Would You Pilot an Attack Helicopter or a Jet Fighter?
By: Steven Miller
Estimated Completion Time 6 min
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Image: Shutterstock
About This Quiz
Let's say that your aircraft's engine was to cut out or there was to be some other kind of mechanical failure during your flight. What would the difference be between a helicopter and a jet in a situation like that?Â
While neither circumstance is going to be a joy ride, the jet's aerodynamic design will give it a lot better chance of navigating safely to the ground without power. On the other hand, the helicopter is simply going to fall out of the sky like a heavy stone. This basic difference tends to lead to noticeable patterns in the personality and behavior of both sets of pilots.
For example, a helicopter pilot tends to be someone who analyzes all the things that might go wrong in any given situation. They have plenty of emergency exit strategies and backup plans in place should things start heading south in a hurry. They also tend to be a little more moody, maintaining a fairly strict and regimented lifestyle. That being said, this is the person you want around if everything starts to fall apart.
Strap in and get comfortable. We're going to push this thing to the edge to find out what you're made of. Punch it.
START QUIZ
Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist?
I'm a realist. I anticipate what might go wrong.
I'm definitely a pretty optimistic person.
The sky's the limit for me.
How big of a party would you prefer to attend?
I definitely enjoy a full house at a party.
Just a few close friends would be ideal.
Is your lifestyle more odd or conventional?
I like to have fun, but I'm a pretty normal person.
I follow the rules pretty closely.
I definitely have a few peculiarities about me.
I'll admit it, I'm very weird.
How do you feel about taking risks?
I try to avoid them whenever I can.
I'm willing to take some calculated risks.
I enjoy taking risks. It keeps life interesting.
Which best describes your typical mood?
Are you more quiet or talkative?
I choose my words wisely.
I'm not shy, that's for sure.
How good is your vision without corrective lenses?
It's fine. I think it's still around 20/20.
I have laser-sharp vision.
I have better than 20/20 vision.
I can't see anything without glasses or contacts.
How do you generally react in a crisis?
I tend to panic and fall apart.
I stay calm and keep asking, "What's next?"
I actually kind of get fired up and excited about it.
I go through my mental checklist that I've created for emergency situations.
How many alcoholic beverages do you consume in an average week?
It's pretty rare for me to drink, but I do sometimes go a little crazy.
I'll have a drink or two at the end of the day.
How big is your circle of friends?
There's only a handful of people that I consider to be close friends of mine.
I have a pretty substantial circle of close friends.
How strong is your hand-eye coordination?
I have amazing hand-eye coordination.
I'm more coordinated than most.
Do you have any issues with anger?
I'm pretty much always about to blow up.
It takes a lot for me to lose my cool.
No, I'm totally calm, cool and collected.
I can get pretty fired up, but it's not an everyday thing.
How much time and energy do you spend anticipating problems?
That's pretty much all I do.
I'll generally have some basic fall-back plans, but I don't waste a lot of time and energy on that.
I'll do the training to handle any problem, but my focus will mostly remain in the present moment.
Are you a planner or do you tend to be more spontaneous?
I'm totally spontaneous. I never plan anything.
I do some spontaneous stuff once in a while, but mostly it's all planned out.
I have a general outline of where I'm going, but I'm very spontaneous about how to get there.
How healthy is your diet?
I eat whatever I'm in the mood for. Sometimes that's healthy, sometimes not.
My diet is about as healthy as it gets.
I might have some comfort food after a tough day, but my diet is generally very healthy.
I have to admit that I eat a lot of junk.
How strict are you?
I'm a very strict person.
I have some boundaries that you can't cross with me, but they're pretty clear and reasonable.
I'm totally laid-back and easy-going.
I know when to get serious about things, but I try to stay pretty chill most of the time.
Do you curse?
I don't, but I don't mind if other people do.
I do from time to time, but I can clean things up depending on who I'm around.
I curse all the time. I enjoy colorful language.
No, and I don't allow it around me either.
How would you describe your sense of humor?
Do you operate off of checklists in your daily life?
I have a checklist for everything I do.
I have some basic checklists for really important stuff.
I do use checklists, but I don't let them completely run my life.
What is your reaction when we say, "crosswind landing"?
I'm up for the challenge.
Time to review protocols.
How chatty are you?
I'm definitely not shy about expressing myself.
I try to only speak when I have something worth saying.
I don't say a whole lot. People who talk a lot drive me crazy.
I really never stop talking.
Would you rather fly alone or with others?
I'd much rather just have to worry about myself.
Pack the aircraft with as many people as you can.
What's the point if you don't have at least one other person to share it with?
Do you have any superstitions?
No, I'm not a superstitious person.
I have one superstition, but it's more like a good luck charm.
I have a whole bunch of superstitions. It actually tends to freak people out a bit.
I definitely have to do things a certain way to feel confident.
What pace do you tend to move at in life?
I prefer to take my time and go very slow.
I keep things moving along, but I try not to rush too much.
I like to move at a pretty quick pace, but I do try to remember to stop and smell the roses from time to time.
How organized are you?
I'm extremely organized and very meticulous about where everything goes.
Some might think I'm a mess, but everything does have its place.
I'm a pretty organized person, but I'm not obsessive about it.
Which holiday best matches your personality?
Of the following, which style of music would be the best soundtrack for your flying?
How would you describe the general stress level in your life?
I definitely deal with more than my fair share of stress.
Everything is groovy in my world.
My stress level is off the charts.
I have some stress to deal with, but it's manageable.
Which movie about flying best fits your personality?
How appealing would it be for you to learn how to do some stunts in the air?
That's all I really care about learning.
I have no interest in that showboat stuff.
I'd be interested in learning maneuvers like that for emergency situations.
I'm not going to lie, I'm fired up about learning that stuff.
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