| Once you've decided to become a pilot, the question | | | | helicopters are much slower than airplanes and their |
| of whether you should fly a helicopter or a plane will | | | | weight capacity is also lower. Airplanes let you carry |
| become one of your most important decisions. Ideally, | | | | more cargo. They are also much more cost efficient in |
| you should learn to fly both, but if you're made to | | | | terms of fuel compared to helicopters. However, |
| choose, which one should you pick? Before you | | | | planes do need a runway in order for you to take off |
| decide, here are some things you might want to know | | | | and land. Helicopters, on the other hand, only require an |
| about flying a helicopter versus flying a plane: | | | | open area and as long as there are no obstacles that |
| Which one is more difficult? Comparing the ease (or | | | | will harm the rotor blades, you can land just about |
| difficulty) of flying a helicopter versus a plane is like | | | | anywhere. |
| comparing apples and oranges, literally. Flying a | | | | Helicopters also allow you to enjoy the sights better |
| helicopter is a totally different experience from flying a | | | | than airplanes because helicopters can hover and may |
| plane. For one, they are built differently and are | | | | be flown at low altitudes. Visibility with a helicopter is |
| operated in totally different ways. | | | | also tops. But when it comes to the cost of learning to |
| According to many pilots, a plane is managed while a | | | | fly, a helicopter rental is sometimes more expensive |
| helicopter is flown. Once airborne, a plane can fly | | | | than a plane, sometimes costing as much as $200 an |
| almost naturally while a helicopter needs to be | | | | hour. An airplane rental usually costs about $75 an |
| monitored and controlled throughout. There are also a | | | | hour and unlike a helicopter, can seat more people for |
| lot of things going on during helicopter flights that need | | | | one flight. |
| to be considered, some of which aren't given much | | | | Which one should you learn first? You may either learn |
| thought during plane flights. When you hear people say | | | | to fly a helicopter first and the plane later or vise |
| that flying helicopters is much more difficult that flying a | | | | versa, it doesn't matter. Learning to fly one first won't |
| plane, remember that they are speaking from their | | | | impact how you will perform on the other. When it |
| experience and that they may have different skill | | | | comes to getting your ratings, it also doesn't matter |
| levels and interests than you. | | | | which one you get first. |
| Which one is more advantageous? In terms of speed, | | | | |