I've flown with Solo a number of times, just a suggestion from my own experience? Put your rotors in your checked bags. Yes, they are plastic, but TSA has told me a few times they resemble a knife blade and are in the gray area for carry-ons. Your mileage may vary.
At which airport did this occur?
- There is a significant difference between a line officer and a supervisor. Line officers in general, are people that couldn't hold a job at 7-11. Supervisors are pretty smart.
- While a prop may resemble a knife blade, it is required for operation of your aerial vehicle. Nicely ask for a supervisor if a dumbass line officer is able to say "it resembles a knife blade" with a straight face.
If ever hassled about anything you deem reasonable, ask for a supervisor. At the very worst, they can place a pilot's permission on an item and lock it in a closet on the flight. Virgin requires this for example, when flying with a parachute rig. The pilot must be asked if he's ok with it onboard, and if he agrees, the item is tagged and locked up.
Myself and other S&TA's at large are required to be certified to teach TSA about parachute systems, what they can and cannot touch, and how the chain of command operates. Parachutes are not seen as life-saving devices by the TSA, they categorize them as part 91/cargo, and therefore should/can be placed underbelly.
One of the best-ever commentaries at San Diego Airport (which sees a *lot* of military) "I'm pretty sure you can't take a parachute on to an airplane, sir."
'could I please speak to a supervisor?'
(supervisor comes over and asks what she needs, and she explains what she'd just told me, along with my crew of 6 others carrying sport parachute rigs)
He smiles, says not a word, and waves us through.
If someone here is a TSA line officer, you'll have to forgive me for not apologizing at my disgust at the average TSA line officer; as one who routinely travels over 100K miles a year...I have little respect for most of them both from the passenger and the instructional side.
Truly, if a TSA agent ever said something about a prop "resembling a knife," stifle the laugh and sweetly ask to see a supervisor.