Courtesy Photo | Army Sgt. Charles Verax, a member of the 525th Military Police Battalion with Joint...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Look up in the sky. It's a bird... it's a plane... it's an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle? No, actually, it's a remote control helicopter flown by Army Sgt. Charles Verax of the 525th Military Police Battalion. Some of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay's large open fields provide the perfect venue for practicing and honing RC helicopter flying skills. But what's an Army engineer like Verax doing flying model helicopters?
Ever since 1997, when Verax was first rated as a private airplane pilot, his fascination with flying has led him down the road to fulfilling his dream of becoming a helicopter pilot. Having logged more than 255 hours of flight time in various types of aircraft, when he deployed to Iraq it meant he had to find another way to stay sharp in the cockpit. Unable to fly while downrange, he turned to remote control helicopters which have a control style that compares favorably to full-sized airframes.
Just like playing a musical instrument, developing muscle memory takes much practice. If a helicopter pilot wishes to maintain the vital skills and hand-eye coordination necessary for rotary wing flight without deterioration, a suitable substitute must be found.
Verax cautions those who say that RC helicopters are just toys, "Make no mistake; a remote control helicopter is not a toy. They are very expensive and complex small scale aircraft that are extremely difficult to fly. In the wrong hands, an RC helicopter could cause some very serious injuries. This is why their manufacturers always warn that they are not toys."
The higher quality models all come as kits in hundreds of pieces that have to be built. Once built, the electronics have to be installed and set up correctly. Conversely, remote control airplanes even if not put together exactly right, might still fly. RC helicopters must be close to perfect or they will be uncontrollable.
After returning from Iraq last year, Verax set out to attain his helicopter license. With the money he saved while on deployment, he accrued 50 hours of flight training, 10 of which were solo. A 135-mile commute from Kansas to Boonville, Mo., however, meant that Verax was unable to complete his Federal Aviation Administration helicopter practical exam and check ride prior to deploying to Guantanamo.
Since his arrival in Guantanamo six months ago, he says he misses being able to fly. "This is a really nice base with some awesome Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities and activities. The snorkeling in Guantanamo's beautiful clear waters and mountain biking have been great. It is way better than the bases in Iraq. Since MWR no longer has a flying club here like they did in the [1990s], I've essentially been grounded during my time here," said Verax.
Remote control helicopters are expensive, but nowhere near as expensive as renting a helicopter. The Schweizer 300C helicopter, on which Verax did a majority of his training, rents for $310 an hour. For him, flying RC helicopters is not just a useful tool, but also an investment to keep up skills flying full size helicopters.
"The collective and tail rotor pedals are simplified on the RC helicopter's controls. But the cyclic stick controls are exactly the same as the full-sized helicopter," said Verax. "This is why an RC helicopter is a very useful means for a helicopter pilot who cannot fly for a while."
Verax also points out that there are actually people who make money with RC helicopters by using them to do aerial photography and survey work. Other remote control pilots earn money through sponsorships from manufacturers and compete professionally by doing extreme aerobatic maneuvers and demonstrations at air shows. The military also uses RC aircraft and spends billions of dollars on UAVs to gather intelligence and actively engage enemies on the battlefield.
Flying isn't just a hobby for Verax. You can tell by walking into his room where the tops of his two dressers look like the deck of an aircraft carrier. There, he proudly displays six flight capable RC helicopters with their blades folded back.
His laptop-based flight simulator is also a vital tool. "The simulators do an excellent job of replicating remote control helicopter flight and are the absolute best way for anyone interested in learning how to safely fly an RC helicopter to start out," said Verax. "The nice thing with the simulator is that you don't have to do any maintenance and crashes don't cost you any money. You just hit the red reset button and start flying again. Without a flight simulator, most people get frustrated and give up altogether because it's such a challenging and expensive hobby to learn."
Verax plans to complete his FAA helicopter license and then take his career to the next level by submitting a warrant officer packet for Army flight school. The next time you see Verax flying one of his helicopters around Guantanamo, you'll know he's practicing for a dream that is much bigger than that little bird buzzing around up in the sky.
For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2009 13:18 |
| Story ID: | 39491 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 229 |
| Downloads: | 185 |
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