Helicopter vs. Airplane | Which is more fun to fly?!?

What is more fun to fly? An airplane or a helicopter? As a helicopter pilot, I’m clearly biased but from my outsider's perspective the airplane world appeared to have some advantages. To bridge appease my curiosity and bridge the gap between airplane and helicopter enthusiasts, I met my friend, automotive photographer James Lipman, at El Mirage dry lakebed. We traded flights in each other’s aircraft and had tons of fun along the way. We also learned about the differences, similarities, and peculiarities of James’s airplane and my helicopter.

My helicopter is a 1978 Enstrom 280C while James flies a 1987 Vans RV-4. My helicopter seats 3 on its bench seat while the RV-4 accommodates a pilot and 1 passenger in a tandem seating arrangement. My helicopter cruises around 95 MPH while James can easily fly at 175 miles per hour. Unsurprisingly, the RV-4 aerobatic airplane and my Enstrom helicopter couldn’t be much more different.

How did I, a dedicated helicopter pilot, perform flying James’s airplane? Did James, a seasoned airplane pilot, successfully hover my helicopter? Did the predator drone that was circling nearby give either of us a panic attack? So many questions. All answered in this episode of Micah Flies. #MicahFlies

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[Kingjay]

Somebody get this man a boat. We need the trifecta! Land, Air, and Sea!

[gustavgretel]

I flew fixed wing for 20 years before learning to fly helicopters. I thought it would be an easy transition, and for the most part it was. The hardest thing for me was coming in to land and pushing the stick forward! Totally alien behavior. My instructor found it very humorous, kept telling me I was going to stop 500 feet before the pad. I finally figured it out. And my 2 cents - airplanes are the best for getting somewhere, helicopters are the most fun

[danielroy]

I had my first aviation lesson about 2 months ago. I am doing it for strictly recreational purposes. It was in a R22 helicopter. I quickly found it was more stressful to fly that I thought. I started planes my next lesson. I now have 17 hours in a Cessna and they are fun! One day I might go back and get my heli PPL but here are some pros and cons for plane vs heli for anyone looking to fly soley recreationally:

Plane cons:
1. Can’t hover (however you can fly safely around 60 kts which is great for sight seeing)
2. Need a runway to take off/land

Plane pros:
1. Lower cost (if looking to buy)
2. Rentability (my biggest pro) whenever I go on an adventure I want to be able to rent a plane and see things from a different perspective. You can rent a plane almost anywhere, like a car.
3. Lower maintenance cost (if you own)

Heli cons:
1. High cost (if looking to buy)
2. Can’t just go rent one (you have to make a career out of it to fly them, unless you have a boat load of cash)
3. High maint cost, rebuilds cost 1/2-2/3 cost of the unit

Heli pros
1. Can hover
2. No runway needed

[regulor]

Seems like the age-old debate of skiing vs snowboarding. Here’s the “answer”: do whichever you enjoy. I’ve done both. I’ll take skiing any day. Others love boarding. That’s great. Do what you want and what works for your budget/circumstances. I’m also an instrument-rated private airplane pilot. Flying airplanes is fun. I would love to learn to fly a chopper - it looks like a blast. I can’t really fly a chopper from Seattle to San Diego the same way that I can with an airplane. Bottom line is they’re different. Do whatever the heck you want, do it well, and have a freaking blast! Cheers!

[MSneberger]

0:45-0:55 gotta love that famous "Enstrom bounce!" But the butter smoothness once it leaves the ground is worth it.

[RorJC]

Another great video Micah! Definitely get your fixed wing license! In my 33 year pilot career, I've flown 18 years helicopter and 15 years airplane (50-90 seat commuter jets). What I've always told people is I love the fixed wing, airline flying, as a career, but I'd rather fly a helicopter any day! Keep up the good work!!=)

[Thoughmuchistaken]

Nice to see people meeting up in such spots not to drag cars or kill a person, but to bridge the divide between helicopter and airplane pilots.

[ReaganThatcher]

But which one has the most cup holders?

[JaredSVX]

This was awesome! I haven't seen any aviation stuff on YouTube until your channel. A+

[FUMan]

Going inverted is a huge aspect of flying fixed wing that most helicopters cannot experience, if you're gonna compare which is better you really have to include that aspect. Cool video.

[bosco]

That was wicked cool episode. amazing when you guys changed seats flying the others equipment. I'm going on 22 years fixed wing IFR and can't wait to get my heli/rotor endorsement. That was an awesome episode Micah

[yxflier]

Loves these videos. When it comes to career pilots, rotor wing guys are far more laid back than fixed wing. Dual rating is where it's at. Do it!

[codmott]

I say rotary all the way. Any place too far to drive you'd be better off taking an airline. Any place short enough for fixed wing by the time you get to the hangar/preflight/take off then land/refuel/tie down, you'd practically be there by car anyway, and then you'd have a car! If you're going to fly for fun then helicopter is the only way. The world is a boring flat place above 5000 ft. Helicopters keep you connected and give you that magic carpet ride.

[esme]

Honestly this is my first time seeing a blog about airplanes and helicopters and I actually like it!! 😃 Your blogs are always an outstanding keep it up 👍🏻💯👏😃

[ryanmcgowan]

El Mirage is absolutely the best place to fly. I flew gliders there in the 90s. There's a reason they chose this place to train astronauts and test new aircraft.

[RoryOnAir]

Well that was great! I learned on fixed wing and am now training for a commercial helicopter licence so I’m a big fan of both types of flying. This is a great review of both. 👌👍

[youtubetv]

GET A GYROCOPTER! IT'S LIKE THE MOTORCYCLES OF THE SKY!

[DeniJasmina]

I thought I saw your face somewhere.. so familiar. When you said KBB in a VW review video I was like... ahaaa.. didn’t know you’re this badass, helicoptering around? Wow

[gilkennedy]

I own both, its cool and fun no matter what, but helicopter is a hole different level, for those who never had the experience I would say its like difference between driving a car and a motorcycle time 2 or 3

[Heisrisen]

Get your fixed wing pilot certificate. DO IT!!!!