My First Helicopter Flying Lesson

I’ve always been fascinated by helicopters. My earliest memory was when I was about 10 years old, and going with my Dad to the Abbotsford Airshow. Being inside a huge military helicopter and watching them fly around was awesome. Then in my 20’s I took a few flights with Helijet over to Vancouver Island. I’ll never forget the powerful sound of the rotor blades starting up and feeling the power as the helicopter took off. I knew that one day I would want to experience what it feels like to actually fly one. So it has been on my “Live Life Fully” list for many years. 

And finally, thanks to an amazing friend of mine, David and his friend Andrew who owns Sky Helicopters , my dream came true! It was incredible to be in the front “driver’s seat” of one the R44’s.

I was really surprised to learn how complex it is to fly a helicopter. Unlike a plane, which depends on forward motion to move air over the wings and create lift, a helicopter creates lift using rotating blades, so you need both hands and both feet to fly a helicopter. What was also very surprising was to experience how every movement is so subtle. The slightest movement and the chopper is moving in a different direction –FAST! :O   It is much more challenging that I thought it would be, but TONS of fun!!!

But being someone that had a fear of heights, I can say that this was by far the best experience I have ever had and I am so happy that I overcame my fear and was able to do this. The sensation of hoovering over the tree tops and flying along a river, in between the tree lines in the forest was surreal, it felt like I was in a movie!

If you want to experience the thrill of riding in a helicopter, be sure to contact Sky Helicopters for your own helicopter tour! You will love it 🙂

Here’s a video and some pics of a couple of days in the helicopters…