Sikorsky S-92: From Design to Operations
TOD,
Just like G-UHIH has done not so long ago....Tower said he heard us coming well before we called in over Reigate.
Just like G-UHIH has done not so long ago....Tower said he heard us coming well before we called in over Reigate.
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Thridle Op Des
I remember that day only too well. The "beast" was a revolting beige colour if I recall correctly and it was full of ghastly vertical gauges which looked the the meters on what was then a highly sophisticted machine, an upmarket cassette recorder!! Oh how we all marvelled at those big blades and how they compared with those of the Bell 47!!
Them were the days lad..........
I remember that day only too well. The "beast" was a revolting beige colour if I recall correctly and it was full of ghastly vertical gauges which looked the the meters on what was then a highly sophisticted machine, an upmarket cassette recorder!! Oh how we all marvelled at those big blades and how they compared with those of the Bell 47!!
Them were the days lad..........
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I remember, enviously, seeing my first 214s in Iran when I was flying a 212 out there. After that I always wanted to fly 'the big lifter' and I was lucky enough to fly in that 214ST demonstrator back in 1980. I loved it - never did get to fly it again though.
Speak up, I can't hear you!
On the noise issue; it's only when shutdown with AC electrics on that it is noisier realtive to other similar types, when up and running it's not particularly noisy (qualitatively speaking anyway). At least you haven't got a couple of Makilas on top of you!
It's a pity Sikorsky didn't plant a couple of Moles in the Eurocopter avionics design department!
On the noise issue; it's only when shutdown with AC electrics on that it is noisier realtive to other similar types, when up and running it's not particularly noisy (qualitatively speaking anyway). At least you haven't got a couple of Makilas on top of you!
It's a pity Sikorsky didn't plant a couple of Moles in the Eurocopter avionics design department!
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There are two "muffin fans" in the avionics racks behind the pilots that sound like the Chicago Fire Department when they are the only thing running (on the ground).
I never noticed them with a headset or helmet on, frankly, but when you are on the ground with external power, they are a real pain.
We did have a spy in the EC factory, but he came back eating frogs and talking funny, so we shot him with a mini-gun.
I never noticed them with a headset or helmet on, frankly, but when you are on the ground with external power, they are a real pain.
We did have a spy in the EC factory, but he came back eating frogs and talking funny, so we shot him with a mini-gun.
He must have been blind 
Edited to add: On a serious note, having spent some time with Gulfstream, do you feel now that there are some aspects of the displays and autopilot functionality that you would have done differently, with hindsight?
Edited to add: On a serious note, having spent some time with Gulfstream, do you feel now that there are some aspects of the displays and autopilot functionality that you would have done differently, with hindsight?
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212man,
Lots of ways to skin that cat. Sikorsky has hundreds of avionics engineers who need to keep busy, so getting them to just install a good off the shelf system is like hurding cats. The 92 system is a good one, in any case.
I have never seen any one thing on a helicopter that all pilots liked! Never.
Lots of ways to skin that cat. Sikorsky has hundreds of avionics engineers who need to keep busy, so getting them to just install a good off the shelf system is like hurding cats. The 92 system is a good one, in any case.
I have never seen any one thing on a helicopter that all pilots liked! Never.
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S92!
Nick Lappos said "I have never seen any one thing on a helicopter that all pilots liked! Never."
Rig meals? Female Crew? Ashtray on the S61?
I hear the craft has troubles in Malaysia? Spends most of the time keeping out of the sun.
Rig meals? Female Crew? Ashtray on the S61?
I hear the craft has troubles in Malaysia? Spends most of the time keeping out of the sun.
Nick is right....even with the 76, the Hamilton-Standard folks were trying to build an autopilot system that was comparable to the Sperry Kit. They were building it in phases over a period of years while the Sperry was setting on the shelf waiting to be installed. That gave rise to Heli-dyne down the road from the Bell Plant. Air Log bought the green helicopter and installed their own instrumentation and avionics to include the Sperry kit.
