I Bought A Helicopter WITHOUT A License... 

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I’m glad this ended up with someone who appreciates it. Nothing against JH, but I can’t picture him enjoying this as much as you will. 😎

I started training as an Army aviator in the TH-55 in 1978. It was known as the "Matel Messerschmitt" to one and all. Good choice for a trainer, you'll love it.

Jimmy I don't know where your funds are coming from but I have to laugh, every time I see one of your vids it's like " Well I just bought" I'm like man, I'm still buying medium fries instead of large fries, what the hell did I do wrong in life? lol

Hey Jimmy. I’m retired State Police Pilot. I flew A Star, Twin Star, and EC135’s. Ironically I took my check ride for rotor and commercial rating in a Schweizer just like this one!! Great little helicopter. Loved it with doors off. After seeing numerous crashes with the Robinson’s, I’m glad I flew the Schweizer. Wish I could afford one. Good luck with it.

Welcome to the Rotor World Jimmy! I did my Commercial Rotor Wing Helicopter Add-On in an S300CB a couple years ago. So much fun!

Don’t forget that a beautiful float equipped Hughes Schweizer adorned the helipad aboard Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso !

Wow! How exciting!! I was in aircraft maintenance in the Army. AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopters. I was accepted to flight school, and the pilots in my unit were training me before leaving for flight school. I was learning to fly and hover from the front seat of an attack helicopter. I was having a lot of fun and didn't have to pay to play! Lol!!! The sad part is I was injured and never made it to flight school. I definitely miss being around helicopters. Be careful and be smart, and I am looking forward to seeing your progress and the videos coming up. If you are ever around Wilmington, Ohio, feel free to stop by and say hi! God bless and blue skies.

I dont care what anyone says, the most Iconic Helo ever made is the Bell UH1 Iroquois with the T53 Lycoming turboshaft turbine engine aka The Huey. When you think Helicopter 🚁 you think Huey. These now vintage Birds saved thousands of American lives in their day. 🇺🇲🙏🏼

I grew up outside Ft Rucker, AL. I remember going outside and watching 15 to 20 of the little Osage trainers flying at any given time. We called them Skeeters!

Congratulations Jimmy on your chopper purchase, You know Cleetus wouldn’t have nothing but the best, Enjoy your videos from central Fl.

Hi and, yes I trained in the TH55 in 1981 at Ft Rucker. I loved it. “George” took a bit getting used to especially in stiff winds. Get 50 hrs before transitioning to the UH-1. Enjoy it.. off airport work is a blast. Landing in confined areas and on pinnacles. Good stuff!

Rarely do you surprise me Jimmy, yet you've done it once again. Can't wait to go along with you on your helicopter adventure!

Did my initial training on the Schweizer 300, then onto the MD500D. Great machine ... articulated rotor head, very safe and very manoeuvrable. Not a ton of disc energy so auto-rotations are, um, exciting (less so than the 500 though).

Sweet, somehow I knew you would end up with it. LOVE IT. MY DREAM.

Airplanes fly, helicopters just beat the air into submission.

Loved flying that in Primary at Fort Rucker, AL. 88-11 Grey Flight...

😮 Cletus can break a 2" ball bearing with a rubber mallet. I like the airport that he bought in Florida. Good luck with your helicopter. Learn to fly it and start finding old barn finds. What could possibly go wrong?

Best Buy Jimmy I got my chopper license in a Hughs 300 in the late 90’s, I’m 6’ 6” and heavy and it had no problems we have two tanks here in Australia so more than enough power. We do autos to the ground in training here it’s awesome, you’ll love it .

As an old former flight crew in helicopters , I can say that you will have a ball learning to fly this bird. Just remember no heavy hands . I started out on a Sikorsky UH-34 D over in Vietnam , and ended up with the Ch- 46 F , state side in the USMC . Uncle Sam’s miss guided children.. Semper Fi , fly boy. Stay safe , have fun .

Seeing you two together!?? AWesome! I've got to move to Florida. You folks are having too much fun! NJ weather sucks!

I looked at a hiller years back, but it was pretty rough, and the money didn’t work out. Jimmy’s bird is a lot nicer to service, and the ROI is very good. Have fun!

LOL at the Patey reference. You guys have no idea how you two and the Pateys are among some of my favorite channels. It's beyond cool that the love of aviation has brought you guys together. I hope you get the best instruction possible for your rating.

Well done Jimmy. Be great to follow your training and experiences! Greetings from the UK!

Jimmy! I knew this would happen! I am very excited for you as this seems like a logical next step for your life. Be blessed and fly safe!

Jimmy your videos always put a smile on my face ... 🇬🇧

You guys really know how to have fun. Definitely in my top handful of RU-vid channels!! 🤟🏽😎

Ha Jimmy, my flight class, 88-12 was the last Army Flight Class to fly the Th55. We were the "Orange Pterodactyl's, last of a dying breed". Flying helicopters is the best thing you can do with your cloths on. Do t worry about learning how to Hover. It will take 5-10 hour. Don't worry it will come. Good luck.

Ive seen your plane in person. The one that was at the evergreen air and space museum in oregon, was with my grandpa who unfortunately passed away recently when i last saw it. Beautiful plane.

I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOU WOULD FIND A WAY TO OWN THAT BABY!! After you being all over it at Cleets place, it was just a matter of time before you figured it out, so happy for you mate!! Go and get that licence!

This. brings back many memories approximately 60 to 70 years ago. My dad and his partner purchased a Hughes helicopter that looked just like this one I later took my first plane lessons in it

Oh, so, you finally got the helicopter! Congrats! Your new challenge will be exciting for us, too. Looking forward to watch your training report videos.

In 1965, I was at Ft Wolters TX, Too tall for the TH-55, so I got to learn to fly the Hiller OH-23 D instead. The students over 6" tall could not easily fit into the Hughes cockpit, mainly lack of rudder travel for taller people.

I'm glad it wasent click Bait glad to see the giraffe and he'll ya brother congrats on the heli

Your gonna Love going back too School on your New HeloFlapter!!! It's Fun, Pretty Sure you are Already Giddy and Ready! Have Big Ol Fun Jimmy!!!

I watch both of you guys all the time and I'm glad that you got it from Garrett!

Mornin Jimmy!!! Have a great day, everybody!!!😊

Should be interesting... One of the funniest things I ever saw, was the scene in "Bat 21" where Danny Glover's crew chief is remembering / telling Glover how to fly a helicopter

This is so exciting to see as my wife & I are currently learning how to fly helicopters too!! Can't wait to see your journey Jimmy!!

Congratulating on your success and this purchase

I was stoked to see you and Cleetus Monday afternoon. I was the idiot waving outside the airports fence taking photos. Thanks for doing what you do keep it up!

Hey Jimmy, learned to fly the TH-55 way back in 1983 at Ft. Rucker, Al. Did my first solo at Hooper stage field just outside base in Ozark. You are gonna love flying that little bugger!!!

I have wanted a helicopter since I first saw one when I was a tiny tot. That was a looong time ago! Cograts on your cool purchase.

Best and SAFEST training helicopter. Ive owned and operated 2 of these. Perfect!

That's a great video Jimmy. I like the history, after all, if you don't know where you've been - how do you know where you are going! !! !!!

Back in 1978, At the army flying club in the 4,000 elevation area and the desert, we had an H300. It had problems hovering with 2 on board. Grate at sealevel. El Paso is not the place for less than jet fuel. Go for the MD500. Although 300s are Grate trainers.

I have a lot of time working on these. Great helicopter and used a lot in flight schools. Has Howard Hughes all over it. Look at the manuals (HMI) I used a fabricated hydraulic cart to move them around. Have fun with it. It's all about component times and keep them up. One thing with helicopters is not has it been crashed/damaged It's how many times has it been crashed/damaged. Keep the struts charged correctly these are well know for ground resonance .

Nice, that was the first type of helicopter I flew when I started training, a perfect first helicopter, unfortunately I ran out of money after 5 hours of training, hope you enjoy it, they are fun machines.

That's awesome!! Glad somebody with that passion ended up with it!! Maybe one day when I'm ready to get my license I can rent it from you for a small fee!! lol

Jimmy you have more irons in the fire than at spring roundup on the King Ranch. What I’m saying is don’t get distracted, and stay safe as you learn to fly is a completely different way.

Jimmy you’re awesome! King of the nerds and a godly man!

The Hughes 269 engineering works started in September 1955 under the guidance of the chief-project Fred C. Strible.

Jimmy Im so glad you are now friend with Cletus, He is the Rotorcraft Junky,, Thanks for the lessons didn't know that much about Helicopters, Although we have the Only helicopter museum in US here in PA

I learned to fly helos in a R-22 Robinson and eventually moved up to a Bell 206 and then I learned to fly a privately owned Huey. my parents gave me flying lessons when I was 14 yo fixed wing and choppers when I was 16. I have flown the 300's and they are a great trainer and you will have a blast.

I was just growing through videos.And I saw this helicopter and recognized it from the freedom five hundred. I'm a long time cleetus fan. So i watched this video and subscribed to your channel . Keep on flyin brother 🏁🇺🇲

My first helicopter flight 40 years ago was in a 300 like yours. Unforgettable experience. Got more hours in "another brand" at this point but still in love with MD helicopters today. If I could own my own ship, MD no question.

