The mulit-faceted jewel
I've spent a bit of time thinkin' this one through. There are different aspects that appeal to different personality types.
Do you remember the JFK speech about going to the moon, not because it was going to be easy but because it would be hard? That's it for me. Helicopters try really hard.
A folded piece of paper will glide but you don't see many paper helos. A chopper is just so many artful compromises, like living creatures it works because of multiple successive approximations.
I just love 'em. They are a curious mixture of elegant theory & pragmatic engineering. They can be a subtle blunt instrument at times. I've logged a thousnad hours this last decade getting to know just one simple type & I got the terrible feelin' I don't understand the half of it.
Like the superhetrodyne radio receiver & no limit hold 'em poker, whirly birds are as much art as science & I'm very grateful to have made their acquaintance.