Why my Phoenix just paid for itself...

[Rick Dizzle]

So today was a beautiful day in AZ... sunny, warm, about 78 degrees. I meet up with another heli pilot at our local field to get some stick time in without a ton of people out watching (most everyone was at work we fly with) . I was on pack number 3 of the morning, I was practicing slow pirouettes, light forward flight, and nose in hovers. Next thing I know, may I add I am not sure how it happened, I was out in the middle of nowhere with my precious 500. I mean like 150 + yards out, over Palo Verde Trees, Mesquite Trees and the freakin' desert. To top it off, I had lost ALL orientation. Every stick command seemed to get me closer to the certain fate of a hard desert crash! I took a deep breath, remembered to give the tail a slight spin to see where I was pointing and then get altitude. At that point I was about 3 feet above the trees. I calmed myself down and was able to fly her back and land her on the paved runway. My buddy came over and saw how bad my hands were shaking and he recommended that it was time to have a seat and drink some water before the next pack.
I can say with certainty, that had it not been for putting myself in almost the exact same situation at times in my sim, I would have been buying a ton of parts!
People will say that a sim is not the same as real life, and it is not 100% the same, but when the "Oh crap!" factor hits, your thumbs that could go dumb will pull it off and bring you home safe. Needless to say, I flew 5 more packs today and went home with my heli still intact! Thank you Phoenix! :thumbup:

[Suburban92]

good save.. yeah the sim helps with the Ocrap factor good flying man

[Mojappa]

Nothing is quite as satisfying as the first time you pull off a save thanks to the reflexes burned into your thumbs by the simulator, I remember mine like it was yesterday even though it was a year ago with my SR.

[MMM.PWR]

Well done Rick! I just switched from G5.5 to Phoenix V3. Any tips are welcomed for the 500.