Instrument Training in an R22!!

[Robbo Jock]

CABAIR have a couple - BOEZ and BOEX, at Cranfield and Elstree, and I think Burmans have a BOEsomething at Cranfield also. Ex Bristows Redhill machines. I spent many a sweaty hour in them with and without hood, leading up to my CPL, which included a GFT (NOT IRT) consisting of around 45-50 mins under the hood, general handling, autos and, ultimately, vectors to an ILS approach to DH where the Examiner (I could have kissed him!) took over and landed the beast. Even after hours of training and that flight test I KNOW I'll die if I end up in a cloud in a Robbo and don't get out molto rapido.

[The Nr Fairy]

There's an instrument trainer R22 at Fast at Thruxton as well - G-BRRY. I prefer G-OFAS as it's VFR only and it's lighter empty - not a lot, but it all helps.

[Hughes500]

Instrument appreciation - good idea. Remember you don't have to go into cloud to become disorientated. Ever tried flying in the mountains in lowering cloud base flying up a valley ? Can be difficult to know which way is wings level as your visual horizon gets distorted if you are looking ahead up the valley with no clear horizon, espically if you decide to do a 180 to get out.

Hope this is clear to everyone, really need pictures to show you the effect, pretty frightening when you get into it.

Support everyone else's view, worrying when you suddenly enter cloud - like driving through thick fog at 100 mph in the car.

we must emphasise to all with no IR rating do not go near cloud, even IR rated pilots have problems with no auto pilot or lack of practice. In my experience most PPL's only go out in good weather, what chance do they have in bad weather let alone IMC conditions??