ORIGINAL: mydartswinger


Part of the tension between heli pilots and plane pilots is that helis can get in the way of planes when they have an emergency or are just trying to take off and land due to the nature of flying helicopters (close in, largely over or near the runway). Another reason is that to many fixed wing pilots who are not around helicopters much, the large rotating main blades are very intimidating. Just the thought that one of those blades could theoretically break loose scares many of them. A propeller on an airplane, even the largest airplanes, are much smaller than the main rotor of anything over a a 400 sized helicopter. Plus the blades on a helicopter are held on by a small (in comparison) screw, while a prop is clamped down to the engine of a plane with 1-2 nuts, plus a washer, and usually a spinner with 2-4 screws. Even if the blades don't come off, they have a fear of getting their head chopped off (or at a minimum a large chunk of flesh taken off) by an out of control helicopter screaming into the pits (even more so with the larger helis). Many plane pilots also know that a helicopter is a complex machine (much more so than an airplane), and there is more to break. They also know that helicopters are more difficult to fly than a plane. As a helicopter pilot, their safety rests entirely in your hands while at the controls of your helicopter. As soon as you take to the air, they are relying on your setup and flying skills to keep them safe.