Trial Flights

Helijohn · Starting to 'Torque Joined: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 46

Tiger Helicopters are offering FREE Trial Flights, sounds too good to be true eh....................? must be some small print involved here?. Johnny.

ORC · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:

http://www.tigerhelicopters.co.uk/freetriallesson.htm

Born very sceptical with a sense of mischief I am willing to try this out and report back Very Happy

I will be working undercover so will not be reporting back until the mission is over..........
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R22 2.6 h/r wanting more, a hell of a lot more

HaggisHunter · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:31 pm Post subject:

Nothing in life is free, more true in aviation, and as for TH giving something for free.... yeah right, pull the other one! Tread carefully.

HH
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ATPL(H) IR(H): SK92, AS355, EC120, R22/44

"When the tough gets going, the tough eat haggis!"

PilotWolf · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject:

The usual trick is that the lesson which is free is your last one before the skills test or it's only free if you sign up to a course. (NOT saying that is what Tiger are doing though).

W.
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In memory of Skippy the Dog - "www.pilotsnpaws.org" - RIP Scruffy.x

rick1128 · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:39 pm Post subject:

Actually, they may be taking a page from the drug dealers' playbook. Give them a free sample and then reel them in once they are hooked. After all this activity is an addiction.

ORC · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 3:08 pm Post subject:

Its booked Very Happy

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R22 2.6 h/r wanting more, a hell of a lot more

DBChopper · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

Don't be so cynical you nasty bunch Wink

The first entry in my logbook was dated 17th April 1999. I had recently had a flight in a 206, become completely hooked on helicopters and decided to take a trial lesson. Tiger Helicopters were offering free trial flights (advertised in the popular flying press) and I took them up on it. I flew with one Mr Richard Craske and did .5 in an R22 G-BYTE. What impressed me was that it was a proper trial lesson with a very thorough pre-flight briefing - nothing was scrimped on.

I asked them why they did it and they said that the number of pilots that took up the PPL course with them more than compensated for the cost of the free trial lessons. It's certainly an interesting concept and one they seem to be trying again.

I didn't train with Tiger - it was just too far away for me. Oddly, they were such nice people I actually felt a little guilty afterwards. But not for long.

OldRookieCraig - if you end up flying with Clive then say hi from me Cool

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DBChopper

CPL(H) finally!
R22 R44
Redhill

paddywak · H Addict Joined: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: UK

I too had a trial with Tiger, very nice bunch, it wasn't free though my wife won it on E-Bay for £60. That got me hooked and then went back for another. But the road out to Shobdon isn't the best (quite a trek) so I opted to train at EGBJ instead just 30mins drive, glad I did now as they have ATC , 3 runways and a grass strip.

GregNZ · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:01 pm Post subject:

I recently had had a free trial lesson with Tiger, before they started advertising them as I was over from Australia. No strings attached, very professional and helpful but like a lot of you are saying, quite out of the way unfortunately.

animalsticks · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:25 am Post subject:

it is out of the way but what a lovely little field. i think they offer accommodation for those willing to spend a little time there - could just be a caravan though...

on a side note; i met a nice plank pilot whilst i was there in the summer who had a fold up bike with him - landed/unfolded/rode away - told me he liked to fly there and go for a ride in the countryside. was a really nice looking bike too not like the ones your used to seeing with teeny tiny wheels.

...there's a nice B&B down the road and the cafe has nice food.

Often wondered how businesses like that survive out in the sticks. Glad they do makes a really nice day out.
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PPL (H)
R22
B206
If it moves i want a go

paddywak · H Addict Joined: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 533 Location: UK

Do you rekon you could just about cram a unicycle in a 22, or maybe a skateboard would offer an alternative means of transport. Laughing

ORC · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:47 am Post subject:

Well I had my trial lesson for free and extended it by half an hour by using a voucher that I purchased via ebay. I stayed on after my lesson to attend a career seminar that they offer.
Shobdon is a bit of a trek for me but its a non motorway and mostly rural route that I took. I get to fly so infrequently Its quite a special ,whole day out, kind of thing to me, so I dont really mind Very Happy

