IMO, composition is always the place to start. While I agree with those who like the angle of Number 1, the way the rotor blade is cut off tips the choice to Number 2.
I would crop tighter with the subject biased slightly to the left, thus giving the space in front that compuwar mentions. I'd have the subject lower in the image, giving better visual weight and an impression of stability. It also emphasizes the subject rather than giving so much image space to the grassy foreground.
Only after getting the composition right would I start manipulating saturation, curves etc. Capturing the image from your post isn't the ideal place to start for those adjustments, so I just lightened and sharpened it a bit, but the attached image will give you an idea what I mean by the composition comments.
Perhaps you'll get a chance to reshoot sometime so you can get the angle more like Number 1 and the composition similar to my cropping.
Thanks for serving.