Planks vs helis

I fly both (all three if you want to count gliders as another catagory)

Here's some observations.

A helicopter doesn't obstruct the flight line any more than 3D flying a big gas airplane and hovering over the runway. The potential for injury and catostrophic damage is the same. Flying 3D foamies is just as "obstructing" for that matter. Of course, there's clubs that just want to fly an oval pattern and discourage that kind of flying too, its the same attitude.

The whole thing can be managed by a little cooperation. The helicopter pilot that says "I pay my dues I can fly too" and proceeds to flip and roll over the runway infront of some startled student on a buddy box doesn't do any of the helicopter pilots around any good. If the helicopter pilot waits a few minutes he saves a lot of animosity. If the guy that wants to shoot 27 touch and go's with his Cub can wait 7 or 8 minutes, the guy flipping and rolling his helicopter over the runway will be out of the way and everyone is happy.

Fortunately our club has two flight lines, one for helis, one for planes so aside from a little grumbling about helicopters taking over the club (there's 20 + on an average weekend) we don't have that problem.