h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There is a jovial theory that helicopters do not in fact fly, but that they are simply so ugly that the Earth repels them. This is of course highly improbable.

so you haven't seen the apache then? trust me, the rotors on those things drag it back to earth 'cos it's so ugly

There is another theory which states that the design and manufacturing process is of such singular quality that a helicopter is no more than around 40000 pieces of metal flying in loose formation.

Find out more at http://www.helis.com/