Just to bring a little humour to the thread ... in my dim & distant sales days, when helicopters meant Enstrom & piston engines for me ... my party piece was to explain to potential Bell customers what wonderful creatures the turbines were. No awkward throttle twisting, oodles of performance and always more than enough power. BUT ... the dreaded Bell JR was a firm enemy of Enstrom piston sales, so I was always at pains to explain the niceties of the factory's compressor wash requirement for the C20.
Picture the scene. Lovely wife and family loaded on board for a great night out at a posh hotel. A perfect landing on the lawn and, being the perfect husband ... you open the cabin doors and escort your lady in her finery to the hotel entrance and the envy of all around. BUT ... it's not for you to join the party yet. There's work to do. Time to don the overalls to avoid muck dirtying the DJ and, while ignoring the curious stares from your friends, you retrieve a 10 litre bucket and a hand operated stirrup pump from the luggage locker ... and make a quick search for the nearest water tap. You'll now need to mount the stirrup pump in the bucket and use the short steps you carry to gain access to the engine compartment where you disconnect the PC line and plug in the water connector from the stirrup pump. Once nicely connected, you ask a friendly local to work the pump as you engage the compressor starter. A minute or so of rapid pumping will easily be enough to ensure a really good compressor wash. But we are not quite finished yet ... even as your good lady appears to see what's going on and ask what the hell you're doing messing about with your five hundred grand helicopter. You quietly advise her to go back to her friends. You'll be joining the party in less than ten minutes. Now there's just a single drying run to complete the job.
There's actually a whisker more to it of course, but I mustn't labour the point. Just a couple of starts to record in the tech log, stow the bucket and pump and remove the boiler suit. Hey presto ... in no time you're ready to join the party for the fine dining you've booked with only a few spots of engine oil left to clean up. You're the envy of all! That's the way to make the 'Grand arrival.' ....
Personally I've always followed the advice of Hughes 500. Take care all. Dennis K.