MStanley
Senior Heliman
Location: W-S N.C
| Hey guys,,,,
Theres a school here in town near the airport and its THEME is Aeronautics. They have a flight school program for the kids as an extracirricular activity, kind of like football or basketball would be...
These 25 kids were hand picked for this program and were screened for their interests in aviation and their grade skills. They are around 10/11 and 12 years old.
Last May 29th we did a flight demo for 600 students and their teachers on the last day of school. There was a 40% RC plane, a guy with a control line plane, and several other pilots flying various types of RC planes. I was asked to do a helicopter demo.Talk about nervous !!!
We had a FLYING DJ with his music and narration as the pilots were flying, the speakers were blaring.
We had 2 events with 300 students watching each time.
When my time came, I hovered past all the kids so they could see it close up. ( they were behind a fence 30 feet away) Then I did forward flights and a few rolls and a hanging loop. The DJ shouted I was stuck up there as I held in in inverted hover at the top of the loop and then I fell out of it and the kids started screaming and cheering as the DJ shouted how I managed to get UN-stuck! It was a blast!!
ANYWAY, they contacted me a few weeks ago and asked me if I would be interested in being the schools HELI INSTRUCTOR?
They have 4 other instructors for AIRPLANES but no heli guy.
We are all volounteer instructors here...No pay...
So, I went last Thursday and and was introduced to the teachers in charge and the students that were to be in the class.
I knew the guys from the demo show last year and they were excited that I showed up. They want me to commit to a full school year and the club meets after school from 3:30pm to 5 pm every Thursday....
They want to put 5 students with 1 instructor each week to learn a new aspect of flight training. We will start off with book work and then a G2 Flight sim, and eventually hands on Buddy Box flying over the course of the school year.
You know those double wide trailer classrooms that sit outside of schools?? Well, they have one thats designated just for this after school program.
What do you guys think about this and what liabilities am I up against? The school has signed paperwork from the parents just like if they were playing sports.
I'm a bit worried about the dangers we all know of in the RC Heli flying zone. I'm a member of IRCHA, and AMA and I'm VERY safety minded when I fly. But theres always that chance a heli will go haywire or flame out or loose a 50 cent screw that will cause disaster.
Remember: Its not a matter of "IF" its a matter of "WHEN"......???
So what do you guys think ? WHAT would YOU do if given this opportunity ? How would YOU prepare for this ?
I plan on using the G2 sim first, then a electric thethered heli, THEN moving up to a 30 size machine with hands on hovering with a trainer pod attached and low end pitchs and throttles.
I prefer RAPTORS because they have a easy repair time and I have TONS of spare parts laying around the shop.
I'm currently working with Robbie Wood of ACE/Thundertiger to see about maybe getting a DONATION heli ?? He's a friend of mine, and we live in neighboring counties, so I started with that.
SO, lay it on me guys, what do ya think ?? |
