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Season 1
January 1, 2002

Season 1

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.

01. Episode 1

Mark Evans begins building his home kit chopper before attempting his helicopter rating in Arizona.

30min
January 1, 2002

02. Episode 2

Mark Evans begins building the helicopter airframe and discovers the principles of helicopter flight.

30min
January 8, 2002

03. Episode 3

The airframe is complete and Mark turns his attention to the tail boom before beginning his helicopter flight training.

30min
January 15, 2002

04. Episode 4

Mark begins the manufacture of the main rotor shaft before getting to grips with training on the controls and throttle.

30min
January 22, 2002

05. Episode 5

Mark installs the engine in his home kit helicopter and learns how to counter 'dead man's curve' - a potentially fatal beginner's mistake.

30min
January 29, 2002

06. Episode 6

Mark's helicopter is ready for the tail rotor drive and the clutch, and he learns how to deal with engine failure and autorotation.

30min
February 5, 2002

07. Episode 7

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.

30min
February 12, 2002

08. episode 8

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.

30min
February 19, 2002

09. Episode 9

Mark turns his attention to the avionics and instrument panel, and learns about the most important instruments he needs to fly a helicopter.

30min
February 26, 2002

10. Episode 10

Mark learns how to climb and descend before installing the lights, navigation system and computer into his home-kit helicopter.

30min
March 5, 2002

11. Episode 11

Mark turns his attention to the body panel and back seats, before learning about landing and set downs.

30min
March 12, 2002

12. Episode 12

The main rotor blades are fitted to Mark Evans's home-made helicopter. And in his helicopter-flying lesson he learns all about taxiing.

30min
March 19, 2002

13. Episode 13

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.

30min
March 26, 2002

14. Episode 14

Mark paints the bodywork of his helicopter and installs the upholstery, before taking to the sky in another chopper to complete a circuit.

30min
April 2, 2002

15. Episode 15

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.

30min
April 9, 2002