From my time on AS350's, VFR was the string (more efficient, less drag), IFR the ball (and accept the non streamlined flight).
The most important question is the one was why the 6"piece of red wool (string) cost $500 from Eurocopter (the AeroSpat). Was it made with special gold (non metallic) thread so it wouldn't effect the DG - or some super secret wool from a European Apline wilderbeest that had to be fed special grain for breakfast and plucked at midnight by a blind Corsican monk (no offence to any blind Corsican monks that may read this post)?
Always tickled my fancy that one.......