.I was greeted upon arrival by my instructor for the day, Clive Sturdy, and after welcome cup of tea and get to know each other chat we headed off to complete nesessary paperwork and out to a waiting R22, G-GRTD. I was given a very thorough safety briefing before even getting in the aircraft and this continued once seated. Moving on to familiarisation with controls and instruments and a discussion of control inputs and effects. I was made to engage in conversation with Clive and make very clear that I was understanding what was going to be required from me, about handing over control, radio communication etc. Clive talked me through checks and start up explaining the reasons for each and every step and I followed through on the controls as we took off. I am really not capable of giving a concise account of the rest of the flight as I was just enjoying myself too much. I was introduced to controls one by one as I was instructed through the basics , keeping the aircraft in trim, flying straight and level and transitions. I will never forget flying towards a rainbow and I will never be able to thank Clive enough for constantly reminding me to look around I have a tendancy to become fixated on what I am trying to fly towards and just miss out on what I am actually doing. I managed to fly straight and level, in trim and thouroughly enjoy every single second. I successfully completed a few turns and changed my heading from one hill to another lost my concentration and started to descend getting my airspeed up a little. We headed back to the airfield and down to the hover square. I had quite a few attempts at this and I think i managed about five seconds before the ground or the sky was all we could see and Clive had to step in. I have to be honest I was feeling a little dissopointed with my efforts but with each attempt I was getting better and it was pointed out to me that it takes around 10 hours to get to anything near proficiant. Any feelings of any kind of failure were quickly dissolved as on our way back to the hanger Clive demonstrated a quick stop over the grass strip Big Grins all round and back to the manouvering area for landing, following through on the controls. Talked through shut down ,realising that I had absolutly no idea of the cockpit layout and I am completely incapable of understanding english anymore, How hard can flicking a switch be ? Shocked

Back inside for a de-brief and an entry in my log book. 0.8 hours I had a long chat with Clive about taking the next step and what future lessons would involve and went back later for the career seminar.

It was not a hard sell event it was an explanation of how the industry operates and examples of routes and goals. Made interesting by the fact it was given by someone who is actualy doing it currently building hours as a flight instructor.

I also had a look around the hanger whilst I was there at the R44 , 206 and sat in the twin squirrel (Oh I do so want one) and had a look at the 109. I have noticed how much the visibility out the window seems to decrease as the cost of the aircraft increases.

To sum up my time at Tiger helicopters. I was made to feel very welcome and had a memorable day. I felt more relaxed than on previous lessons whether this was just due to progression or Clives approach I could not be sure. All I can say is I felt more relaxed while I was under instruction and was not trying to crush the collective as much. I gained a great deal from the whole experience I would recomend Tiger to anyone thinking about getting involved with helicopters. I came away with a nice certicate and they have biscuits Very Happy

If anyone is looking for an airfield to fly to Shobdon is a nice little airfield with a tarmac and a grass strip in a beautiful part of the country.
http://www.aeroclub.co.uk/
While I was there on a Wednesday afternoon I saw quite a few Helicopters in the air including a dauphin doing the circuit. A friendly cafe at the aeroclub with a traditional flying menu of bacon sandwiches and full cooked breakfast's with tea and coffee served in mugs with a help yourself to milk and sugar policy not silly little cups and uht cartons.
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R22 2.6 h/r wanting more, a hell of a lot more

ORC · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:49 am Post subject:

DBChopper · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks OldRookieCraig Cool

It sounds like you had as good a time as I did with Tiger. I'm particularly pleased that you flew with Clive (we took our CPL(H) module 1 exams together and hit it off straight away) and I knew that he would put a lot into his instructing, being as good with people as he is with helicopters. He is freelancing at the moment as far as I know and looking for a full-time instructing position, so Chief Instructors please take note Smile

!

Of course, when I see him next I won't tell him any of this... Wink

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DBChopper

CPL(H) finally!
R22 R44
Redhill

d9aplus · Starting to 'Torque Joined: May 11, 2008 Posts: 30

To good to be true
after all steps taken against Tiger
by UK CAA, another Tiger maybe... Question