What do pedal steelers and helicopter pilots have in common?

Bob Womack · Post by **Bob Womack** » 21 May 2022 2:44 pm

A. The only thing anchored is the backside. Everything else is furiously working. Not a joke.

Bob

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 21 May 2022 2:49 pm

I've never flown a chopper but I imagine it's a good parallel. Pedal steel is cheaper if you go easy on the gadgets.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 21 May 2022 3:02 pm

Heard at a gig..

"Like flying a Korean War vintage helicopter!"

hp

David Ball · Post by **David Ball** » 21 May 2022 4:17 pm

I have several friends who flew choppers in Nam. Scariest drivers of cars I've ever ridden with. They all seem to drive as if they were still flying.

Can't even imagine what had must have been like.

Dave

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 21 May 2022 4:25 pm

I'm a retired helicopter pilot and there are many similarities

both hands and both feet are working all of the time in coordination...the pedal steel may be a bit more difficult as both knees are involved as well!

pedal steel is a bit safer, though, unless you're playing in a really rough club

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 21 May 2022 5:13 pm

The biggest difference is that a helicopter can be tuned.

Dale Foreman · Post by **Dale Foreman** » 21 May 2022 6:13 pm

Jeff Garden wrote:I'm a retired helicopter pilot and there are many similarities

both hands and both feet are working all of the time in coordination...the pedal steel may be a bit more difficult as both knees are involved as well!

pedal steel is a bit safer, though, unless you're playing in a really rough club

Hovering is like standing on ball!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 22 May 2022 12:19 am

Doug Earnest wrote:The biggest difference is that a helicopter can be tuned.

manny escobar · Post by **manny escobar** » 22 May 2022 3:46 am

My pedal steel guitar friend Harry Teachman is a retired helicopter pilot. This also reminds me of when Dave Letterman said playing the steel was like piloting a helicopter.

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 22 May 2022 5:34 am

Didn't know that about Harry, Manny! Chris

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 22 May 2022 8:58 am

A friend let me take the controls of his Piper Cherokee for a few moments once when we were at altitude. While I wasn't comfortable enough (financially, that is!) with it to follow up with actual instruction, I could see some similarities with steel playing in that in both situations there are numerous points of interaction with a mechanical device, and therefore a lot of parameters under one's control.

I've heard of fixed-wing pilots describing the experience as one of "wearing the aircraft", which seems very like playing pedal steel when everything is going right. My question is whether steel-playing helicopter pilots ever feel that degree of calm control when flying.

Al Evans · Post by **Al Evans** » 22 May 2022 9:30 am

Dave Hopping wrote:My question is whether steel-playing helicopter pilots ever feel that degree of calm control when flying.

Don’t know whether he plays pedal steel, but…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUT-d_ZmIPY

—Al Evans

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 24 May 2022 6:30 pm

Spent some hours in a Hughes 500 J

I found it to be much easier than playing a pedal steel.

Larry Ball · Post by **Larry Ball** » 25 May 2022 7:50 am

Being a “Retired Airline Captain” and Steel Player I have to chime in here.

Yes “all pilots” use hands, feet, at different times on the rudder pedals,throttles, yoke etc. However “ A Helicopter” is described as a “Thousand Parts” going in all directions and the “Pilot” is one of them.

Ok Helicopter Pilots now it is your turn.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 25 May 2022 8:27 am

Jeff Garden's a retired Coastguard helicopter pilot and has executed some pretty hair-raising rescues in hostile environments. He's been good enough to share a few stories with me.

The tough jobs he's done sound like they have a parallel in pedal steel: that's finding yourself on the Opry on TV night and having to play the intro and solo to 'I'll Come Running' in front of millions (especially if you can't play that fast to start with!

)

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 25 May 2022 9:34 am

For me the similarity is that I’m not very good at either.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 May 2022 4:47 pm

"What do pedal steelers and helicopter pilots have in common?"

They're both in big trouble if their tail rotor quits!

`

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 26 May 2022 3:06 am

My friend was a Top Gun, and I once asked him what it was like the first time he landed on an aircraft carrier, his response was "Every time is your first time"

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 26 May 2022 7:41 am

I’m not flying in anything that don’t have wings and has to beat the air into submission so I’ll stick with pedal steel, lol.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 26 May 2022 7:56 am

as an "entry level" player, I've had a few gigs that I felt like I became "the pink mist" (Jeff Garden will know that term--walking into the tail rotor).

I've spent thousands of hours (well hundreds at least) in my past life in helos in 'necky' situations, mostly as a rescue guy, in the back, not flying. Wish I had those hours on the pedal steel.

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 26 May 2022 8:51 am

Brooks Montgomery wrote:as an "entry level" player, I've had a few gigs that I felt like I became "the pink mist" (Jeff Garden will know that term--walking into the tail rotor).

:

We had a guy at NAS Whiting Field who approached a turning Huey on the ramp at night from the 6 o'clock position. Who does that? The T/R cut his helmet completely through. Incredibly after a sewing machine worth of stitches he recovered and continued on active duty - with the callsign Rotorface

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 26 May 2022 9:12 am

Jeff Garden wrote:
Brooks Montgomery wrote:as an "entry level" player, I've had a few gigs that I felt like I became "the pink mist" (Jeff Garden will know that term--walking into the tail rotor).

:
We had a guy at NAS Whiting Field who approached a turning Huey on the ramp at night from the 6 o'clock position. Who does that? The T/R cut his helmet completely through. Incredibly after a sewing machine worth of stitches he recovered and continued on active duty - with the callsign Rotorface

Ouch. I tackled a few in the field that were headed back there. Thankfully, never saw the mist. With all that racket and high anxiety, it sure can cause some jack-wagonry.

Harry Teachman · Post by **Harry Teachman** » 26 May 2022 4:27 pm

Just this afternoon at my eye health appointment, the doctor and I were discussing the amazing flying prowess that CGS pilots exhibit. The weather that these guys have to fly in to effect rescues is mind boggling !!!! Jeff, you have my ultimate respect !!!!!!!

Harry T.

Dennis Lee · Post by **Dennis Lee** » 26 May 2022 5:25 pm

I often go into auto rotation on a solo ride!

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 26 May 2022 5:33 pm

Proud to have served, Harry. Everything was about operating as a crew and we'd all do anything to help each other out to get the job done. Great group of dedicated folks to work with. I did a tour at Air Station Cape Cod down your way in the early 1980's. Very fond memories. The weather out on Georges Bank can kick up pretty good!