HG Frautschy
Courtesy Doug Busch
The distinctive paint scheme turns
heads at every fuel stop (top). The
Rotor Way Exec’s engine drives a
complement of eight belts through a
series of pulleys--some visible here.
Doug keeps his ‘copter in a neat hangar
at Anoka County Blaine Airport near St.
Paul, Minnesota.
Financial Advice
Doug offered some advice for EAA members who are still
undecided about building a helicopter.
“Realistically, if you don’t strive for perfection and don’t
push yourself too hard, it is a wonderful experience,” he
said. “So if you are mechanically inclined and you like
to turn wrenches and tinker with machinery, then the
building process should be a breeze for you. I don’t own a
fancy shop or a bunch of expensive tools, but I did have
the wherewithal to see the project to completion.”
He reminded people that obtaining a helicopter rating
can get expensive if you rent one—perhaps more than
$300 an hour. “If you really want to get your helicopter
rating, then I recommend doing it in something you built
yourself,” Doug said. “Not only will you be rewarded with
seeing your project fly, but you will also save a ton of
money in the process.”
Learning Curve
After Doug tightened the last bolt on his helicopter he knew
it was time to learn to fly it. Doug traveled back to the RotorWay factory where he began his Phase 1 training.
“My first phase was all hovering,” said Doug. “I remember when I started to train with my instructor and was
in a hover, I could have sworn that this was a humanly
impossible task because I could not think fast enough to
