To: Rotorque
I have often questioned the efficacy of these so-called wire cutters. First of all the cutter mounted on the top of the fuselage is higher in most cases than the tip path of the rotor and would cause contact with the blades before the wire made contact with the cutter. Secondly, if the wire were to make contact with the cutter and be cut the tension on the wire would cause it to whip and be entrained with the spinning blades. Third, if one wire was cut then there may be two to three more wires in the path of the helicopter. Since it takes energy (forward motion of the helicopter) to result in a shearing of the wire then the helicopter will lose some of its’ forward momentum and not be able to cut the remaining wires. The same can be said for the cutter mounted in front of the skids. And finally, what if in the process of cutting the wire contact was made with the adjacent wire by the cut wire or better still, the fuselage of the helicopter? The flash alone would most probably cause the helicopter to explode.
One final thought (OK two final thoughts). Would the flash between the two ends of the separating (cut) wire flash over and weld themselves to the cutter or cause serious damage to the cutter as to render it ineffective to cut the remaining wires if there was sufficient forward momentum? Also, what if the helicopter was flying at an angle relative to the wires? Would this cause the helicopter to skid down the wire and impact the transmission towers?
The best way of avoiding wires is to know where they are and if they are installed looking for the orange balls that are mounted on the high-tension lines. Another more expensive way to avoid wires is to install a LASER RADAR, which was developed by a UK firm several years ago.
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The Cat
[This message has been edited by Lu Zuckerman (edited 09 February 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Lu Zuckerman (edited 09 February 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Lu Zuckerman (edited 09 February 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Lu Zuckerman (edited 09 February 2001).]