Given a large enough field, a careful and deliberate pace, almost anyone could learn to hover a helicopter by themselves. It would be easier, and safer if the neophyte pilot had some competent advice, a program of learning key skills in the best order, to develop pilot proficiency.

As the Mosquito XEL ultra light helicopter gains popularity, we are developing a program for the unrated owners of this aircraft. No training is required, no certificate, no medical. It’s a rare legal niche that allows us to fly without the expense of certification. This opportunity also comes with a downside. It may suggest that if you can drive a car you can fly a helicopter. Just a little getting-used-to-it is all that’s required. I’ve read every book on the subject, I understand the problem, ok?

But no one can imagine what it’s really like to hover a helicopter until they try. When we watch a pilot making it look easy, we have missed all the training it took to make it look like your grandson could do it.

We recommend to our non-rated owners that they get dual training in a certified helicopter until they solo (Student Pilot). They should be able to hover, take-off and land, and know how to autorotate before they attempt to continue training in their Mosquito XEL or AIR. Can it be done without training? Yes, but it’s the difficult and dangerous path. Ask yourself this; if the Mosquito were an airplane, would you just jump in it and fly away first try? Probably not. A helicopter in the hands of a good pilot hovers like it was floating on calm water, an illusion created by the pilot’s skill.

We are investigating the use of special flight training techniques aimed at the non-rated ultra light pilot. Paul, a licensed helicopter IP, has demonstrated an effective tool for learning to hover that we’re testing right now. He’s equipped his Air with sensors on the flight controls that let you use the Mosquito’s controls to fly a small r/c helicopter. The Mosquito is parked in a hangar, the r/c heli sits in front of the trainee. When he raises the Air’s collective, the r/c heli lifts off. All flight controls operate like they will when the trainee tries it for real. In tests by the Army and others, student pilots who have learned to hover this way were able to hover a real helicopter the first time they tried.

Stay tuned...

Robert Mason