And since when?
More to the point, where?
I have not encountered a use of the Maltese Cross to represent a helicopter.
On the other hand, I have encountered older associations between the Iron Cross and motorcycle gangs of the 1950s and 1960s who (in the popular view–and occasionally in real life) were thought to display German war decorations (especially from WWII) to show their break from and contempt for society. Since many of them began to ride chopped bikes, I would guess you might be asking about them. (Note that the association is not actually to the Maltese Cross. )
I don’t know the answer to your question, 1kBR Kid, but the symbol popularly known as a “Maltese” cross isn’t. This site shows some pictures of the real Maltese cross - note that it’s made up from four parts each one of which looks like the body of a “flying V” style guitar.
I’m guessing that so-called Maltese (more correctly flared) crosses are an adaptation of the German Iron Crosses that have commonly been used by bikers since the '60s at least, and were inspired by Nazi insignia.
Perhaps if you phrased the question with a bit more, um, information, and perhaps a Link or two, we could help better.
I’ll take a stab, though.
The Maltese Cross has four arms, and generally a lot of variants.
By “chopper” you could either mean a chopped motorcycle, or a helicopter.
Helicopters may have four rotors, and could appear similar to the Maltese Cross when depicted graphically, although I have seen a version that looks like an elongated infinity symbol more often.
Motorcycle “Biker Culture” was heavily influenced by servicemen returning from WWII overseas service. Many had fought the Germans, and the use of German-style helmets and symbols was common.
tomndebb’s post wasn’t there in Preview, honest.
Simulpost with simul-links?
Mainly, its because it pisses people off. I used to run an Iron Cross mirror on my chopper. I dont anymore, but the main reason was to upset the citizens…I failed my motorcycle license test because the state trooper didnt like it. My friends who were around in the 60’s have told me it was the same back then.
I spend too much time with the OED:[ul][] “Helicopter” = “Helical feather.”[] Crick inferred the helical structure of DNA from the Maltese Cross pattern produced by the diffraction of X-rays off of DNA.[/ul]Seems like an obvious connection to me. 
Do you mean “chopper” as in the optical device? A wheel with alternating dark and light spokes to block and transmit light? In that case it looks sorta like a “Maltese cross” (but not really like either of the above cited examples) because it consists of segments bounded by radial lines. It’s the obvious way o do it.
Okaaaaaaaaaaaay. “Iron” Cross and custom motorcycles which typically have forks longer than stock and with more rake. Rake as in the angle of the fork from vertical; not the tool for gathering leaves in one’s yard.
I think everybody knew what you meant…
Anyway, IIRC Hunter Thompson even mentioned in his book hells angels(copyright 1966), that it was just to piss of the citizens. Been a while since I read it, I will try and find it though.
Dumb question . . . Is citizen biker-speak for non-biker?
Jesse James, of Monster Garage Fame, got his start making custome motorcycles. He always figured out a way to incorporate what he calls a Maltese Cross on his creations.
In case you don’t watch a lot of TV, Monster Garage is an hour long show with the premise of Jesse and his gang of mechanics convert a common vehicle into a specialized machine. Episodes I have seen involved converting a 96 Impala into a zamboni and converting a 90’s mustang into a lawn mower.
I think he does it for the reasons stated above, to upset people.
IMO, which is a pretty simple way to get some noteriety - publicity - money!
Yeah…Back before doctors and lawyers started riding harleys, we were treated like total outcasts, non-citizens, non-humans, by cops, businesses etc…So those people must be citizens(at least thats my take on it…). I remember being refused service, threatened by cops, followed around stores like I was gonna steal something, etc. In some parts of redneckville, we got every bit as much discrimination of as minorities, sometimes more.
To be honest, some of that reputation was earned…I knew 1%ers (members of an outlaw motorcycle gang) that refered to citizens as the walking dead, they considered “citizens” to be lower life form…cattle…And I knew some who wouldnt think twice about totally stomping someone over what most people would consider minor things…cutting them off in traffic, etc. As usual, a few bad people made it hard for the rest of us.
When the RUB’s came on the scene(Rich Urban Bikers), everybody bitched about it, but at least the cops got off our ass, and we stopped seeing “No Motorcycle Attire” signs on the doors to various establishments
He does have one of the coolest websites around…be sure your sound is on
http://www.westcoastchoppers.com/
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
**
**
Ah, it was a fake. Whew 
[7500]
Since someone thought the OP may have been an aviation question (not seriously, I know), here is a question for you: Where in modern aviation do you often see a maltese cross? Airline pilots probably see them everyday…
[/7500]
I ran this out past a guy who can actually talk biker and got some interesting responses.
Particularly of interest was the fact that a number of them associated the various German medals (including the Iron Cross) with war trophies indicative of what they (or their relatives) went through in WWII, rather than with using Nazi paraphenalia to defy social conventions. (Which supports UncleBill’s post.)
Having known a few guys in the 1960s who were definitely wearing the stuff as challenges to authority, I’m not going to reverse my original comment, but it seems that the reasons for wearing the medals and such is more complex than I was aware of.
And, of course, thirty years after the 60s and 56 years after the troops came home from Europe, I suspect that there is now a certain amount of ornamental display that has nothing to do with either honoring our warriors or telling the Establishment to go to hell.
(I was also told that a common term for non-bikers is “civilians” as opposed to “citizens,” but I suspect that there is no formal usage inscribed on any biker arms to set one word above the other.)
A lot of it could be regional…Around here I have never heard civilian used, but that doesnt mean it isnt more popular somewhere. Most of the old chopper magazines(I have some that go back about 30 years or so) use citizen.
I have heard the war trophy version before, but not earlier than the last decade or so…and most of the old timers I know laugh at the idea…In fact, in Wild Angels, filmed in 1965, Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern get in a fight with a WWII vet for wearing one, (not that cheesy biker films are any bastion of accuracy, but it does say something about the attitude of the general public back then).
But again, thats not to say that is the case with eveyone, everywhere. There may have been somebody back there who did such a thing…Hell, it may be the real reason, it all started before my time…but I have never met any one personally who had anything on thier bike or their clothes that was an actual German relic…You used to be able to order maltese cross taillights and mirrors out of JC Whitney.
As a side note: According to Sonny Barger in his book, the Hells Angels stopped using any of those kind of symbols because they have chapters in Germany where it is prohibited by law.
There will always be those that try to sanatize history, and the biker world is no differant. One of the oldest Motorcycle clubs in the country is now based here in Texas and the club was basically bought by someone as a business venture. You can go in and pretty much pay to join, and they kicked out one of thier members for smoking pot in the parking lot of the clubhouse…then called the cops on him. That sort of thing would never have happened 20 years ago, but the new “owners” have even come up with a sanatized history for the club(the members of the other chapters were surprised to hear it, to say the least)…