Model Gisele Bündchen is actually a super helicopter pilot

Gisele Bündchen is one of those models that anybody can recognize, even if they are unfamiliar with the world of modeling. Being one of the biggest names around, it’s only natural that this is the case, but did you know that she can do way more than just pose for the cameras?

Although she has been named the 89^th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, and she could totally hire anybody for any job she wants to have done, she prefers to do some things on her own. For example, she got her pilot’s license while 7 months pregnant because she often flew with helicopters and worried about what she would do if something happened to her pilot mid-flight.

She said this: “Usually when I take the helicopter there is only one pilot and I always wonder, like, what happens if something happens to the pilot?”

She had a really close call during training

The highest-paid model in the world recalls how she almost died once while flying a helicopter during one of her lessons. Everything was going according to plan, and the model was completely focused on the task at hand, maintaining the machine in the air, until her attention was forcibly shifted to something lurking outside her seat’s window. 

Out of nowhere, Gisele came face-to-face with a goose, the animal that is most notorious for being the cause of flying accidents, and the surprise that stemmed from this encounter made the star panic and lose control of her helicopter. The whole situation could have made the news, headlined as the second “beloved celebrity loses life in a tragic helicopter accident” of the past few years, right before superstar Kobe Bryant would suffer a similar fate. 

Thankfully, some flying nightmares have a happy ending, and that was the case with the talented Bündchen, who managed to skillfully regain control of the helicopter and even managed to save the bird from getting injured in the process.

 The terrifying experience was described in detail when she appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden. 

How can you learn to pilot your own helicopter?

Do you want to learn how to fly just like Gisele Bündchen – without the almost dying by goose part of the story? If so, then you should enlist in a flight course near your area. Before you do that though, here’s what you should know about the classes, what the pros and cons are, and what the dangers are.

It goes without saying, but there are some requirements you need to meet to be eligible for a pilot’s license. First and foremost, you need to be at least 17-years-old and have clear competency in both speaking and writing English. 

So far so good, but it gets harder when we reach the testing phase of the process, and there will be tests; that’s for sure. All pilots need to be personally endorsed by an instructor who will vouch for your readiness to take a written knowledge test, and then they need to complete and pass an oral test. Naturally, you will also need to have completed an adequate amount of hours in the air, while accompanied by your instructor. All this culminates into the practical test, where you put your skills to good use and prove you are capable of flying an 800 lbs. steel machine through the skies. 

When it comes to taking the classes, getting a good estimate on what it’ll cost you can be difficult, as it depends on a wide range of variables like specific schools with different prices, how many hours past the minimum you will need to finally be ready for the test, etc. It’s a good idea to put school credibility and safety ratings over personal finances and distance to your home.

You want to learn fast while staying as safe as possible however there is always a risk involved, so you will need to mentally prepare yourself adequately before applying. In addition, helicopters, in general, can be more expensive than most planes, with their renting fees being quite a bit higher, leading to some people opting for a plane license instead.

Regardless of which of the two you prefer, or even if you would like for your feet to remain on solid ground, you can’t deny that flying of any kind is an incredible experience that you should feel at least once. If putting in the hours for a license is not in your future goals, then you could always just book an appointment for a one-day recreational flying experience.