I've never ridden in a 'copter so I don't have first hand knowledge. Even though the blades are several feet above heads, people universally duck. Is it instinct? Is it taught?

Just curious...

From watching M.A.S.H.

What if there was a constant stream of 50BMG rounds flying over your head at about 12’ — would you stand on your tippy toes to get closer or would you duck your head down a bit ... y’know, just in case?

It’s gotta be instinct.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
From watching M.A.S.H.

That and the fact that everyone (well, almost everyone) else does it. I do my best to stand tall when walking under them, but I'm still cringing inside.

The blades can dip several feet, depending on the type of helicopter / power setting / etc - especially big ones like MH-47s, etc. Every extra foot or 3 is a good thing.

Question - Do you stand on the yellow line on the highway? I mean, no cars should cross that, so you'll be safe.

Denoggin Phobia.

They may just be lowering their eyes from the airflow and swirling dirt.

I have seen it in the movies where it will chop your head off.

Two reasons.

One. Because the Helitack crewmember that does the safety briefing tells you to crouch down approaching the helo.

Two. The reptilian part of your brain concerned with self-preservation screams, “Duck, dammit!”

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
The blades can dip several feet, depending on the type of helicopter / power setting / etc - especially big ones like MH-47s, etc. Every extra foot or 3 is a good thing.

Question - Do you stand on the yellow line on the highway? I mean, no cars should cross that, so you'll be safe.

^^^ THIS !!!

I saw a PO2 lose the top part of his cranial during Desert Storm. Had he been an inch or two tall he'd have lost the top part of his cranium.

He walked away with a VERY sore neck. Luckily it wasn't broken.

Yes. Especially numbe two. And as someone who is taller than most and, as such, has hit my head on more shit that probably 95% of the population, I know how much it friggin hurts and I’m not taking any chances. I duck when I go under anything close to the top of my head. Even if I have previously stood tall safely underneath it

Better safe than sorry

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Two reasons.

One. Because the Helitack crewmember that does the safety briefing tells you to crouch down approaching the helo.

Two. The reptilian part of your brain concerned with self-preservation screams, “Duck, dammit!”

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
From watching M.A.S.H.

Love that old show, and your correct, they aways did. I don't have cable, antenna only, and its still on one of the sub channels.

Thats a big avatar brah!

quote:

Originally posted by Kevbo:
Yes. Especially numbe two. And as someone who is taller than most and, as such, has hit my head on more shit that probably 95% of the population, I know how much it friggin hurts and I’m not taking any chances. I duck when I go under anything close to the top of my head. Even if I have previously stood tall safely underneath it

Better safe than sorry

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Two reasons.

One. Because the Helitack crewmember that does the safety briefing tells you to crouch down approaching the helo.

Two. The reptilian part of your brain concerned with self-preservation screams, “Duck, dammit!”

Yes - all of the above. I’m 6’8”, and whether UH-1 or CH-53, I ducked while embarking and debarking.

I think the "I have never walked up to a helicopter" part really answered the question from the git go

I don't want to be Vic Morrow.

Used to be some helicopters were pretty short.

A fellow Chief and shipmate of mine Ron Highland was killed in 2001 when he was hit in the head by a rotor blade

link

I spent a lot of years in, on and around running jets, recips, and choppers. I ducked, dodged and avoided the chompy crushy things and probably looked silly doing so at times.

But I was trained that way.

Then consider the non-concrete landing pad implications - military / life-flight helos can find themselves landing in terrain that isn’t completely flat, so you may find a couple inches of your typical clearance gone to slightly rising terrain features, etc.

And if you have ever been around a large helicopter when it takes off, you will want to be hunched over to lower your center of gravity - because if you are unprepared, they can send your ass flying. I’ve witnessed large 50-75# packs tossed like a rag doll when a CH-47 lifted off.