EC120 Melb or Vic

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120dreaming
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EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby 120dreaming » Sun Dec 15 2019, 00:35

hi all.

i want to start getting some hours (training) in a 120. I am part way though my PPL. I have spoke to PHS , microflite, helicopter group and none have one available. Have i missed anyone or do i need to go interstate? any recommendations for interstate?cheers
Biggles
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Biggles » Sun Dec 15 2019, 01:48

Touchdown Helicopters in Wollongong have a 120 and from memory do training.

Did my flight test with their CFI Peter H 17 years ago
UnObvious
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby UnObvious » Sun Dec 15 2019, 07:28

Why?
Friendly Black Dog
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Friendly Black Dog » Sun Dec 15 2019, 21:17

Isn’t it “obvious”?
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homersimpson
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby homersimpson » Mon Dec 16 2019, 11:02

What will insurance cost to do ppl training in a 120? That’s probably why they’re saying they have none available.
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Rotorpilot
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Rotorpilot » Mon Dec 16 2019, 22:52

looks like you may have to buy one and get an instructor to jump in with you. pop;
or go to Qld seams to be a few there.
Dem winds are gonna blow
120dreaming
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby 120dreaming » Mon Dec 16 2019, 23:23

Rotorpilot wrote:looks like you may have to buy one and get an instructor to jump in with you. pop;
or go to Qld seams to be a few there.


might come to that, you know of any for sale??
Jimmy
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Jimmy » Tue Dec 17 2019, 01:36

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Evil Twin
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Evil Twin » Tue Dec 17 2019, 02:56

120dreaming wrote:
Rotorpilot wrote:looks like you may have to buy one and get an instructor to jump in with you. pop;
or go to Qld seams to be a few there.


might come to that, you know of any for sale??


Don't forget the AOC you'll need to put it on in order to train in it
godfather007
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby godfather007 » Tue Dec 17 2019, 10:29

In all honesty.
120’s are a bucket of $hit.
Pretty sure Airbus know that and don’t sell them any more..(happy to be proven wrong.)
Have you ever flown one?
What is the attraction?
What do you want to get out of the investment?
As mentioned above, WHY? ( pretty sure there are many good reasons behind a simple 3 letter word.)
A couple of things that springs to mind is, They are under powered with lift and have horrible TRA.

Better to $pend your money on a Squirrel endorsement IMO.

Keep in mind, both frames will kill you and all on board like all the other flying rotor birds if you don’t know how to control the beast.

Best of luck either way.
GF.
There is always an option.
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Evil Twin
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Evil Twin » Tue Dec 17 2019, 10:44

^ What he said. Squirrel is a far superior aircraft in every respect.
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Hello Pilots
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Hello Pilots » Tue Dec 17 2019, 11:13

Evil Twin wrote:^ What he said. Squirrel is a far superior aircraft in every respect.


But not when you’re “120 Dreaming”
I’ve flown them a bit but not a lot. Load them appropriately and they are fine. Just don’t expect a lot, kind of like a jet ranger.
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skypig
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby skypig » Wed Dec 18 2019, 01:24

They are under powered with lift and have horrible TRA.


One of these statements is subjective.
The other is untrue.

I would rate the power available similar to a Jetranger/R44, with two differences:
1. You can’t “cheat”, without being “dobbed in”
2. If you let it yaw, and boot in the powerful fenestron, it’s easy to over torque (see “1”)
Potentially disappointing seeing the machine is so much newer - and nothing like the impressive performance of an AS350B3 for eg.
But only as “underpowered” as many other machines.

Some people, who I’d suggest, haven’t explored the envelope, mistake the greater pedal movement required, compared to an AS350, for lack of TRA (Tail Rotor Authority).
The TRA is actually impressive. But uses a lot of engine power if used aggressively.

My experience.
Fill-level
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Fill-level » Wed Dec 18 2019, 03:11

skypig wrote:
They are under powered with lift and have horrible TRA.


One of these statements is subjective.
The other is untrue.

I would rate the power available similar to a Jetranger/R44, with two differences:
1. You can’t “cheat”, without being “dobbed in”
2. If you let it yaw, and boot in the powerful fenestron, it’s easy to over torque (see “1”)
Potentially disappointing seeing the machine is so much newer - and nothing like the impressive performance of an AS350B3 for eg.
But only as “underpowered” as many other machines.

Some people, who I’d suggest, haven’t explored the envelope, mistake the greater pedal movement required, compared to an AS350, for lack of TRA (Tail Rotor Authority).
The TRA is actually impressive. But uses a lot of engine power if used aggressively.

My experience.


You will find a lot of pilots hate them because of this ...s#!t piloting I called it
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skypig
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby skypig » Wed Dec 18 2019, 03:16

Fill-level wrote:...

You will find a lot of pilots hate them because of this ...s#!t piloting I called it


Reassuring for those of us that fly them subsequently.
Balibelly
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Re: EC120 Melb or Vic

Postby Balibelly » Wed Dec 18 2019, 04:07

I’ve only got 800 hours in one and they are a fantastic machine, MTOW around 30 degree you just need to fly them smarter.

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