MD500 Archives - The Rotary Wing Show Podcast

August 5, 2020August 6, 2020

RWS 91 – Helicopter Powerline Operations with David McColl

David McColl has flown a range of powerline industry roles using the MD500

The general line thrown out there is that most helicopter pilots try to spend their careers staying away from wires – the guys and girls flying in the powerline industry get right up close as part of their job. David McColl is a powerline pilot in the US and has built up experience in a number of the different types of operations that helicopters perform on the powerlines.

David switched careers from a ground soldier in the UK and as a security contractor across to helicopters – his first experience was in the back of a Chinook and figured this flying gig looked pretty good.

He trained on the H269 in Florida and after some hard work put into networking and going out to talk to companies resulted in a lucky break and two different job offers immediately on finishing training. David shares some advice on how to make your own luck around this too.

“It usually takes at least a year if I’ll time training to get from private to CFI. I did it in 9 months and then immediately started flying pipeline patrol.”

I treated flight school like a full-time job and I had some great instructors and encouragement from family and friends.

“I transitioned into the MD500 and Bell 206 very quickly in my career. It was a trial by fire. My MD500 training consisted of a 42 min flight. I had to make the best of it through YouTube videos, other pilots and reading up in the RFM.”

“I had an engine flame out in my first 7 hours which was my fault for not having my anti ice on and flying in snow. My engine flamed out about 8 ft above the ground while I was in the hover at an airport, the training kicked in and I carried out a hover auto, it was a non-event for the helicopter. Once on the ground the re-igniter kicked in and relit the engine. I have my initial instructor and my CFI instructor to thank for that.”

Human External Cargo (HEC) is used in the powerline industry to position lineworkers close to wires. Alternatively a special platform is fitted to the helicopter that the lineworker sits on the end of.

Like any specialised field once you dig into it there are all kinds of nuanced operations. A helicopter licence is only just the ticket to get in the door.

In this episode David walks us through powerline patrolling, LIDAR, insulator washing, marker ball placement, human external carriage (HEC), tower transfer, platform work, construction and stringing tasks.

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Links from this week’s episode:
Support the podcast on Patreon
Rotor Blade LLC – The helicopter utility company that David is chief pilot at.

This shot of David shows some of the modifications to the MD500 for powerline work. The large blue strap is the belly band used for Human External Cargo operations.

Washing the insulator discs with de-ionised water to remove dirt build up. The helicopter has to come over the wires for the spray boom to reach the inside set.

There are lots of videos on YouTube showing close up some of the operations we’ve talked about in this episode. Note the wire strand under the helicopter in this position. No pressure!

Do you have a question for David or tips from your own experience? Be part of the conversation by leaving a comment below.

April 21, 2019

RWS 74 – Pete Gillies Talks About Tail Rotor Failures

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Pete Gillies Helicopter Pilot — Pete Gillies is a legendary, 18,000-hour helicopter pilot who has previously been honored as the Helicopter Association International’s instructor of the year.

Pete’s MD500 is in hilly terrain when a passenger’s hoodie departs the cabin and goes straight through the tail rotor. Listen to what happens next in this recording captured by Doug Williams at his house with Pete Gillies. Extra puppy noises included 🙂

In a machine that by design generates significant torque – losing helicopter tail rotor thrust is one of the less desirable airborne situations to find yourself in. Have your say or share an experience in the discussion below.

April 21, 2019

RWS 73 – Pete Gillies Talks About Teaching Autorotations

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In this interview Doug Williams captures a conversation at his house with Pete Gillies about teaching autorotations. Pete shares a story that highlights the differences, especially in turbine helicopters, between touchdown autorotations with the engine idling and with an engine completely off.

Have you ever flown an auto with the engine completely off – be that on purpose in training or as a real emergency? What differences did you experience? Be part of the discussion below.

February 22, 2018

RWS 62 – Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team

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HRT’s UH-1 helicopter at 8,000 feet and litter with patient on the wire after a 500ft fall on mountain side.

Nestled in the north west corner of the US, just north of Seattle is Snohomish County and the operating base of their Helicopter Rescue Team. The HRT conducts approximately 80 rescues a year, predominantly mountain rescues of hikers. Two of their team, Chris Moriarty and Bill Quistorf, took the time out for a chat about their setup, the operating area and its challenges and the skill sets within the organisation.

The Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team operates 2 helicopters.

SnoHawk 10 is a highly modified Vietnam era Bell UH-1H – Fast Fin and tailboom strake kit, Bell 205 tail boom, Bell 212 Tail rotor/gearboxes, more powerful Lycoming T53-L703, Garmin G500H’s, NVG-compatible cockpit – which is the main workhorse for rescue missions and training. It is a beautiful looking ship. A typical mission would include 5 crew and a range of role equipment operating up to 9000′ elevation. Depending on the nature of the site and casualties the crew may have to offload people and equipment and/or burn fuel for sufficient power margin.

Chris Moriarty is a Rescue Technician (or Tech) with HRT. And Bill Quistorf is the organisation Chief Pilot.

SnoHawk 1 is a Hughes 500-P (military NOH-6P) which flew in Vietnam with Alpha Troop, 3/17 Air Cavalry. It was a specially modified machine for covert CIA/Air America style missions with 4 bladed tail-rotor, an extra main rotor blade and (now removed) oversized engine exhaust muffler. SnoHawk 1 can provide law enforcement and missing persons support. It was used to fly more regular police patrols but budget reductions have curtailed the flying hours possible.

The HRT team itself is unusual in that it consists of only a few full time salaried members and then a pool of approximately 30 volunteers who man a roster. Skill sets of the volunteers include rescue technicians, flight medics, crew chiefs, pilots, and ground support personnel. These people have their own separate day jobs and interests that then come together to form the capability. On any particular day when the HRT is activated the rostered on team members will meet at the ‘Taylor’s Landing’ base and assess the callout mission.

Team training is conducted twice a week. A number of other agencies also use the base facility for training and there is a tower mounted Huey frame avaliable for rappelling drills.

Mountain rescue makes up most of the HRT callouts. Note the cloud ceiling on the hills in background.

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Links from this week’s episode:
Support the podcast on Patreon
Snohomish HRT Website
Snohomish HRT Facebook

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Chief Pilot Bill Quistorf with Dr. Drew Scheele who flew the HRT’s Hughes 500-P (military NOH-6P) in Vietnam with Alpha Troop, 3/17 Air Cavalry.

Do you have a question about Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team’s operations? Be part of the conversation by leaving a comment below.

December 19, 2015December 23, 2015

RWS 37 – Tuna Helicopter Flying with Francis ‘Moggy’ Meyrick

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Look online for information about helicopter operations in the tuna industry and it won’t be long before you see mention of Moggy’s Tuna Manual. Author of the manual Francis ‘Moggy’ Meyrick is our guest in this episode of the Rotary Wing Show.

Francis is Irish born and had a number of years helicopter flying experience including a stint in the North Sea before venturing out to the tuna fields in the Pacific. His first day on the job saw him get a quick check out in a Bell 47 before being told to fly out and find his boat that had already steamed out of port. The rest of the job he learnt as he went with some close calls along the way.

Tuna fishing is big business and a good net full of tuna can pay back weeks of helicopter hire cost in one go. A ship’s helicopter is used to scout for signs of tuna schools over a much larger area than would be possible otherwise. They are used for herding the fish during the netting operation and for general hash and trash flights.

Frequently the pilot may be the only english speaking person onboard the ship and the operations are remote from support and facilities. That small helideck on top of the bridge could well be the only dry landing spot with in fuel endurance and to make things even more exciting it might have moved a considerable way since you last saw it at takeoff.

There are lots of traps waiting for the unwary green pilot on their first trip out. For instance Francis spend a lot of time in the ‘Manual’ about tiedowns and as he puts it, ‘trying to external load a tuna trawler with an MD500 and a rear right tiedown strap’ and the predictable results on the attitude of the helicopter.

Before you ring [helicopter operator] read every word of “Moggy’s Tuna Boat Manual”.
It should be compulsory reading for aspiring Tuna Boat pilots — apart from saving your life one day, the wisdom and experience it contains is presented in a very readable fashion.
For sheer entertainment (some of the stories are hilarious) grab a cold one and enjoy “Blip on the Radar”.
Moggy you have saved lives with “Manual”, and enriched lives with “Blip”.

– Hunter8 , 2012, bladeslapper.com

Once you get past some of these things then tuna boat flying just might be some of the most interesting that you get to do. Life onboard and steaming around Pacific with a mix of nationalities is also sure to give you bar stories for years to come.

