Unless it has already been mentioned here is the reason for flying from the right seat. Since the days of the S-55 (H-19), H-34 and the likes the passengers entered and exited from the right hand side of the helicopter and, the hoist was also installed on the right hand side which gave the pilot clear view of what was happening relative to ingress and egress and what was happening relative to the hoisting operation. Placement of the hoist cable gave advent to vertical reference.
Even on early small helicopters (B-47) the Pilot flew the helicopter from the right hand seat. On the S-51 which is also equipped with a hoist mounted on the left side of the helicopter the pilot occupied a centerline seat. The same was true for the B-47 J2 Ranger.
Who’s to say which is the correct position? As they say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
