60 Seconds with Major Peter Sokol: Inside Rotary Wing Testing
Video / February 19 2026
Transcript
Peter Sokol. I'm a helicopter test pilot with the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment and this is the 60 Second Challenge.
What's the first thing you check before a test flight?
The readiness of my crew and testing.
What's the coolest aircraft you've ever flown?
That would be the CH-148 Cyclone.
If you could test fly any helicopter, which one would it be?
That would be the CH-148 Kilo King Stallion.
Day flying or night flying?
Definitely day.
In one sentence, what do you do?
I test aircraft and aircraft systems.
What's the biggest challenge in Rotary wing testing?
I would say this applies to all flight testing, it's the coordination.
How many flight hours have you clocked?
Getting close to 2500.
What's one skill every pilot needs?
Good situational awareness.
What's one word that sums up test flying for you?
Data.
What's your favorite flying condition?
Clear skies.
What's the biggest difference between piloting and test pilot?
Test piloting aims to answer the how’s and why’s of an aircraft or a system and piloting aims to provide an effect using the aircraft you have
And that was the 60 Second Challenge.