13

Sulu states he used to fly them in his academy days, but should we take that statement at face value? If the statement is accurate, why would he learn on hundred plus year old technology?

Today, a person might learn to operate a sailboat or single engine airplane, but a professional would learn on a modern boat/airplane and not learn how to operate an antique.

In Star Trek do any characters ever discuss learning on older technology or do we have reason to believe he had access to a manual for a 20th century Huey?

Improve this question
18
  • 5
    The US military operate several 'antique' boats that are used to teach seamanship; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 23, 2020 at 23:15
  • 10
    It could've been a hobby or club, not necessarily part of the curriculum as such. That would further explain why Sulu can fly the thing but the rest of the Academy graduates can't, and are surprised by it. You'd think Kirk at least would've gone through all the piloting classes he could.
    – Cadence
    Commented Oct 23, 2020 at 23:17
  • 3
    He accidentally turned on the windshield wipers when he was trying to figure out how to fly the thing - obviously he was just bluffing, trying to play it like he knew what he was doing so that the guy would let him borrow it.
    – J...
    Commented Oct 24, 2020 at 9:16
  • 3
    "a professional would learn on a modern boat/airplane and not learn how to operate an antique" Most "Professional" pilots today, whether civilian or military first learn to fly on a Piper Cub (built between 1938 & 1947) or Cessna 150/152 (produced between 1958-77/1977-85). Granted, that's reasonably "modern" in GA circles. They learn on the basic, simple aircraft before advancing to more complex ones. You don't learn to drive a semi at age 6, you learn to ride a bike first.
    – FreeMan
    Commented Oct 24, 2020 at 11:54
  • 4
    @FreeMan 5 Even transitioning from a Cessna (150/152 or 172, have your pick) to a Piper Cub takes most pilots 10 to 15 hours or so just due to the tailwheel endorsement. A Cub and Cessna both have a yoke and rudder pedals - that certainly is true. A brand new Cessna 172 has flaps, autopilot, Glass cockpit, and GPS, which the Cub doesn’t have. I don’t know what a future Cessna will have. A helicopter pilot may take 30 hrs to solo. My take is Sulu learning in a few hours is a stretch. Based on the answer posted, the writers were suggesting he picks it up quickly with no experience.
    – user127833
    Commented Oct 24, 2020 at 17:58

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
17

The film's official novelisation makes it clear that Sulu has never flown a helicopter, even in a simulation.

Sulu approached the plastics company's big huey, entranced. He had seen still photos and battered old film of this helicopter, but none had survived, even in museums, to his time. The. huey was as extinct as the humpback whale. He stroked one hand along its flank.

He climbed up and looked into the cockpit-incredible. Hardly any electronics at all, all the gauges and controls mechanical or hydraulic. Flying it would be like going back to horse-and-buggy days. And he had never driven a horse and buggy.

The basic principles of piloting are, however, sufficiently similar that he's able to pick up the controls in a few hours, with assistance from the helicopter's real pilot.

"Right on." The young pilot wiped his hands on a greasy rag. "You fly?"

"Here and there," Sulu said. He patted the helicopter's side. "I flew something similar to this in my Academy days."

"Then this is old stuff to you."

"Old, maybe. But interesting." He jumped to the ground and offered his hand. "I'm Sulu-with the international engineering conference tour?"

The pilot shook his hand. "I didn't know about a tour. They just tell me fly here, fly there, don't drop the merchandise. International, huh? Where you from? Japan?"

"Philippines," Sulu said, just to be safe. He had Japanese in his ancestry, but more of his family came from the Philippines, and he knew far more of its history.

"Hey. You folks really did it. Repossessed your country. What about all the loot, though? Think that will ever make it home again'?"

"Oh, I think so, eventually," Sulu said, trying not to sound too certain. He drew the conversation back to the huey. "I was hoping I'd find a pilot when I saw this helicopter. Mind if I ask a few questions?"

"Fire away."

They chatted about the copter for a while. The pilot glanced at his watch. "I've got to make a delivery," he said. "Want to come along?"

"I'd like nothing better."

The chopper lifted off in an incredible clatter of noise. Sulu watched the pilot work, itching to take over. The young man glanced at him. "If anybody asks," he said, "you never flew this thing."

"If anybody asks," Sulu said, "I've never even been in this thing."

The young pilot grinned and turned over the controls.

Improve this answer
11
  • 3
    I think you mean “a simulation” and not “an simulation.” Also we know the Star Trek space ships don’t have anti-torque pedals, but none the less, I take your “basic principles of piloting” comment.
    – user127833
    Commented Oct 24, 2020 at 1:06
  • 8
    "The basic principles of piloting are, however, sufficiently similar" - I somehow doubt that an aircraft that flies based on aerodynamic principles has much in common with one that stays in the air by virtue of antigrav technology, irrespective of orientation or velocity. At least beyond "do not collide".
    – O. R. Mapper
    Commented Oct 24, 2020 at 13:48
  • 5
    @O. R. Mapper - I agree with you. As I just pointed out in another comment, a student helicopter pilot might take 30 hrs to solo. So Sulu isn’t going to get coordinated with his hands and feet in just an hour to fly a Huey. I’ll give the writers that, under suspension of disbelief. It looks clear from this answer that he’s never seen a Huey before and he’s supposed to pick it up after learning to fly a space ship which operates via keyboard.
    – user127833
    Commented Oct 24, 2020 at 18:05
  • 4
    Pfft. I didn't write the thing. Go yell at them
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 24, 2020 at 18:40
  • 3
    Have you tried "The basic principles of piloting are… sufficiently similar that he's able to pick up the controls in a few hours…" on any real pilots? I suggest that flying a helicopter is about as far from the basic principles of piloting as piloting an aeroplane is from piloting a ship.
    – Robbie Goodwin
    Commented Oct 25, 2020 at 0:09