#242 Coffee with Kenny Fly the closer aircraft and make that training count!
22 Nov 2025 · 3 min
Kenny Keller advises a 22-year-old law enforcement officer to train in a closer R44 helicopter instead of driving three hours for cheaper R22 lessons. The extra travel time and cost outweigh the hourly savings. Consistent training at 2-3 days per week matters more than finding the cheapest rate.
Chapters
Hey, day 242, coffee with Kenny. This is gonna be down and dirty to the point. You probably tell I'm half sick. Been a crazy week. So we're gonna do this one fast. All kinds of problems, router problems, Internet problems, now server problems. Beauty of an online business, right? There's so many things that are great about it, but this is one of those weeks where it ain't that great. But, but for Terry. Young man emailed me and he's only 22 years old. Law enforcement officer wants to chase the helicopter pilot dream and he's frustrated over. He's got an R44 close by and it's really expensive. Then he's got an option for an R22, but it's like three hours drive and he's like, man, I'm struggling financially to pull off the training and I just kind of was looking for some of your advice, some advice. And I, I can answer this one really easy. I say fly the R44. You're only 22 years old, man. You're just getting started. I would not drive three hours, one way to save money on an R22. I just wouldn't do it because the time on the road, you're right. The time on the road, the gas. If you need hotels, in the long run, if you can fly the R44 much closer to home, it's less time on the road, it's less time, it's less time. You know, wear and tear in your vehicle, it's less gas, it's less money. You're only 22, man. You got time, you got time. And even though it seems overwhelming and I know by your email that you're overwhelmed by it. Hey, you know, here's a little glimpse. Part of our hog's wall. These people all have a story, they all got there. And you can too, just like I did and everybody else. So for a quick video, man, I say fly the R44. I wouldn't spend the time. Nothing against the R22. If you had one close and you could save money, great. I would say fly that. But you got an R44 close. Make that training count, you know, make sure the people that you're flying with their quality and making good use of your money and you're doing a one hour flight lesson and you study hard and you're prepared, you'll save money in the long run, long run too, by doing it right. And if you're not a hogs member yet, you should be, because that's how we're going to help you make the most of your money, get through the training. So I'm gonna say, peace out. We're getting ready to roll out of here, man. This is a hell of a week. So, Terry, take a chill pill, fly the R44. Do it when you can. Try to fly two to three days a week, study really hard, make that money count. I know it's more money per hour, but you know, everybody has that. That mistake of going, oh, but this aircraft's only 225 and this one's 375 or whatever the case is. But you got to look at the. Everything that goes along with it, right? And all that travel, I'm telling you. I'll lastly say I drove two hours one way for every lesson from my private commercial and CFI in two hours back home. And that sucked. I wish I'd have had something closer. If I'd had something closer, I could have paid more money per hour to fly nearby home than all that time and money I spent on the road. Then a lot of times, you know, get in a motel or whatever because it's late and you're tired and didn't want to drive home. So go for it, man. Do the R44. Like, subscribe and we'll see you all tomorrow on day 243. Peace out.
More from Kenny
Episode 399: DPE States "Applicants Struggle with Stuck Pedal, LTE, and Tail Rotor Failures"
Episode 395: Top 10 Reasons H.O.G.S. Is the Best Place in the US to Ace Your Helicopter Check Ride!
Episode 409: "What is the Best Way to Reinstate Helicopter CFI Expired License?"