After reading over several documents regarding principles of helicopter flight, it is amazing what Google will uncover, I decided to spend a voucher given to me by my sister some kind of Helicopter flight book. Looking at the various offerings on Amazon I settled with ‘The Helicopter Pilots Companion’ by Helen Krasner, as it seemed a pretty light introduction as opposed to a course book.

I have to say, what a great purchase it was. I spent every free moment reading it, and learned a hell of a lot about the helicopter world including some of the dangers and limits of flying helicopters. Take the ‘vortex ring state’, for example, where it is possible for the helicopter to enter it’s own down draft and head earthward rather rapidly or ‘ground resonance’ which if not handled correctly could result in the helicopter shaking itself to bits.

Beyond this the book covered the principles of flight, what learning to fly involves, beyond the PPL(H) and ‘Going commercial’. All written in a very accessibly manor, sparing on the physics (which in my case was actually a negative, as this is something that fascinates me).

I’ve got little to compare it to, but I can’t imagine a book that could better introduce you to the world of helicopter pilots. If you’re thinking about learning to fly helicopters, I’d thoroughly recommend starting with this book…