Wipers!!!

[vortexadminman]

Is it me being a grumpy old rotor head !! Why cannot engineers or designers actually make windscreen wipers for a Heli that work!!! Mind you having done some time (penance) on fixed wing they were not much better. So far I have seen the ones which clear about two inches in front of your face ( if your at cruise speed) and the ones which do a spastic dance all over the place ? anyone got a Helicopter with a good set of wipers that work ? when you need them in the hover!!:ugh:

[tu154]

As a rant I give it 2 put of 10. Do you also tilt at windmills?:hmm:

[AnFI]

A properly clean screen almost never needs wipers - and they wreck the screen.

If you can't clean the screen properly you can always try rain-ex.....

[MightyGem]

anyone got a Helicopter with a good set of wipers that work ? when you need them in the hover
The ones on our EC 135 are pretty good.

[diginagain]

The wipers fitted to the Lynx are pretty effective, and even the Renault 5 ones on the Gazelle did the job.

[hillberg]

The Huey wipers worked ok,:ok:

[bigglesbutler]

S61 had wipers that worked well, didn't flap QUITE as mental as puma one's but not far off.

Si

[alouette]

The wipers on an Ecureuil are a nitemare. Nothing but scratches, and absolutely useless!!!!

[Shawn Coyle]

The ones on the Chinook worked OK at slower airspeeds, but also did double duty as the standby airspeed indicator - they would slowly inch outboard at airspeeds above 140 knots.

[Brilliant Stuff]

135 are as helicopter wipers go very good. They did need to beef them up though they kept slipping on the spindle due to the way they were bolted on.......that bit must have been the french input....

[skadi]

that bit must have been the french input....

I heard, that the EC135 wipers originated from Mercedes-Benz trucks....

skadi

[as365n4]

The wipers on the EC135 are made by Bosch. And the pantograph style wipers are mainly used on buses and boats/ships, a Lorry has "normal" wipers like a Car.

And in addition the windscreen of the EC135 has to be coated with Rain-X or similar product, acc to the Maintenance Manual.

[MightyGem]

And in addition the windscreen of the EC135 has to be coated with Rain-X or similar product, acc to the Maintenance Manual.
Don't think ours ever have been.

[Thomas coupling]

Why don't they adopt the wipers used on ships bridge windows?:ugh:

[switch_on_lofty]

Because bridge windows are flat and don't travel at 120kts+ through the air. Also it doesn't really matter to a ship if a wiper system weighs 500g or 15kg, whereas obviously weight, low drag and space are more of an issue to helicopter designers.:ugh:

[Brilliant Stuff]

Thanks Skadi that made my day.

Never seen Rain X anywhere near our 135s.

[Helilog56]

The wipers on the Skycrane work well....perhaps you should buy one;)