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hey you - get offa my cloud
Having seen a plethora of comments concerning 76's, 212's, 214's, 61's 332 and more... Don't any of you guys read the thread title? It says for those reading in a Braille world: "S-92".
You have tried to hijack our forum for nefarious reasons, trying to promote your own small worlds. Us 92 jocks find this highly offensive and call upon you to desist forthwith!
Doc
You have tried to hijack our forum for nefarious reasons, trying to promote your own small worlds. Us 92 jocks find this highly offensive and call upon you to desist forthwith!
Doc
I'm surprised we've not heard more about this :
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/n...le/local1_html
:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/n...le/local1_html
Sorry, just realised and search on the NST site doesn't help either.
It was a slightly overdramatic (skimming at wave top height etc) account of an engine failure on finals to the B11, off Miri.
It was a slightly overdramatic (skimming at wave top height etc) account of an engine failure on finals to the B11, off Miri.
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Here's 212man's story, plus a cached link (good find btw).
Copter returns to base safely
New Straits Times 9/14
A brand-new Sikorsky S-92 helicopter ferrying 17 people to a gas platform off Bintulu reportedly suffered engine failure and was forced to return to its base in Miri yesterday. The Malaysian Helicopter Bhd (MHB) aircraft was to land at 9.55am on Sarawak Shell Bhd’s B11 platform, 178km off Bintulu.
According to a Shell employee, the aircraft had landed on the F6 platform, 45km away from B11, without any problems. After the pilot aborted the landing, he flew back to Miri at low altitude, "almost touching the surface of the sea".
Another employee said he was told the pilot informed the platform’s radio operator that the aircraft was "heading back to MHB (base) because one of the engines had failed." He said the helicopter passed the B11 helideck at a height of about 10m and then "dived to fly at a low altitude." The helicopter touched down safely 36 minutes later at 10.31am.
In June last year, one of MHB’s Super Puma helicopters with 11 workers on board ditched into the sea about 200m from B11 after one of its engines reportedly failed as it was hovering to land. The pilot managed to steer the helicopter clear of the helipad before ditching. All on board were safe.
The Sikorsky S-92s are replacements for MHB’s ageing Super Puma fleet. MHB could not be contacted for comment.
I/C
Copter returns to base safely
New Straits Times 9/14
A brand-new Sikorsky S-92 helicopter ferrying 17 people to a gas platform off Bintulu reportedly suffered engine failure and was forced to return to its base in Miri yesterday. The Malaysian Helicopter Bhd (MHB) aircraft was to land at 9.55am on Sarawak Shell Bhd’s B11 platform, 178km off Bintulu.
According to a Shell employee, the aircraft had landed on the F6 platform, 45km away from B11, without any problems. After the pilot aborted the landing, he flew back to Miri at low altitude, "almost touching the surface of the sea".
Another employee said he was told the pilot informed the platform’s radio operator that the aircraft was "heading back to MHB (base) because one of the engines had failed." He said the helicopter passed the B11 helideck at a height of about 10m and then "dived to fly at a low altitude." The helicopter touched down safely 36 minutes later at 10.31am.
In June last year, one of MHB’s Super Puma helicopters with 11 workers on board ditched into the sea about 200m from B11 after one of its engines reportedly failed as it was hovering to land. The pilot managed to steer the helicopter clear of the helipad before ditching. All on board were safe.
The Sikorsky S-92s are replacements for MHB’s ageing Super Puma fleet. MHB could not be contacted for comment.
I/C
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I believe that something (a rivet?) fell from the intake area and was ingested into the engine causing it to stall and be shut down. The aircraft is flying again with a new (unpainted) intake and new engine. Would have though a fleet check might be in order at the least.
I particularly like the description of the Super Puma ditching. I guess the pilot steered away from the helipad to avoid the school! (Or was it something to do with having lost his tail rotor?)
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I guess that comes under the heading of "Never believe anything you read in the press", and only believe 10% of what you read on PPRUNE! 
If there was such a company as MHB they might be upset if they could be contacted.
If there was such a company as MHB they might be upset if they could be contacted.