This is another commendable episode in the Curiosity Quest series, hosted by the affable Joel Greene. It combines education and entertainment in a witty and enlightening show. Adi writes in, asking how helicopters are made.
Joel travels to Torrance, Calif., to interview Terry Robinson, the president of Robinson Helicopter Company, a company which her father founded. Her dad started the company at first in his house, and then worked out of his garage until later a formal building was used for the business. Now, the business is set on 28 acres with 617,000 square feet. Terry Robinson soon turns things over to spokesperson Zack Archer, who takes Joel on a tour of the facilities and explains how the various parts of helicopters wind up being united to form a complete and fully functional helicopter.
The tour begins at the shipping and receiving department where various parts are inspected. This includes steel, aluminum, bars, and metal sheets. They use light parts as much as they can in building the helicopters as they want the helicopter to be as light as possible. In a fun fact moment, it is shared that between 25 to 30 gallons of fuel are used per hour in flying helicopters. The rotor blades are essential in the flight of the copters, another interesting tidbit of information.
In another light moment, various people including kids and adults are asked about what they think is the most important part of a helicopter. The answers range from the engine, the wings, the seatbelt and one man says, “Me! I just want to stay alive!” Another fun fact is that it was in 1936 that the first fully functional helicopter appeared.
This fascinating episode also reveals how long it takes to make a helicopter and how that the helicopters are also sent out internationally. Instead of arriving in a country with a “how to” guide, the helicopters are sent to helicopter dealers in a particular country, and they assemble it for the purchaser. The parts are shipped in crates. The painting of a helicopter is mentioned, and the doors are painted separately from the rest of the helicopter.
This wholesome and intriguing episode merits our Dove seal for All Ages.
The Dove Take
This episode is informative, fun, and your entire family will learn more about helicopters just by watching it than you might have thought possible.
