Modern-Day Flight
Setting an unusual benchmark in the sky—Despite the invention of the airplane over a century ago, man’s quest for bird-like flight has not faded. Prior to the development of wingsuits in the mid 1990s, bird-like flight was simply considered a lethal endeavor.
Finnish wingsuiter, Visa Parviainen is the first to have ever survived the endeavor. Wearing a modified BirdMan S3 wingsuit, Parviainen is just like many other skydivers who leap into the ethers; although, it’s his footwear that sets him apart from the rest—boots with jet engines that propel him through the sky. Parviainen isn’t the only man to have considered using jets to increase forward velocity and lift, but he is the first modern-day aviator to brave the jets’ flames and give it a try.
On October 25, 2005, Parviainen bravely jumped from hot-air balloon gondola. Within moments his BirdMan wingsuit filled with air, and his jet engines pushed him across the sky. Parviainen maintained his altitude for two minutes before opening his parachute, making him the first person to achieve the feat of flying horizontally using non-rigid personal wings, no wider that his arm span, for a significant length of time. It truly was a momentous day! Those before him who had made similar attempts must have cheered in heaven, for an outstanding victory of bird-like flight had finally been achieved.
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What would you do if you could not fail? For centuries, it’s a question that many people would have answered by saying, “FLY!”
Despite countless unsuccessful attempts and even some disastrous results, man’s determined quest to fly fueled the invention of kites, bird-like prosthetic wings, hot-air balloons and gliders. Risking life and limb, the stunts man attempted through the centuries weren’t ever considered failures— just the discovery of hundreds of ways that didn’t work. But in 1903, when Orville and Wilbur Wright mastered the perfect combination of wing shape and propulsion, the time had come when man could safely fly. It’s one of the most exhilarating things to experience. And, flying a helicopter is second to none.
Even though modern-day helicopters and airplanes share similar aerodynamic principles of flight, their differences are many. And for this reason, after the introductory aviation basics are covered, helicopter pilot training is highly specialized. Just as the training is unique, so is the ability of a helicopter. In midair, it can go sideways, backwards, forward, straight up, straight down or absolutely nowhere. The helicopter’s exceptional maneuverability has made it a very useful and versatile aircraft. On top of that, the pilots who are certified to fly them are in great demand in the aviation marketplace.
Wilbur Wright once said that it’s possible to fly, but not without knowledge and skill. And getting that knowledge from the best source is what it’s all about. That’s where we come in—Utah Helicopter Flight Academy. Whether you want to train to be a private pilot or go all the way to become a certified flight instructor with an instrument rating (CFII) and a college degree in aviation, we can take you there. Come explore the possibilities that are in the air.