Rotorway (RotorX) JetExec Experimental Helicopter - First Solo Airport Circuits 

Thanks so much, that's very high praise! :-) I still definitely have a ways to go. Getting more practice all the time though.

It's a completely unique experience!

It's because often rotorway pilots are lower time. Lower time pilots tend to fly like that as opposed to maintaining the sweet spot and moving the cyclic less. For a low time pilot it feels like you're contantly battling to keep the aircraft flying nice and accurately - it's always trying to get away from you. As the hours rack up it becomes second nature and you think about it less. These are his first solos circuits but you can see he's improving a lot. Those are nice controlled approaches, and it didn't look like he was busting his vertical speed limits. There are so many things to watch at the same time when flying a helicopter, it's very demanding. I always used to be in a puddle of sweat when I was shut down! The other reason is the Rotorway doesn't have a force trim which makes it easier to keep the cyclic in a consistant position.

Because the cyclic travel to pitch output is much more limited in the rotorway, nearly twice the movement for the same reaction in other small helicopters. This makes it easier to hover stable but requires more drastic movements and you'd hit the stops sooner (not that you would or should in normal flight, it's just for reference), resulting in less overall authority. Safety wise, this is good for inexperienced pilots and you're less likely to inadvertently mast bump or chop your tail boom off. Low G pushover's are still not good in any teetering system. At the same time, it's much more dangerous hovering in tail winds and requires the use of a ballast weight to maintain a proper CG, as it is even more important due to this limited authority.

Thanks 🙏, to both of you guys for letting me know!

​@@Jameswrightdavid Just saw this comment. Thanks so much James for the kind words! And your description was exactly right, that was for sure my green nature showing here, and it's been getting better ever since. It was a little cooler out that day, so I wasn't a puddle of sweat, but the exhale at the end indicates just how tense I was that whole time! I'd like to think that by the time I did the other video of my first solo cross country, things had relaxed a whole lot.

Definitely has longer travel in cyclic compared to say r22 or cabri

Thanks Brad, will do! We're also planning a NorthEast Gathering in the fall, you should come up and visit!

@@Aerohead Absolutely, please lmk when I'll come up w/ my build. Thanks Adam

Nope, actually I built it over the last 8 years. Was in it for the whole build+fly experience!

@@Aerohead that’s awesome! Are u learning to fly in it, or did u already have your license ?

@@hansenfuentes3541 Learning to fly in it! Just about ready for my check ride, hopefully in a couple months.

@@Aerohead right on! Good luck man

It's a 26' V-nose, with 9'6" interior height. With that length, the helicopter fits inside with the blades on it with only about 3" to spare. I remove blades for travel, but leave them on, of course, for storage.

@@Aerohead thank you. I didn’t think about a little bigger one for “storage”.

@@BrokenCRJ Yep! It's a fully mobile hangar, really. I don't rent a hangar at the airport or have anything big enough on my property to store it in, so this is where it lives. It also works very well for when I travel with it to gatherings and such.

Thanks so much! Thanks for watching!

@@Aerohead You bet. Anytime you post my friend. It's a sweet bird.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm actually uploading a shorter video today, should be up very soon.

Thanks so much! Should be more coming for sure!

That's a "me" problem. Very first time and I was shakey and nervous I believe. I've noticed myself dialing that in since posting this. Like I said in the description, lots of firsts! Go easy on me! :-)

@@Aerohead : Awesome! Just wasn't sure if it was the ship or not. Keep flying! 🚁

Thanks!! It's been flown by a few instructors at this point who have said it feels good. I didn't have a basis to compare to until then, so I trust them. I'm learning!