Markup View

Author: acrobox

Jan 6th 2012 at 6:53:30 PM

i put together a YKTTW a little while ago with the same premise and the name ImprovHelicopter. all for combining under this: 
A supertrope to HelicopterHair and HeliCritter

Often times in cartoons or other unrealistic media characters will be able to simulate flight simply by spinning really fast. It could be a part of their body, usually something long and floppy like ears or a tail, or their whole body, or even holding onto a small object that spins.

While some characters can actual fly by this method, many others will be able to hover at a given altitude or at least glide and slow their descent.

Examples
*The Flash used his arms as a helicopter in an episode of JusticeLeagueUnlimited.
*A few Cow And Boy strips involved Billy inventing a flying technique called "Man-Copter", which involves him attaching some slabs of wood to his arms and wrapping a piece of string around himself, which Cow then pulls, which allows Billy to take off like a helicopter.  
*Tails from SonicTheHedgehog flies by spinning his signature two tails
* Dixie Kong and Tiny Kong from the DonkeyKong series hover by whipping thier hair
* in games based of off the 2003 series and the 2007 movie, Michelango of the TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles can hover by spinning his nunchakus
* SuperSmashBros, almost every character with a spinning move uses it either as their official B-Up third jump or can at least use it to hover, Mario Tornado, Spinning Kong, Spin Attack, Whirling Fortress etc.
*AwkwardZombie has a take on how Doduo, a flying Pokemon with no wings, can fly using this trope.