Space Elevator
9-5-09 Northwest Helicopters is participating in a joint scientific experiment with Space elevator games which is sponsored by NASA. This experiment, in which a robot elevator climbs a cable in theory into space, climbs up a 4100 foot cable during a class C external load from one of our MD helicopters. This is the longest known external load cable operation ever attempted by helicopter. Vertical reference was attempted at first but with the ultra long line was not deemed accurate enough for the experiment. A GPS horizontal guidance system was installed next and that proved to be a winner. The pilot kept the helicopter within a close 10 meter area just by flying the guidance system and the test was a success.
Doug Uttecht flying Northwest Helicopter's MD-530FF unofficially appears to hold the world record for the longest single pilot helicopter longline operation in the world; this was a 4100’ class C external load. This is the vertical raceway tether for the 2009 Power Beaming Challenge - a technology prize competition managed by the Spaceward Foundation, with cash prize provided by NASA's Centennial Challenges program.
For more information see:
The challenge homepage:
The Space Elevator Games
NASA's CC program:
Centennial Challenges
The Spaceward Foundation:
The Spaceward Foundation
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