BeckerHelicopters
Books and DVD's
 
Mike Beckers Helicopter Handbook
 

400 pages including over 500 graphics, pictures and diagrams on everything you have ever wanted to know on how to fly a helicopter. Ten years in writing, this informative and easy to read handbook is a must for professionals and pilots to be. Each chapter carries Mike Becker's enthusiasm, knowledge, experience, and love of helicopters and is designed with the learning pilot in mind. Due to the dynamics and expanse of information required in this industry anyone involved in helicopters must continually learn. The handbook takes you through every maneuver and flight sequence required in your helicopter training, and used in your ongoing career. From effects of controls through to sling loads, mountain flying, navigation, low flying and more. It breaks down the theory behind the flying, and takes you step by step through the flying exercise itself.

A technical handbook, written in an easy to understand language. It links the theory to the practical flying and is a must for every helicopter student or pilot.

Click on the sample pages below for an enlargement
 

"I found it very valuable, very helpful having read it several times before starting my theory course." Dave Bell (91% pass mark for CPL(H) theory course)

"It's been great in my theory course." Alan Bell (84% pass mark for CPL(H) theory course)

"It's a really good reference material the whole way through the course." Dave Goodman

"A very useful learning tool and a lot easier to read than other helicopter handbooks." Tunui Wano

Mike Becker's Helicopter Handbook $99.00

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Mike Beckers Helicopter Training DVDs
 

Over the last few years we have been putting together 21 different training DVDs taken from all the exercises required to complete a Commercial Helicopter Pilots licence.We call them our "warts and all DVDs". What we have done is taken DVD footage of all our board briefs for each practical exercise and also included some actual flying sequences that relate to that board brief. We have also taken DVD footage of our preflight inspections and run through a start up for the Bell 47 and the R22.

We have two separate instructors giving two different styles of board brief for each topic.This gives you the student two different ways of looking at the same subject.This is a unique and highly educational series where you actually get a very detailed brief that takes longer than what you would normally expect if you were sitting down at a busy school. Originally we began with a 8mm Sony handy cam but very quickly upgraded to a 36 bit digital camera which we have now edited onto a standard VHS tape, none of the action was scripted so you get some humour as mistakes and retakes are included for your entertainment.

These are our "warts and all DVD’s" where you feel like you are actually in the classroom receiving the board brief from the instructor. They are not fancy and not designed to be a boring professional monologue but instead an interesting interactive discussion between you and the instructor.They work and we find that our students are constantly watching and re-watching them. No brief is less than one hour, with some stretching to nearly two hours.

Another happy customer...

Hi,
Just want to thank you for the great job you did on the Bell 47 preflight DVD. I have been flying for a little over 34 years, currently a Captain on the MD-80 for American Airlines. I have always been interested in helicopters from a young age since watching the Whirlybirds on television after school. I know I should have been doing my homework. Well I completed the dream of becoming a helicopter pilot with my commercial add on awhile ago. I have the opportunity to get checked out in a Bell 47G2. Another helicopter pilot that flies the Bell 47 told me about your DVD. I recently purchased your Bell 47 preflight DVD. Your DVD provided great insight on the Bell 47 and its construction. You have a great sense of humor and the ability to convey important information on the preflight and operation of the Bell 47.

Thank you again for the excellent training DVD. The more you know the more comfortable you become. The great thing in aviation is that you can keep on learning. A wise old Captain told me if you think you flew a perfect trip, then one you weren't paying attention and two it is time to quit because you can always learn something.
Sincerely
Bill Cox

Buy DVDs

DVD Titles Time
Hrs:Mins		  
1 Trial Instruction Flight and Breakfree DVD (free)
An ideal introduction to the helicopter's controls and its systems prior to your first flight. Gives you good grounding and is meant to whet the taste buds - you'll want more. 		1:05  
2 Pre-Flight Inspection R22A
comprehensive walk around the R22, explaining its components, prior to flight. An hour of very intense detail - excellent to use in conjunction with the flight manual. 		1:15  
3 Pre-Flight Inspection Bell 47A
detailed walk around the Bell 47, explaining its components, prior to flight. This helicopter is an oldie but a goodie, made famous from the TV series M*A*S*H. 		1:10  
4 Effect of Controls
An in-depth look at the Bell 47 and R22, the positioning, functions and uses of their controls. Very detailed and hands on viewing of controls linking up with the board briefs. 		2:55  
5 Elementary Handling
Following on from "Effects of Controls", how to become a better, safer pilot in the climb, descent, turn and power changes. 		0:45  
6 The Circuit
**Puts together the use of controls and elementary handling into a formal pattern. Footage taken from the cockpit illustrates all aspects of a circuit from you, the pilot's view. 		0:50  
7 The Hover
**Including engine failure at the hover, take off and landing, taxi and pattern hover. Once you have the helicopter three feet above the ground you need to be able to manoeuvre it and put it on the ground. 		1:00  
8 Basic Autorotations
**An introduction into engine-off landings in a helicopter. 		1:10  
9 Advanced Autorotations
**Advanced techniques and forced landings for positioning the helicopter after an engine failure. A must-see for pilots. 		1:00  
10 Slope Operations
**Landing and taking off from uneven or unprepared surfaces, and the pitfalls. 		0:50  
11 Jammed Controls
**How to handle each one of the primary controls jamming in flight. 		1:40  
12 Low Flying
**Advanced exercises and safety through and awareness in low level manoeuvring, positioning and emergencies. 		1:10  
13 Confined Areas
**Positioning the helicopter in small confined areas and how to assess those areas. Includes footage of a Jetranger helicopter flying into a cave - now that's worth a look! 		1:35  
14 Limited Power Operations
Operating the helicopter with minimum power as found in high altitudes, high density altitude, hot temperatures or heavy loaded. 		1:00  
15 Navigation
How a helicopter pilot gets from point A to point B. Excellent as a reminder of those valuable hints and tips for a more professional approach. 		1:10  
16 Mountain Flying and Pinnacles
**Putting together all of the skills and confining them to valleys and pinnacles. Excellent flying sequences. Includes footage of helicopter flying into a cave. 		1:35  
17 Mustering Operations
**Chasing the cow and all its Australian pitfalls - presented by an ex-stockman and mustering pilot. Some excellent footage from an Australian Outback station real muster. 		0:55  
18 Sling Loads
**How to get the most out of your sling load operation. A look at equipment and various lifting techniques. Flying footage of different loads, lengths of chains, nets, etc, plus a sling load operation in a Papua New Guinea mountain village. Some great footage of sling loads on Bell 47 in training situations. 		1:40  
19 Emergencies and Forced Landings
**Know how to avert a tragedy through knowledge of some of the common things that can go wrong in flight and how to deal with them and make forced landings. 		1:00  
20 Aerodynamics
Thumb nail (5 minute) briefs on the most common aerodynamics associated with helicopters. Only needed as part of the Light Helicopter Safety Course. 		1:20  
21 Human Factors and Insurance
A look at the nut behind the wheel and those who insure us! Whether we like it or not, pilot error is still a major cause of accidents. Know how to personally avert it. 		1:20  
 ** Includes flying sequences
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