Francis went on to be Chief Pilot for Tropic Helicopters and in this episode he shares this thoughts on the industry and ways that you can be more prepared.

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In this week’s episode:

01:30 Moggy Intro
02:20 Tuna boat flying is a thing
03:45 Prior flying experience – Puma’s in the North Sea, Instructing, A&P Mechanic license
05:00 First landing on a tuna boat
07:10 How do they pay for a helicopter to help with fishing
09:20 Herding fish with a helicopter
10:30 Conditions onboard the vessels
12:00 Operating areas and main companies
14:20 Licences required, maps / charts
15:00 Navigation at sea and keeping track of a moving boat
19:40 Zero accidents goal is possible – caution caution, don’t let people push you
21:15 A tuna boat helideck setup
24:10 Weather conditions and aircraft exposure
25:25 Underwater breathing bottle carried on you
27:20 Flying clothing and dress code
29:10 Key people onboard and getting on with the crew
34:10 Observer’s role
37:20 Dealing with pressure
41:10 Culture and asking for co-operation
43:30 Radio buoys and logs, autorotating over water
51:10 Caution the advice ‘just learn on the job’
53:30 What makes a good log?
55:20 How to prepare for a tuna boat trip
1:01:50 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com

Links from this week’s episode:

Moggy’s Tuna Manual
Blip on the Radar
Hansen Helicopters
Tuna Pilots group on Facebook
Tuna Spotter Helicopter Pilot Facebook Group
Daniel Lucentini Instagram
‘Just another Tuna Pilot Guide’ – Nick Henderson

Matilda & The Fox II – a youtube clip of tuna boat flying
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Got a question for Francis that we didn’t cover in the episode or have you read Moggy’s Tuna Manual and want to leave some feedback? Continue the conversation in the comments below.

December 23, 2014April 11, 2015

RWS 18 – Around the world solo in 17 days with Simon Oliphant-Hope

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Around the world record helicopter simon oliphant hope — Simon Oliphant-Hope next to the MD500 that broke the around the world record in 2004.

A box full of maps, a sat phone, a support crew of 1 in a British hangar, full tanks and off you hop for an around the world record flight in an MD500 helicopter – that’s what Simon Oliphant-Hope did.

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00:45 Thanks for your feedback
01:30 Aaron and Lorena Knapp photo
02:00 Listener shoutout
02:50 Simon intro and Eastern Atlantic Helicopters
06:05 Moving from property to helicopters
07:10 Early helicopter work and starting a company
08:44 Getting a CFI rating
09:50 Idea to fly around the world
10:30 Planning the world record attempt
11:20 Rules for a world record
12:56 Average speed calculated first lift off / last touch down
14:00 Daily routine
16:10 Solo and support crew, getting through Russia
17:50 MD500 as the attempt aircraft
20:26 First attempt in 2001 and 9/11
23:33 Carrying maps and pre-attempt planning
26:00 Home base support crew and comms
27:11 Orthopaedic cushion from Ron Bower(previous record holder)
29:41 Going west bound challenges, Ross Perot Jnr, Dick Smith
31:30 Film flying and James Bond
32:30 Tips for young pilots
34:39 Route map
34:50 Marketing tip – trainmorepilots.com
36:00 Merry Christmas to you
36:30 World helicopter day

Links from this week’s episode:
Simon’s company Eastern Atlantic Helicopters

Flight path for 2004 around the world record flight.

In this video Simon also talks about his around the world flight (30sec advert at the beginning)
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In 2013 a russian team flew around the world in 44 days with 2 Robinson helicopters – this puts Simon’s achievement (solo and 17 days) into perspective:
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Be part of the conversation around this episode by leaving a comment below.

November 9, 2014April 11, 2015

RWS 15 – Display Flying with Dennis Kenyon – Part 2

Dennis Kenyon helicopter display pilot md500

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Display Helicopter Pilot Dennis Kenyon — Dennis ‘the Maestro’ Kenyon

This is part 2 of the interview with British helicopter display pilot Dennis Kenyon. For part 1, listen to Episode 14

In this episode we delve deeper into the preparation, setup and mindset needed to be a display pilot.

Dennis is a CAA appointed Display Authority Examiner and does train and approve other pilots but its not something he takes lightly.

