RisePilot wrote:there is both a lack of understanding and disdain for both helicopters and helicopter pilots here
I think that to be honest, over and above the hopefully amusing to both "sides" banter, you are probably a little bit right.
Lack of understanding is because, well...obviously...many fixed wing pilots dont fly helicopters or get the opportunity to fly in them as a pax.
I dont know about the disdain bit. I am however, pretty sure that if it exists, some of it comes from negative experiences of helicopters hover taxiing/landing/taking off in close proximity to light aeroplanes. Ive only once or twice had a helicopter pilot approach me and warn of what they are about to do perhaps causing adverse downdraft, yet have experienced many times the adverse affects on light aircraft of downdrafts by helicopters, mostly when for the life of me, I cant understand why they needed to hover taxi quite so close or couldnt take the minute to wander over before start up and say what they're going to do.
I still think helicopters are amazing. If I could afford it, I would learn to fly one - I am lucky enough to get to regularly take one to work though, and very occasionally its not as a pax sat in the back of an S92 "bus", but up front in something like a Jet Ranger or EC120...
Regards, SD..
Its generally best to make a hole in the sky.......not the ground...