The status of Helicopters

[a1]

Helicopters are quite nice and may be beautiful. I really like the Blackhawks and consider them beautiful.

[expat]

It seems like the only people that don't like them are those that don't understand how they work, and/or are intimidated by them for some reason.

As a licensed aircraft engineer (with more spannering time than your "been around helicopters literally every day of my life"), I can assure I have a very, very good idea of how helicopters work and am far from intimidated by any flying machine, having worked on more aircraft types than I care to remember, including a helicopter or two.

Matt

[an-225]

HH-65!!!

[Isak922]

Only helo's I like are ones bristling with ammunition from every part of the Airframe!

Go attack helicopters!

[BFMF]

Helicopters are quite nice and may be beautiful. I really like the Blackhawks and consider them beautiful.

Before, during, or after they crash...?

[beaky]

Helicopters generally are short on graceful curves, etc because they had to trade beauty for utility that blows away any airplane.  

But some are actually pretty, like the Hughes 500... insectoid, of course, but very nice lines, I think.

[Staiduk]

I dunno... Beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder; I personally find helicopters amazingly graceful and quite beautiful. More so than airplanes; which I find generally functional in appearance. I think it has something to do with their grace in flight and basic weirdness that makes them so attractive. Still, if you're looking for pretty machines; these are really beautiful mahines!

Cheers!

[ShaneG_old]

Still, if you're looking for pretty machines; these are really beautiful mahines!

Cheers!

Agreed! My favorite would be the Challengers, big old beautiful beasts, they didn't get the life span they deserved. 8-)