PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - EC130 vs AS350 in bush ops
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Old 15th Nov 2010, 19:33
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ECB4
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: New Zealand
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10 cents worth

Be very careful when operating the B4 if there are small light stones (scoria) or relatively lightweight sharp objects in the vicinity. They will eat your fenestron blades for breakfast. Personal experience and USCG Dauphin!!! The B4 is a people mover B3 more versatile especially if you want the flat floor in a hurry. After a few thousand hours in a B4 I have had a gutsful of the vibration (seems to be a type specific issue, work in progress for the EC experts) and much happier chugging around in a very old but very smooth L3.
Horn going off?? If the LIMITATIONS section of the flight manual is complied with I doubt you will hear the horn. Be very careful if the breeze is between 4 to 6 oclock the fenestron will require gobs of power as you get close to the ground, lose that translational lift and the very effective large fin area gets a kick from the side and the MR blades interfere with the airflow. Simple solution, keep the wind in the nose, but it aint always possible in this wonderful game of an ever changing environment where lawyers and bean counters dictate from their climate controlled environment. Take care out there and keep some spare up your sleeve for mum and the kids.
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