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747-237

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to get a ride on one of Tampa Bay Aviation's helicopters - the Robinson R44 Raven I, that I have photographed before.

Tampa Bay Aviation
Robinson R44 Raven I N31UP
CLW-CLW
Clearwater Airpark, Florida

The R44 flew in from Albert Whitted Airport; St. Petersburg (SPG) where she is based, and did a little hover.

Time to board up ... or, in the immortal words of Governor Schwarzenegger, "Get to da Choppa !"

Rotors spinning, as seen from the inside.

Hovering over the taxiway at CLW.

And a low pass gets us on our way.

Inflight Air Conditioning !

Heading out towards the Gulf of Mexico.

And making our way back to CLW.

Hovering and Taxiing back to the "gate" ! The R44's little sibling, the red R22 is visible.

Coming in for a touchdown.

That was fun ! I see her flying around town several times a week and I'm glad to have finally flown aboard her.

And here's my ticket !

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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

When I logged onto AI.net this morning, I saw 747-237's name as the latest poster in the Trip Reports section. Wow, I thought, either he has taken time off from keeping us abreast with the latest in aviation news from across the world, and actually read one of the TRs on this section, and commented on it? Or better still...posted a TR of his own, which are unique in some way or the other, quite different from the usual TRs on this section. Much to my joy, it turned out to be the latter.
First, I wonder why Robinson called this chopper, the `Raven'. It does not quite look like the anything to crow about. On the other hand, head on (just as in your first picture), it does look like a giant insect, a housefly say, with its large bulging compound eyes and face, with a buzzing sound to boot!
A combination of nice pictures from uncommon angles adds to the charm of the TR. How long was your flight, and how was the handling of this little insect? The weather looks gorgeous and calm: did you face any CAT?
Thanks, Sumantra.

747-237 · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks Sumantra .... yeah, one of my not-so-common TRs. Most people would fall asleep if I had to post TRs about the MD80s, A320s, B737s and now B777s I am usually forced to fly on.
As for the flight, it was about 15 mins long, and yes, the weather was perfect, so no CAT.
I'm not sure why the R44 was named the `Raven', but it sure does look like a fly, head on. As does the R22. Here are some pics of the latter :

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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

ameya · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 10:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks. It was wonderful seeing the pics of that chopper ride.

I STRONGLY DISAGREE with your feeling and statement that people would fall asleep . . please do post the TRs !

I hope I get to fly in a chopper soon. . have missed it thrice in the past Sad

by a whisker. . infact chopper, submarine & bullet train are the three modes by which I have not yet traveled or had a joy ride
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747-237 · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 11:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys - will try & post TRs more regularly.
This was only my second chopper experience, the first being a Bell JetRanger, I believe, a long time ago; and I didn't take pics of that one.

So I leave you with a few more pics of the day.

The omnipresent Cessna 172.

I also had the chance to explore and photograph the (parachute equipped) Cirrus SR22.

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11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi