Interesting Aviation Facts for Destin, FL for Destin, FL

Helicopter Ground School: In a turbine-powered helicopter like a Bell 206 JetRangers the blades are heavy and the blades won't slow down for several seconds after an engine failure. In the flyweight Robinson, however, after an engine failure you have no more than 1.2 seconds to take exactly the right actions or the helicopter cannot be recovered.

Helicopter Spotlight for Destin, FL

The Bell Model 309 KingCobra was an experimental attack helicopter developed by Bell Helicopter based on the Bell AH-1 Cobra. Bell announced the KingCobra program in January 1971. Two prototypes were built, one with a P&WC T400-CP-400 Twin Pac dual turboshaft engine system much like that used on the AH-1J, but with a stronger drive train allowing full 1,800 shp (1,340 kW) operation, and the other with a single Lycoming T55-L-7C turboshaft engine with 2,000 shp (1,490 kW).

The twin engine KingCobra first flew on 10 September 1971. It looked much like an AH-1J, except for a longer and distinctive \buzzard beak nose and a ventral fin like that on the original Model 209 demonstrator. However there were significant changes that were less noticeable.