August 2019 Student of the Month
Meet Frank Hinshaw, from Hawaii.
Honolulu Bases’ August Student of the month was award to 29 year old Hawaii born and raised Frank Thomas Kao Hinshaw. Frank just completed his PVT add rating, he logged 41.5 hours in the R22 and has only been flying helicopters for the last 100 days. So far, Frank has only been able to fly an R22 but he is hoping to get into a turbine helicopter someday soon. “I’m a fan of many of the well-known manufacturers, but Bell sticks out in my mind today. I’d love to get into a Jet Ranger or a 505 if I could afford it!”
When Frank was asked at what point in his life did he know he wanted to give helicopters a try he replied “I’ve always had an interest in aviation, and began my flying education when I was at Kaimuki High School here on Oahu. In high school I knew I wanted to be a helicopter pilot someday. I joined the Army right after high school and planned on a career in Army Aviation, but I didn’t make it through West Point and came home to finish my college education at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. I’m a skydiver, and taught skydiving while in college, I also went on to earn my Airframe and Powerplant mechanic certificate. It was long on my radar, and long overdue to begin my helicopter flight training this year, but I am very happy to finally have taken my first steps as a Helicopter pilot.”
Frank plans to continue to keep flying, “Instrument is next, and then commercial more than likely.” Flying for “work” is not his ultimate plan, Frank also has an A&P certificate and he would like to build helicopters and airplanes for the general aviation market here in Hawaii. “I’d really like to get a kit-built turbine helicopter and put it together myself, now I will also know what I’m doing when I fly it!”
Obstacles Frank has had to overcome during his PVT rating were; “Flying a helicopter isn’t the easiest thing I’ve attempted, and I’m already a fixed-wing pilot and skydiver. I’ve made skydives all over the world, with more than 3,000 jumps logged. I was a skydiving instructor from 2008-2013. I’ve faced many challenges in life, the Army, college/schools, BASE jumps, speed-flying paragliders, etc. Flying Helicopters seemed like the biggest challenge, and the most rewarding. It made me feel like a child again, learning about something I’ve always wanted to figure out.” Advice Frank would like to share with future pilots, and student pilots training; “ Maintain your commitment, understand that it isn’t easy to master flying a helicopter. Be diligent in improving yourself, but don’t let frustration or anxiety hold you back. Nobody is perfect, but as long as you keep safety in mind and bring the helicopter back you will be able to fly again tomorrow and keep improving. I didn’t think I’d be as comfortable today at the controls when I was over-correcting and having a hard time maintaining a hover on my first couple of flights. Listen to your CFI, and always try to stay positive. If you can fly at Honolulu in Class B, you should have an easy time flying anywhere else here in Hawai’i. Don’t panic on the radio! Take your time, relax, and think before you transmit. You’ll be fine, and before you know it you will be a very competent pilot who is always ahead of the helicopter and the radio!”
Frank shares his favorite experience while flying with MLH as “Fun from start to finish. I’ve appreciated every R22 I got to sit in, and even though it was a bit intimidating taking them solo over the Molokai channel I think that was probably the event that affirms your trust in the aircraft. Knowing that the aircraft are well maintained, the staff and instructors are there to help, and that you are doing it the right way. . . it just makes the training environment second to none.”
“Flying in Honolulu Class B from the start! I know a lot of people will think it is a waste of time or a lot of extra work to start here at HNL, but I appreciate sharing the airport with the big aircraft, the military, and the other helicopter operations. Where else do you get to fly near an A380, a C17, a F22, and all the other helicopters on the South Ramp in the same 2 hour flight block? It is like a free airshow everyday! Plus Oahu is beautiful! We get to fly over Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, see the Missouri and the Arizona on every flight too. You get to see all the Navy’s destroyers and Submarines, and maybe share some airspace with the Apaches from Wheeler! It is also an extreme pleasure to fly the shoreline departure to see Honolulu & Waikiki, all the places I grew up both in the day and night!”
Keep up the hard work Frank!!! Yours doing great!!! Looking forward to seeing your next check ride photo on the IG page.