Just Curious
 

This is not ment to be a troll post, but has anyone tried combat with heli's? That would be fun to watch with all the flipping and spinning.

RE: Just Curious
 

I've never heard of it, but it doesn't mean it hasn't been done.

However, I can think of a number of very good reasons why people wouldn't be in any kind of hurry to do it.

RE: Just Curious
 

Starting with $$$$$$$$. This is a contact sport. Man, just visualize the parts cloud from a whirlybird midair!

rrh

RE: Just Curious
 

Whats a few bucks compared to the fun. Last one to hit the ground wins.

RE: Just Curious
 

We had a mid-air with a heli (in fact 2 mid-airs) the last one threw a rotor in to the pit area. Thank God there wasn't anyone there. WOW! It would have gone thru anything in it's way!

RE: Just Curious
 

Even though the blades are larger on a heli, would an airplane prop not be more dangerous. It might be smaller, but its spun up at a much high speed, and its much sharper.

RE: Just Curious
 

The low mass of airplane prop blades and the distance the planes are from the pilots ensure that a prop blade can't reach anyone. The air resistance would slow it way down before it came anywhere near anyone.

At a guess, I'd say you'd have to be within maybe 20feet for a typical combat airplane prop to still have enough force to actually hurt you if it let go. So, be careful in the pits, but once launched, nothing to worry about.

I've seen plenty of botched launches where the prop hits the ground then shoots up in the air. The prop never carries very far. Also, the prop arc is parellel and away from the pilots, so the blades go up or to the sides, but not back towards anyone. A helicopter has the entire pit area in the prop arc.

Helis are also a lot more sensitive to being a little out of wack. Even a small tap will tear up the rotors, while with airplanes, we routinely glide back in safely missing large portions of our airplanes, or with sizeable dents in the wings. Or at least do a controlled ditch out in the weeds.

Overall, it's a silly concept. I wouldn't want to be around if someone did it, but I'd sure like to see the video (as long as no one got hurt).

RE: Just Curious
 

I see you point especially with the prop arc. But you would have to be able to fly it several hundred feet away from you. Not like when you normally stand within 20 feet. And it would be a quick contest. I think it might be a little better suited to electric heli's, since most of the electronic equipment might make it thjrough the impact and crash. And couple be a little cheaper to bash up. Definately intertaining to watch.