What do you get when you multiply 22 by 2?

I proudly presented myself at the Airport House, the CAA's Gatwick home, last Friday to get my R44 rating stuck in my licence.

I must say, I've heard people whingeing about the CAA - mostly professional pilots - but my experience has been excellent so far. I guess as a private pilot occasional interactions with the CAA's beuraocracy can be almost fun. But for the professional pilot, when your livlihood depends on the paperwork being right, dealing with the CAA could be almost as axiety-inducing as an engine failure.

Anyway, back to the R44. During my PPL training - on the R22 of course - I always thought of the R44 as simply a four-seat 22. How wrong I was. I admit my experience of types is limited, but the R44 is an incredible aircraft. Powerful and flexible. And autorotative characteristics that bear little relation to it's fiendish little brother. I guess that's a good job too - because I'm now looking for a baby seat that fits the R44.