We also talk about a display crash that Dennis was involved in and some of the factors that contributed to that. If it can happen to someone as experienced and skillful as Dennis… the rest of us need to stack everything in our favor.

The Dennis Kenyon Junior helicopter scholarship was set up to commemorate the life of Dennis’ son. Its aim is to take someone that would not normally have been able to achieve a helicopter licence due to factors such as finance and to turn them into not only a pilot but an aviator and an ambassador for aviation.

Past scholarship winner Hannah Nobbs writes:

Being awarded the Dennis Kenyon Junior Memorial helicopter flying scholarship was a once in a lifetime experience. Learning to fly was fantastic, and something I had only dreamed off. The best part was learning from Dennis, his enthusiasm for flying is infectious and following him on his various flying adventures during training allowed me to see so many new places and meet new people in the helo industry.

The scholarship opened up a world of opportunities within aviation, nearly 10 years on I am working as an Aerospace Engineer for a leading Helicopter Manufacturer, have gone on to do the ATPL exams and flown in several parts of Europe.

To any companies that have the opportunity to support the scholarship fund I would say that the potential return from the scholarship to industry is immense. In my opinion it is not so much about encouraging young people to be commercial helicopter pilots, as the extra funds needed to get to a position where you are employable is huge, but about opening up a whole world of helicopters and aviation to a young person, and gaining a lifelong ambassador for the industry.

Dennis is looking to joint venture with interested companies for the future support of the Scholarship. Who knows, we might see a future TV series – ‘So you think you can fly!’

If you know of a company that would benefit from working with a living legend of the helicopter industry on a project like this then get in touch via the comments below or direct to Dennis through his website.

You’ll find links to resources and sites mentioned in the show further down the page.

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01:14 Show sponsors trainmorepilots.com
01:40 Routine before a display flight
03:38 How different is each display sequence
04:50 Salt Lake City crash review
10:44 Training(and suitability) for display authority
14:02 Chuck Aaron and B105
15:25 Warned of display flying due ‘Cavalier’ attitude
16:50 Display flying as a way of promoting type sales
17:59 Messages for Dennis – Dennis Martin, Hannah Nobbs
21:05 Dennis Kenyon Junior Helicopter Scholarship
25:00 Sponsorship and partnerships for the scholarship
26:50 Background to the Scholarship – Dennis’ son
30:10 Next scholarship planning
31:31 Application process via dennis-kenyon.com
35:45 More than being about just pushing and pulling controls
38:05 What type haven’t you flown that you still want to?
39:44 Tail rotor failures x 3 + safety certificate
44:40 A UFO story
48:15 Best advice you can give a pilot

Links from this week’s episode:
Dennis Kenyon – “The Aviation Bureau”
Dennis Kenyon Junior Helicopter Scholarship
Movember charity sponsor page
UK Huey page

Do you know a company that would like to partner with Dennis for his scholarship program? If you do, please point them to this episode and they can contact Dennis through the links above. Lets use our network to get behind Dennis

Salt Lake City Crash at high density altitude:

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A montage of one of Dennis' MD500 displays — A montage of one of Dennis’ MD500 displays

Dennis Kenyon in front of a RAF Gloster Meteor - he had a dual engine flameout at 20,000ft at night and managed to land it safely inside the airfield (RWY closed due another aircraft crash) — Dennis Kenyon in front of a RAF Gloster Meteor – he had a dual engine flameout at 20,000ft at night and managed to land it safely inside the airfield (RWY closed due another aircraft crash)

Dennis Kenyon and Mitsuo Aoyama at the World Helicopter Championships. Mitsuo would later go onto open a beer bottle with a Robinson on Japanese TV — Dennis Kenyon and Mitsuo Aoyama at the World Helicopter Championships. Mitsuo would later go on to open a beer bottle with a Robinson on Japanese TV

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Be part of the conversation around this episode by leaving a comment below.

November 4, 2014January 15, 2016

RWS 14 – Display Flying with Dennis Kenyon – Part 1

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Display flying has captured the imagination of the public ever since the very first flights. One the longest performing and well respected helicopter display pilots in the world is UK pilot Dennis Kenyon

Note: This is part 1 of the interview. Look for part 2 in Episode 15

Dennis ‘the maestro’ Kenyon got his flying start in the RAF progressing through Tiger Moths, Chimpmunks, Cheetah, Varsity, Lincoln, Meteor, Canberra, Vampire, Hunter, Pembroke, Hastings and Anson types (58 fixed wing types).

