Bearing in mind that I have nearly 1,000 hours PIC fixed-wing time but about 5 in rotary-wing, i must say that, especially when right seat in a Bell 206 LR, I was amazed at the immense forces to which all drive components, especially the rotor blades, are subjected. Engine(s), gear boxes and drive trains, hubs, swashplates, weights and counterweights, control rods, and blades seem to be locked in mortal combat to see which component can shake its neighbors into catastrophic failure! Hats off to Igor Sikorsky and all who followed into the amazing piece of kit that is the helicopter. No wonder my fixed-wing flight instructor called choppers "Frantic Palm Trees"!
- Ed