Episode 1
Episode 1
2002-01-01 • 30 min
Mark Evans begins building his home kit chopper before attempting his helicopter rating in Arizona.
TV season
2002-01-01
First aired in September 2002, Mark Evans along with his loyal (if ageing) side-kick Pete Walker took on their latest mad-cap building project after the construction of two cars and an aeroplane. A Chopper is Born followed Marks 6 month odyssey to build a kit helicopter. The Rotorway Exec 162 is the most popular kit helicopter in the world. Manufactured in Phoenix, Arizona, Rotorway have been building Helicopter kits for nearly 30 years.
Episode 1
2002-01-01 • 30 min
Mark Evans begins building his home kit chopper before attempting his helicopter rating in Arizona.
Episode 2
2002-01-08 • 30 min
Mark Evans begins building the helicopter airframe and discovers the principles of helicopter flight.
Episode 3
2002-01-15 • 30 min
The airframe is complete and Mark turns his attention to the tail boom before beginning his helicopter flight training.
Episode 4
2002-01-22 • 30 min
Mark begins the manufacture of the main rotor shaft before getting to grips with training on the controls and throttle.
Episode 5
2002-01-29 • 30 min
Mark installs the engine in his home kit helicopter and learns how to counter 'dead man's curve' - a potentially fatal beginner's mistake.
Episode 6
2002-02-05 • 30 min
Mark's helicopter is ready for the tail rotor drive and the clutch, and he learns how to deal with engine failure and autorotation.
Episode 7
2002-02-12 • 30 min
The exhaust and cooling systems are added to Mark Evan's helicopter, and he learns how to take off from hover position and from the ground.
Episode 8
2002-02-19 • 30 min
Mark fits the exhaust, fuel system, fuel pumps and pressure regulator to his helicopter, and learns flying level and straight, to slip and to skid.
Episode 9
2002-02-26 • 30 min
Mark turns his attention to the avionics and instrument panel, and learns about the most important instruments he needs to fly a helicopter.
Episode 10
2002-03-05 • 30 min
Mark learns how to climb and descend before installing the lights, navigation system and computer into his home-kit helicopter.
Episode 11
2002-03-12 • 30 min
Mark turns his attention to the body panel and back seats, before learning about landing and set downs.
Episode 12
2002-03-19 • 30 min
The main rotor blades are fitted to Mark Evans's home-made helicopter. And in his helicopter-flying lesson he learns all about taxiing.
Episode 13
2002-03-26 • 30 min
Mark Evans takes to the skies in his chopper to practise the quick stop. Back on the ground he installs the rigging into his home-made kit helicopter.
Episode 14
2002-04-02 • 30 min
Mark paints the bodywork of his helicopter and installs the upholstery, before taking to the sky in another chopper to complete a circuit.
Episode 15
2002-04-09 • 30 min
We follow Mark as he reveals the finished home-kit helicopter and takes it into the skies for its first glorious flight. Last in series.