The helicopter named VS-300 was built by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation. It was the first to incorporate a single main rotor and tail rotor design.Read More →
Based on the company’s two-seat Robinson R22, the R44 was Robinson Helicopter Company’s first four-seat light helicopter Designed during the 1980s by Frank Robinson and his staff of engineers, the R44 first flew on 31 March 1990. A second prototype was built, and the R44 Astro was awarded an FAA Type Certificate in DecemberRead More →
Van Horn Aviation’s latest Bell 206B main rotor blades to receive FAA approval are designed to provide the feel and ride of metal blades while providing the performance of composite blades. Tempe, Arizona-based Van Horn Aviation (VHA) earned U.S. FAA supplemental type certification/parts manufacturer approval for its Version 2 compositeRead More →
“The HX50 will deliver a truly desirable, attainable and capable aircraft that will re-launch general aviation.” Concept type helicopters have been proposed before … but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. Dr Jason Hill (Ph.D), a helicopter aerodynamicist, is the designer ofRead More →
