Helicopter -> chopper ?

[PilotoHalcon]

You do not find actual helicopter pilots using "choppers". But this phenomena is not just a problem with flying. Check out a ""medical" show such a "ER" and do it with real Docs, nurses and Paramedics. Or a lawyer show with Lawyers and watch them pick it apart. It is just literary license to make a show more exciting to an uneducated public. Do us a favor, call them "helicopters". You will not sound like a moron that way.
j

 

[EOpilot]

Nah, the JT8D-7 powered 727s aren't lead sleds, you just can't climb above FL290 if you want to go .80 or better on a warm day. Still pretty danged fast.

I once flew with a guy who was an ex-Braniff Captain (he was an over 60 FE at our company) who told me about the first time he had flown a helocopter. He was hired as a ground instructor at the local AAF for the Hughes. He had never flown any helos, but he knew the general principles. Well they were short on flight instructors, so the powers that be tapped him to get familliar with the Hughes. When he told them he had never flown one of those before, (he meant helocopters, the CO thought he just meant the Hughes) he was told to take one up and get used to it.

So he did. Nobody with him. He told me his reasoning was if he could get the thing going forward, then he could just fly it like an airplane. He was right, but of course easier said than done.

There's another story about him practicing hovers over the rifle range, but I guess that's another post.

 

[Vicar]

Thanks everyone for clearing this up lots more other info/stories

Consider it done PilotoHalcon

Phew! I'm glad that i asked...i was afraid to use the word chopper as i thgt it might meant or refered to certain/specific types of helicopters and by now if i had, it would have become a habit. Sure would have sounded like a moron. PHew!

Thanks alot guys.
Thanks alot...


Vicar