Pussy Galore helicopter pilot for a day

I never shared what it was like flying a helicopter for the first time so I thought I’d tell a bit about it  now. Oh and PS! By flying a helicopter I don’t mean being a passenger in a helicopter. No! I mean being a helicopter pilot bitches 😉

I cannot disclose why I was asked to take my first helicopter pilot lesson, but I can say that it is on my top 3 list of things I’ve ever done. Wow, it is an adrenalin kick if I ever had one. So sexy, cool and mind blowing amazing to just fly over Mother Earth like a little bug with wings doing 90 knots (aprox. 100 miles per hour).

So what happened? I arrived at Van Nuys private airport a little north of Hollywood. It’s a place where a lot of people keep their private jets and helicopters so there is no commercial activity going on. Elite Helicopters greeted me and without further ado I was checking the blades, engine, fuel supply etc. on the Robinson R22 helicopter I was flying today. Minutes later I was seated, headset and seat belt on in the pilot seat getting ready for take off.

Was I nervous? Actually no. I was so focused on understanding how all the buttons, foot pedals and equipment worked so I didn’t have time to be scared. A real pilot was next to me and he guided me through the entire experience from Van Nuys airport to and around the Hollywood Sign and back again. It was insanely amazing. Never have I felt such a power trip. I felt like a true lady boss handling big machinery and having the world at my feet. Flying a helicopter is extremely difficult. Way more than I ever imagined. But the rush you get from getting a bird’s perspective on the world is worth everything.

Here’s a few images and a tiny video from me flying the Robinson R22 over the iconic Hollywood sign