Hello My name is Ralph Smith. Hope I'm doing this right as I'm brand new. I'm a retired LAPD officer. Service time 1988-2012. Spent 12 years in SWAT ( '96-'08 ). Started flying in '98 in c172's. Fell in love with it and obtained my Instrument, Commercial, and Multi in a Seneca. After 12 years of 2 am call-ups I was ready to move on from SWAT. By 2008 I had amassed approx 600 hrs and applied to our Air Support Div. I was selected and went through a rather grueling 6 month training program in a bell 206 Helicopter. Found out quickly that hovering a Helicopter ain't easy. Anyway hung in there and received my wings.

At Air Support, after approx 400 hrs in the Bell 206 they transition you to the Eurocopter AS350. That was nice cause I'm a big guy ( 6'3 250 ) and the 206 is a little tight. It was great experience but I must say; going around and around doing orbits over police incidents gets a little old. Hell you could launch from the heliport to do your 2.5 hr flight and be stuck over a 2-3 block perimeter for the whole 2.5 hrs while K9 searches house to house for suspects! So, after 4 years there I retired

I love twins ( approx 125 in a Seneca ) especially the King Air c90's. Maybe I need someone to pour cold water over my head but I'd LOVE to get into flying one. Anyone know with what I have if I'd be insurable? Thanks

Ralph
You sound not only insurable but also employable. Do you have plans for something to fly- other than those silly helicopters?
Bill

Hi Bill thanks for your reply. No concrete plans as of yet. Theres just something that intrigues me about the King Air. Well one can dream a little I guess......smile.