2 ms·
It isn't like helicopters were unknown in 1968.
by varjag 9y ago
It isn't like helicopters were unknown in 1968.
- nine_k 9y agoWhen I walk down the streets of NYC, I keep seeing private helicopters flying to and fro, along with police helicopters. I don't think it was the case in 1968 yet. Also, small personal radio-controlled helicopters with cameras, often seen in SF from 1960-70s, are a thing for many years now, known as "drones".
- varjag 9y agoIn 1968, the USA used helicopters in lieu of light trucks all over Vietnam, thousands upon thousands. Getting an heli ride was a mundane experience for a conscripted grunt. If anything the practice scaled down a lot since due to proliferation of MANPADs. But point is, a helicopter was not something mind blowing or novel on the scale of a flying car. Nor would an RC model shatter anyone's imagination then, another common thing. If anything, a non-controlled, autonomous or semi autonomous drones that are appearing now would be far more impressive.
- nine_k 9y agoSure, the military had lots of helicopters. Also, portable radios, intercontinental aircraft, and space rockets. These were not a relatively affordable part of daily life, though. Now if I'm in a crunch, and the roads / subways get clogged down for some reason (not a rare event), I can theoretically quickly get from my office to JFK airport on a helicopter for $100 (more like $30 from 1968), if I share the flight with 3 other people. Also, for the same money I can get a half-decent RC quadcopter with a homing ability and a camera that spies from 1968 would kill for. No flying cars, though. Blame air safety regulations.