After almost taking up a career in the airlines a chance meeting put Dennis on the path to helicopters. As an employee pilot at a UK helicopter and aeroplane dealership, Dennis was able to fly through Europe establishing Enstrom dealerships along the way.

The display flying came as a natural progression to promote the helicopter sales and the rest as they say is history with 1500+ display flights and a world helicopter championship win (+ several placings) coming from it. The CAA has made Dennis a Display Authority Examiner and he has trained several of the current UK helicopter display pilots.

He has worked on several films and TV shows including Blackhawk Down and Golden Eye. To round things out Dennis is a published author and has contributed articles to many flying publications.

Dennis is as passionate about flying as ever – you’ll hear it in his voice. Never short of a story to tell and with a wicked sense of British humour.

A helicopter scholarship that commemorates the life of Dennis Kenyon Junior, his son, is a current focus of Dennis’ efforts and is the only one of its kind in the UK(world?).

He is known alternatively as ‘The Maestro’, ‘Dennis the Menace’ and ‘Dennisimo’. Its also been said that he put the ‘D’ in display flying.

Its a pleasure to bring you this interview with a living helicopter legend.

You’ll find links to resources and sites mentioned in the show further down the page.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

01:05 Podcast length feedback
02:10 Listener email – Arron
03:02 Movember charity fundraiser – http://rotarywingshow.com/mo
03:40 Dennis Kenyon intro
05:40 Early fixed wing experience in RAF
09:55 “600mph fighter jet strapped to a 19yr old’s bum”
11:20 Double flameout at night
14:48 Airline pilot licence but ‘too old’ at 36!
15:40 Learning to fly a helicopter
18:00 Enstrom distributor
19:03 Aviation writing – books and articles
19:30 FAMA helicopter – 2 seater turbine
22:10 Flying around Europe planting Enstrom dealerships
24:32 Reviewing helicopter types and writing them up for magazines
25:42 Blackhawk Down and other film flying
29:40 Helicopter display flying – Mike Meager, Enstrom USA
32:30 Dennis moves into display flying
33:36 Becoming a DAE and training other display pilots
35:00 Clocking over 1500 display flights
36:23 World helicopter championships
39:20 Display helicopter types
40:00 Planning a display routine
42:10 Display maneuvers
45:44 Wingovers – what was that maneuver?
49:21 Top 10 Helicopter Books for Helicopter Aircrew
49:32 Show sponsors trainmorepilots.com

Links from this week’s episode:
Dennis Kenyon – “The Aviation Bureau”
Dennis Kenyon Junior Helicopter Scholarship
Movember charity sponsor page

Do you know a company that would like to partner with Dennis for his scholarship program? If you do, please point them to this episode and they can contact Dennis through the links above. Lets use our network to get behind Dennis

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A page from Dennis' logbook during the fliming of Blackhawk Down — A page from Dennis’ logbook during the fliming of Blackhawk Down

Jerry Grayson's Huey in the foreground, then the two Little Birds, then the Twin Squirrel camera ship. Bobby “Zee” is at the right, talking to Cameraman Mike Kelem. In the distance is Marc Wolff (Aerial Director) talking to Dennis. - Photo: Jerry Grayson — Jerry Grayson’s Huey in the foreground, then the two Little Birds, then the Twin Squirrel camera ship. Bobby “Zee” is at the right, talking to Cameraman Mike Kelem. In the distance is Marc Wolff (Aerial Director) talking to Dennis. – Photo: Jerry Grayson

Left to Right: Jerry Grayson, Dennis Kenyon, Olaf Schumacher Photo: Jerry Grayson

Dennis Kenyon aka 'Dennis the Menace' during his display at Biggin Hill on 14 May 1977. Photo Credit: Peter Nicholson — Dennis Kenyon aka ‘Dennis the Menace’ during his display at Biggin Hill on 14 May 1977. Photo Credit: Peter Nicholson

Georgie seen here with Dennis during her Dennis Kenyon Junior scholarship - imagine getting taught to fly by Dennis! — Georgie seen here with Dennis during her Dennis Kenyon Junior scholarship – imagine getting taught to fly by Dennis!

Be part of the conversation around this episode by leaving a comment below.