Thanks for that ride! OK... the sales pitch got me. Gotta have one... are they cheaper by the dozen? Amazing flying machines... Of all of the things you can do with them... my seat would have a serious pucker going on when it was time to stop in at the gas stations in the sky. Just damm... wouldn't like anything hangin' from another aircraft anywhere near the main rotor... especially in winds. Cool vid.
Absolutely cheaper by the dozen. Quantity drives down individual unit costs since they need to recoup all the money put into research and development and spreading that cost over more airframes makes the purchase price more palatable. The K is going to be a monster. Your anticipated reaction when behind the tanker is no different than any other CH-53 driver that I know!! Sorry Gmule!! Back to the original discussion...
I think the movie was the Perfect Storm... before the CG chopper ditches in 50' seas during this storm, they try to re-fuel and can't get it done. Jeesuz, that's a hairy lookin thing to have to do mid-air. Does the receiving boom that you send forward during re-fueling, actually get ahead of the main rotor disc or... is it as bad as it looks?
Actually, it was a NY Air National Guard (106th Rescue Wing) chopper that ditched and a NY ANG C-130 that was refueling them. Those boys fly out of West Hampton on the eastern end of Long Island. It can be pretty hairy or a piece of cake depending on the conditions. Probe extends 3 feet beyond the rotor disc in he 53.. not sure about the 60.. Not a lot of room for error... If the blades hit the basket, it's not a big deal (unless you really need the gas).. Just a bunch of paperwork to do.
So, the rotor's inertia is so massive, it doesn't even notice it zipped off the basket... guess I'm not surprised considering the forces involved. Do you fly any smaller helis now?
Those rotor blades are designed to withstand a lot. Titanium spar with a bunch of other stuff over it including a nickel abrasion leading edge.. When contacting the basket you can hit the drogue (parachute material), turkey feathers (metal bars) or the hose (which is bad).. Basket takes the brunt of the hit. Sometimes a damaged blade will need to be replaced. Of course it could be worse... The chopper could run into itself.. Then there's a ton of paperwork!!! No, that wasn't me either.. Not flying any choppers as of right now.
