step on the ball or move the string
 

here is my thesis:

there is a BIG difference between flying using the inclinometer (ball) and the trim string.

flying on the ball:
most comfortable position of the aircraft for the occupants. the resultant of weight and centrifugal/centripetal force is aligned with the resultant of lift and thrust (uhm.....might not have gotten this right in aerodynamical terms). the center of total lift in the helicopter is located away from the center of gravity

flying on the string: the relative wind (to the aircraft, not the airfoil) is straight in the nose of aircraft making it the most efficient way of plowing through the air. the center of total lift in the helicopter is located at the same place as the center of gravity, which means that the helicopter will fly with one skid low unless the cg is in the center.

conclusion:
1) flying on instruments or doing charter, use the inclinometer
2) the fastest/economic way of flying, use the trim string

comments, please!

Swing the string.
It's more sensitive, more accurate.
Disadvantage: invisible in the dark.
Having one skid low (string aligned) is less disturbing to pax than all the returns to heading.

are there many other helicopters with the strings besides the 22's and 44's?

love the strings! as350/355 have them

Strings can be a little bit of a non event in the rain :D :D

Gazelle AH1 has string, never use it above 40kts indicated, better to look outside the window :cool:

Anyone remember the film "Final Countdown", about the US Carrier that was transported back to 1941? One of their Tomcats had a bit of string!
:D