The 'AppliedFlight' Story
After years of experience in flying and instructing on helicopters, Ralph penned what would become one of the most comprehensive manuals on the practical aspects of helicopter flight that I have ever encountered.
In June 2010, I approached Ralph with the idea of revising the manual he had originally written for us, his students. He informed me that there had been interest from New Zealand, and although we initially agreed to the idea, it eventually lost momentum and was put on hold. However, later that year, a flying school in South Africa expressed interest in obtaining copies of the original book for their students, reigniting our enthusiasm and prompting us to restart the process.
Ralph then introduced two innovative additions to enhance the learning experience: Power Points and the Pop Quiz.
With renewed vigor, we embarked on over a year of diligent work to produce the book, “AppliedFlight: Helicopter Flight Manual, A Practical Approach”. Subsequently, we have decided to transform this material into the The AppliedFlight: Helicopter Ab-initio Briefings, making the advancement in the practical aspect of learning to fly helicopters much easier.
We hope that the effort we have invested in this material simplifies the process of learning to fly helicopters, making it more enjoyable. It is my sincere wish that you find as much pleasure in navigating through this courseware as I have in putting it all together.
Elton Craig
My childhood was steeped in the world of helicopters in Durban, South Africa. My very first job as a kid involved washing helicopters and assisting with maintenance tasks, essentially working as a 'hangar boy'. It was here that I was to experience my initial encounter with the cyclic in flight, which occurred when I was a mere 15 years old, aboard a Sikorsky 62. A memory I will never forget!
I later crossed paths with Ralph in April 2002, when I finally resolved to pursue my helicopter pilot’s license. Ralph's straightforward demeanor and indifference to one's perceived self importance were immediately apparent. He insisted on proper conduct from the get-go, and I distinctly recall instances when I was dismissed for not being in the "right frame of mind" to fly.
To this day, he remains steadfast in his belief that exemplary airmanship is absolutely essential and non-negotiable!
Like so many others, my journey to obtaining my license was fraught with numerous challenges. However, surmounting these hurdles and ultimately obtaining my license has been an extraordinary journey thus far. Currently, I am an active commercial helicopter pilot, serving primarily within South Africa’s security sector, with my responsibilities beckoning me to the skies almost daily.
Ralph Louw
This curriculum began in the form of a book as the South African Helicopter Flying Manual in 1998, a resource I created for my students in South Africa. Over the years, it gained popularity and I updated and expanded it with chapters on mountain flying and other topics. It also attracted interest from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
The primary objective behind the creation of the AppliedFlight flying training material was to share the wealth of knowledge and experience I’ve amassed over 17 years of helicopter piloting, 15 years of instruction, and more than 5,500 hours of flight instruction time, with over 4,000 of those hours dedicated to instructing on Robinsons. My goal was to provide a lucid understanding of each flight exercise, enabling students to anticipate what lies ahead and offering a reference point for future review.
A significant portion of my instructional experience, approximately 95%, was acquired at relatively high altitudes, specifically at airfield elevations exceeding 5000 feet, and under density altitude conditions of around 7500 feet or more.
The 'AppliedFlight' Story
After years of experience in flying and instructing on helicopters, Ralph penned what would become one of the most comprehensive manuals on the practical aspects of helicopter flight that I have ever encountered.
In June 2010, I approached Ralph with the idea of revising the manual he had originally written for us, his students. He informed me that there had been interest from New Zealand, and although we initially agreed to the idea, it eventually lost momentum and was put on hold. However, later that year, a flying school in South Africa expressed interest in obtaining copies of the original book for their students, reigniting our enthusiasm and prompting us to restart the process.
Ralph then introduced two innovative additions to enhance the learning experience: Power Points and a Pop Quiz.
With renewed vigor, we embarked on a few months of diligent work to produce the book, “AppliedFlight: Helicopter Flight Manual, A Practical Approach”. Unfortunately, this book is no longer in print as we have decided to transform this material into the The AppliedFlight: Helicopter Ab-initio Briefings, making the advancement in the practical aspect of learning to fly helicopters much easier.
We hope that the effort we have invested in this material simplifies the process of learning to fly helicopters, making it more enjoyable. It is my sincere wish that you find as much pleasure in navigating through this courseware as I have in putting it all together.
The Brief
Our Step by Step Guide
The Brief
Our Step by Step Guide
Join us today and embark on your journey to the skies, efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively.
Breakdown of Exercises
Each exercise in this course provides a clear breakdown which are broken down into 7 sections as follows:-
Over 500 Students Spanning 25+ Years Have Learned To Fly Helicopters Using This Syllabus!
Assist
Our Best Recommended Study Guides
Assist
Our Best Recommended Study Guides
Below are some books we highly recommended for learning about the aerodynamics of flying helicopters and the reasons why they are considered to be some of the best:
This book explains the aerodynamics of helicopter flight in plain English, covering topics such as airflow, aerofoils, forces in flight, stability, translational lift, tail rotor drift, autorotations, vortex ring, dynamic rollover, power, and mechanicals. It is well-illustrated and provides a clear understanding of helicopter flight principles.
This official FAA handbook introduces the skills and knowledge essential for piloting helicopters. It covers aerodynamics, flight controls, components and systems, the rotorcraft flight manual, weight and balance, performance, ground procedures, basic and advanced flight maneuvers, emergencies and hazards, attitude instrument flying, and night operations.
This book is a comprehensive guide to helicopter flight dynamics, including both theoretical concepts and practical applications. It explores the development of handling criteria and includes new flight test techniques.
This book provides comprehensive information on flying a helicopter, including its fundamental concepts and flight dynamics, as well as the design and theory of helicopters. It covers a wide range of topics related to forward and vertical flight, mathematics of rotating systems, aerodynamics, rotary wing dynamics, stability and control, aeroelasticity, noise, and stall.
This comprehensive handbook explains the aerodynamics of helicopter flight, helicopter maneuvers, and advanced operations. It covers topics such as the NOTAR (no tail rotor) system, strakes, principles of airspeed, and high-altitude operations. The book is well-illustrated and thoroughly explains the physics behind helicopter design and performance.
