It is not that I hate a helo, I just had a traumatic experience as a lad that eliminated my interest in riding in one.
Apparently, you have to fly to stay qualified, which makes sense. Ship was in dry dock in Long Beach, everyone lived in Sandy Eggo. Typically would go home on weekends. There was a little lottery deal, 3 spots to ride with the Captain, I won and got to go. I guess if you are a Captain, it is like checking a book out of the library or something to get the keys to a helo.
He went out over the water right away. Flew much lower than I though prudent, if I want to look at fish, I will take a canoe. All that sky above us, going to waste. I was not familiar with the performance capabilities of a small helicopter. It turns out they can make some moves that don't seem consistent with my understanding of physics, at one point I was sort of looking up at the water. Nobody threw up, so that was pretty cool.
I have a patient that is a Vietnam era pilot. They fixed bullet holes in the rotor blades with freakin' tape. Sea Story, has to be. Turns out it is true. GD plastic fish bowl with tape on the propeller. Yeah, totally safe
It is amazing what an otherwise normal seeming guy is willing to do when you give him an aircraft.