This is awesome, Jimmy! I'm really looking forward to seeing you learn to fly and taking it up solo. Also, don't change the wrap!

Yes that was my primary trainer in 1974. Good little bird.

My father-in-law worked at Sikorsky. He could tell you the number of rivets on each and every model and was very proud of the product and company. He liked to tell stories about Mr. Sikorsky walking around checking in on folks around the shop floor and offices.

Good on ya Jimmy! I don’t know what you call the aero motive equivalent of being a Wheeler Dealer is? But if it’s anything like the car game, then buying and selling or Flipping Aircraft is a great way to make money for sure. Congrats on your purchase and looking forward to seeing you ace the Helicopter World. Good on ya man!

Learned to fly in this during Army flight training in 1985. Great little aircraft

Chuck Street started his career flying as a radio traffic reporter in the LA area in a Hughes 300. He then transitioned to a Bell Jetranger.

Jimmy, I love your new helicopter! Please be careful, brother!

77-3 Brown Flight. TH-55 was a blast to fly. My primary instructor weight 275 pounds, my first pitch pull without him in the helicopter end with me eye-to-eye with the tower controller:) Last helicopter I flew in the Army was the MH-6, great bookends for my Army career.

Jimmy's Whirlybirds - a whole new adventure! Being out of your comfort zone is a good place to be, that's how you know you're still alive... 😉 Looking forward to seeing how you get on.

Interesting , Thank You . A fine example of a classic timeless design. The training will be interesting , could be fun

Glad to see that you bought it Jimmy and keeping it home in our area and in good hands

Man great to see the little buzzer in great hands! What a nice machine! Cleetus is an awesome down too Earth guy

OMG. When you are not rebuilding a home, the travelling up and down the Mountain won’t be such a problem, ie; deliveries etc. is being close to the Van Business a factor anymore. It sounds exciting and the plan for an “ in Town home” does sound cool. Hang in I think we all going along for a ride.

i was in the Army back in 88-96 as a Flight Operations Specialist (93P) at Ft Rucker, AL, the Aviation Training Center for the Army. i worked at Hanchey air field where i issued keys for AH-64s, AH-1s, CH-47s and OH-58Ds. one of my roommates was also a 93P who worked at Shell air field where they had the TH-55s that were later replaced by the OH-58As and Bs. fun times there.

Congrats! Love the 47 and the Loach, but this looks like a great bird to fly.

As you have been informed helicopters are MUCH harder to fly. Get a good instructor and pay attention. You cannot relax in a small helicopter they will Bite you hard. I speak as a retired CFI Helicopter with over 17000 hours. We talked at SNF. Have fun BTW I was an Instructor at Ft Rucker for over 30 years.

Jimmy, your desire to achieve things goes beyond yourself. Congratulations. Take care and be safe.

I remember reading up on model helicopters many years ago. I never realised the number of things that have to wiggle and wobble to make it all work. And then add in changing the angle of attack on the trailing side at speed, because it loses lift the faster you go. I gave up on model helicopters at about that point.

I think you need Pastor Jim to give the low down on Helicopter operations FAR's........

When I first got to Ft Rucker in the 80's they were like giant mosquitoes flying everywhere. I remember the Army sold them in lots of four for like $16K with the idea that you get one good one and three for parts.

When I saw you at the freedom 500 and JH said hed take the cash, I knew youd be eyeing up that heli..lol

I've always been fascinated by helicopters but after my experience with flying RC choppers i had to re evaluate that conception. If anything fails you are basically a rock! ...i know about auto rotation but give me a set of real wings any day! BTW great to see a Collab with good ol' Cleetus!

300CB is not fuel injected. Whilst Hughes made both the 369 (500) and 269 (300) they are very different. I learned to fly in the UK on a H300C and they are great fun and fairly forgiving.

Some shots from Sweden in that backstory there. 269/300 was used for Army flight training, designated as HKP5. Also used for forward artillery observer duty and some light transport duties.

Trained in the Hughes 300C in 1969, courtesy of the US ARMY in Ft Wolters, TX. One amazing machine! I’ll never forget learning engine-out autorotation…😳

Yes I’m one of the old guys who received initial flight training at Ft. Wolters TX to be an Army Helicopter Pilot in the TH-55! (Ask the others if they remember the Holiday Inn Solo dunk…and yes I still have my solo hat) Don’t forget to check the lead and lag as part of the preflight…haha Anyway, great little trainer. Wish I could afford one. Have fun in it!

Very exciting. Looking forward to watching you train. It's mainly about new muscle memory. You'll have to learn your rotating, from your non rotating Swashplate.

