Intresting thread this! So having flown Bolkows on lighthouse ops and currently flying the 135 I'm going to throw my 2'pennorth worth in.
Flying a 135 to lantern top lighthouses (which are mostly confined to the SW of the country) will be no problem. The wind, regardless of strenght, will be fairly consistant in direction and with 100'+ of open airspace around the tower, a go around is no big deal. The 135 has very good tail authority, copes well in a cross wind and, like others, I've never got near the stops.
HOWEVER, I do take issue with those that say "just put in a bootfull of pedal". At high AUW and low speed/hover, the 135's fenestron eats huge amounts of power. If at a high Tq setting you put in a bootful of left pedal you WILL overtorque (very rapidly). Most 135 pilots have had the Tq limit 'BONG', (or is that just me?). OK with consistant wind if you are aware of the possibility. The problem will come with rock station or headland lighthouses. Where the winds can vary by topography + /- 20+ knots and + or - 90+ degrees. The fin would react to the wind and corrective action could or most likely would, result in a Tq limit.
Sorry! Banging on a bit here. So, in a nutshell, and to answer the original question, the 135 would be a very capable replacement for the Bolkow for lighthouse ops. However, in certain conditions it could well be more limiting.
Does ANYBODY know how to fly this thing?
