Video Credits : Chuck Aaron Aerobatics | Mojogrip
Although the tandem copter is the fastest over all , the fastest helicopter speed ever recorded was 400.87 km / h ( about 249.09 mph ). That ’ s faster than a bullet train ! This record is held by a Westland Lynx , with only two crew members : the pilot , and the engineer . They flew through a 15km course , ( about twice the height of Mount Everest ) setting a new top world speed . For comparison , at this rate , they could ’ ve flown across the state of New York in a little over an hour . While considering this , it may seem that maneuvering through sharp turns and going at high speeds would be one of the hardest things to do while flying a helicopter , and while it is incredibly hard , it ’ s not considered the hardest .
One of the most difficult maneuvers to learn is hovering . Hovering is when the helicopter stays stationary in the air , usually just a few feet above the ground . This is problematic due to several variables . One of them is the fact that while piloting the helicopter , many people tend to “ overcontrol ” while trying to hover , which causes it to wobble . Along with this , helicopters also create wind gusts which can make it tougher to stay stationary in one spot .
Piloting certain helicopters is more demanding than others , but some are very simple . Just like ultralight airplanes , some helicopters don ’ t even need a license to fly ! One of these is the Mosquito XEL .
You do need to undergo some training to safely pilot it , but you wouldn ’ t need to go through the complete process of being a licensed pilot . This provides you with the opportunity to get a taste of what it ’ s like to pilot a helicopter without going through all the classes . If you did want to become a helicopter pilot , this would be a way to get a feel for flying without putting in the six to eight months required to be a licensed pilot . Then , once you see what it ’ s like , you can decide if you want to further your skills with classes . Of course , the XEL helicopter is not as complicated or fast as some others , but it is still cool . The average cruise speed is about 70 mph , which is more than fast enough to get a feel for the whole thing . It ’ s never too early to learn how to fly !
SPRING 2023 — ISSUE NO . 02 17