Originally Posted by
Michael Gee
John Eacott
everything on a helicopter is delicate - taxi for runway 09 was a long taxi when a heli with skilled pilots taking into account all the dangers around are meant to fly - Air Traffic are not familiar with what helicopters can or can not do they are fixed in their minds like many fixed wing pilots.
The mod on No 1 heli looks makeshift - No 2 was without it. Have a look at catch up TV of Trumps arrival at Stansted UK this morning.
Your quote Intake Guards have been around 40 50 years so have I and still at it at 79 years of age
As usual, John is bang on. Those FOD (anti-ice) shields have been around for 50+ years and are an original Sikorsky part.
FYI, there are three inlet configurations for the SK61: 1) Nothing. 2) FOD (anti-ice) shield. 3) Pointy screens (aka Madonna bras)
Finally, Sikorsky 61 gear is not "delicate". This aircraft was designed for the Navy FFS. 🙄
One more thing, hovering 20,000+ pound helicopters around airports will not make you any friends. 😏