EAA Sport Aviation - November 2010

I was one of those fixed-wing pilots who perpetuated the notion that helicopters drop from the sky at the slightest sign of engine failure. I’ve said the words, “They only fly because they’re so ugly the earth repels them,” and mostly believed it, too.

In my 105 hours of time in 172s and J- 3 Cubs, I thought I knew which “side” I was on, and my fierce loyalty required that I scoff at my whirlybird counterparts. Crazies, I thought.