The military version of this helo was my first love in flying - TH-55. 100 hours at Ft Walters TX for primary helicopter training. I was blessed with good "hands" and breezed through which made it a fun time there.

What is a 300CB? According to wikipedia, the _"300CB is the first pure production of the 300 by Schweizer and is powered by a Textron Lycoming HO-360-C1A, 180 hp engine. The 300CB first flew on 28 May 1993, and was certified by the FAA in August 1995. The 300CB can be reconfigured from a two-seat cockpit to a three-seat configuration. While it is still suited for utility and special missions, this aircraft was designed for helicopter training"_ .

Thank you for the short history lesson on the great Airframes ( helicopter 🚁) So glad you decided to buy one and hopefully will show more flying with your baby bad boy. How neat. I am writing down the term ( Helicopter meaning There is a Vietnam era video out there that shows the pilots going through there Basic training before being sent overseas So amazing to see all those early bubble cabs as training platforms. It amazing how the US Navy anchor WW-2 era LCU of the brown water Navy coast of Vietnam for air support and rescue for the PBRs and Swift boats. Two of my favorite Navy small water Crafts, I also like the 72 foot torpedo retriever built in the 1960s 😊

Very nice. Slight correction though. It was Hughes that first sold the Piston powered 300 Line to Schweizer, then went on to market the Turbine 500 and Apache to McDonnell Douglas. There was never a MD300 as McDonnell Douglas had no ownership or marketing on behalf of Schweizer for that model.

I flew in the Bell 47! @ Oshkosh of course, after some random guy gave me a Watalina night air show pass. Great memories! Thanks Jimmy!

Mate you never cease to amaze me, Well done and can’t wait till you start buzzing around in it 🇦🇺 🚁

I met a guy who was a missionary pilot. Can't remember where. But he flew something with fabric wings. Because of the places he had to fly in and out of, temp repairs had to be made often. He always carried duct tape with him and referred to it as100mph tape as it would stay on as long as long as you kept the speed under 100.

I c a n n o t wait gotta see more Jimmy. I wish and hope for great blue skies for you. Amazing days and times. Onward 🌈 for more great adventures and prosperity. Rick in Illinois.

I flew 300's in the late 70s'. Love them to death. The little switch on the joystick about where you can reach it with your pinky is the landing light. The switch for trim left or right is probably to select which side the top hat on the stick controls the trim as the newer 300s can be piloted from either side, I didn't have that one but my guess is as good as anybodies until you actually try it. The trigger is the radio transmit button. The little switch next to the trim button is not something I had but I'll assume it's like all the unmarked levers in a crane. Give it a yank and see what it does, if you don't like it, put it back. There is an auxiliary fuel tank available that will almost double your range. If you just fly with one buddy the second tank is great. If you need to fly with 2 passengers you might not want it. It is pretty easy to put it on and take it off though. Your going to love flying choppers, every flight is an adventure as you are generally low. Pay special attention to where the towers and power lines are on the charts and keep an eye out for them always. Get yout rated and go follow a river at tree top level or race a boat across a lake. Whoot! helicopters are the most fun you can have with your pants on. You can do a lot of "things" and still be safe in a copter.

Love your channel!!! It’s great to see you Hooked up with Clete!! My two favorite channels!! Thanks you guys your antics keep an old man smiling!!

A great little helo you have there, as many before was also the first helicopter back in ‘77, then Huey, Blackhawks, Mil17’s, Chinook’s -look forward to watching as you enter the rotor world!

Instrument flight in helos: Can be convenient in Class Bravo Airspace, IFR rules through the stack rather than hoping flight following will vector you through the stack. No glide slope, but you don't need ILS anyway. VOR will let you navigate over the clouds if GPS has a problem. In Nevada, Red Flag Exercises often degrade GPS for training, so the locals got really upset when the FAA wanted to decommission some VOR sites. VOR is good to have even if GPS is working.

Army trained with the TH-55 in 1982 for primary training. After that it was the UH-1H and I continued with that aircraft until I retired. (4000+ hours)

I was wondering what happened to the Helicopter after the FF race...happy Jimmy got it cause he did better than I would have on a circle track.

I learned to fly on the TH-55 at Fort Wolters TX back in 1969. Ever since, I approach any challenge with "Hey, I can fly a TH-55. How hard could it be?"

I started out flight training Ft Wolters Texas, 1968. TH55 , eliminated from the program due to an injury, offered fixed wing and turned it down, I kicked myself often for that decision, stayed in the Army for a couple years unfortunately both feet on the ground

So how goes negotiating for a hanger on Cletus’s new airport?