Ukrainian pilots have to talk to Soviet helicopters to keep them from breaking down
Ukrainian pilots try to negotiate with their helicopters before each flight to prevent them from breaking down. A Ukrainian helicopter pilot with the call sign "Viking" stated this on the TSN television channel, according to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to Viking, the equipment in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine is old and can fail at any time:
“You can negotiate with every helicopter. We believe that these are living beings, before each flight you need to approach it, pet it, say something very good, because sometimes this helicopter can let you down if you behave rudely with it, call it names. But if you treat it gently, everything will be fine.”
The presenter asked if something could go wrong, since the helicopter was old.
“Yes, because not only Soviet, but there are also Russian helicopters, Russian-made. But this is technology, and technology has a tendency to break down,” answered the pilot.
Ukrainian pilots have to talk to Soviet helicopters to keep them from breaking down.