Life Outside the Lab: Ready For Take-Off!
Posted Apr 28, 2011 in Labs & Profiles
When most people say they're building a helicopter, visions of desktop models come to mind. However, for John Faltin, a 30-year CDT and owner of Red Rose Dental Lab in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that's not the case. His model, a RotorWay Executive 162F, is a life-size, fully operational two-seater helicopter and, after a five-and-a-half-year building process, it's finally ready for take-off.
Faltin's love of "the bird" grew while serving in the Navy attached to the Marine Corps. While in the field, Faltin regularly had the opportunity to fly in the Marine helicopters and he was hooked. "This is a project I've wanted to do for over 30 years, ever since I was 18," he explains.
With no engineering background, he purchased a kit designed for amateur builders which boasts a 1,450-lb helicopter that can travel 180 miles without refueling, reaches a top speed of 115mph and can fly as high as 10,000 ft. The kit, which includes complete instructions,...
