Transporting of Helicopters on trailers

[Graviman]

Originally Posted by Nick Lappos

It is surprising at first glance, but you can seriously damage your aircraft if you sit it on a trailer and then bounce it.

Interesting point! Vehicle on&off highway suspensions are designed for 3g "bounce" static accel. This assumes 1g nominal and +/-1g, since driver will naturally limit speed as he feels reduced g. The extra g is to give the vehicle margin for the occasional bump that even the most careful driver will experience. A good suspension system will aim to "isolate" above ~1Hz, with vehicle structural modes being ideally 2+ octaves above that (hard to achieve for the really big stuff, if you're are aiming at ~1.6 payload/vehicle mass).

So worse case scenario is that the heli systems will see 3g loads, which can be magnified by either undamped trailer suspension or any mounting system! Even worse is that a running gas turbine will have higher rotational inertia, so when static may rattle away at it's bearings on a trailer...

Maybe a giant "baby bouncer" supporting the rotor hub? Landing Oleos can be thought of as very soft overdamped suspension, so will help.

Mart

[havick]

Australian National Helicopters at Alice Springs Airport, in NT Australia have a pretty good set up if my memory serves me correctly.

I saw them towing a B47 Soloy with a F250. The trailer itself supported the aircraft on some sort of airbag self leveling suspension. If you don't know what the roads are like in the NT, well they are pretty crap, apart from the main highway most of the roads are gravel or dirt, and aren't graded that often. Really, if you are looking for a set up for an Ag work, it might pay to give them a call. I know they didn't have any problems with the aircraft from it being carted around on the trailer.

Sorry I couldn't be of anymore help.

Try looking up Australian National Helicopters on google australia.

Cheers,

Shifty

[Darren999]

I have pictures when we would transport a B47. Blades off. I have seen trailers with the facility to ship with blades on. If you let me have your email address I'll send some on..

[nicholas_hosties]

As far as I know, all turbine engines should be transported by air ride transport, Piston engines are less susceptible to the brinelling damage which can occur to turbine bearings if transported on a non air ride truck.

[Vertical Freedom]

G'day fellow Rotorheads
I'm seeking pictures please of tail-boom support whilst a Helicopter is being road transport please? Thanks in advance

[jaja]

Transport of a helicopter on trailer. This one went terrible wrong on a highway i Denmark :

https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/helikop...b-b6f148fe5409

[Vertical Freedom]

Ouch that's a major bugger

[Thilo]

Hi
The game translocation industry in southern Africa has been using trailers for well over 30 years to move their H300s, R22s and E280s between jobs without problems.
The suspension is the most important. The best I saw was a trailer using the rear cantilever suspension off a VW Combi.
Blades are supported. On the H300 two blades are folded forward. On the Enstrom you have to remove them (it's a pain).
I would have to dig to find pictures.

[tucumseh]

The Bridgemary estate in Gosport, Hampshire, has wide thoroughfares specifically for transporting helicopters from RNAY Fleetlands to, for example, Lee-on-Solent. Probably a long time since they were used.

[twisted wrench]

Check out this website in Calgary, Alberta , Canada they have been moving helicopters on trailers for over 30 years . www.calgarygooseneck.com

[500guy]

Originally Posted by twisted wrench

Check out this website in Calgary, Alberta , Canada they have been moving helicopters on trailers for over 30 years . www.calgarygooseneck.com

I've seen more than one helicopter scrapped due to an auto accident while being towed. A 212 and a 500. I've seen one arrive for a job that it missed due to a crack in the landing gear from road bumps. I've also heard of rocks that got kicked up that damaged 20,000 windows. I saw a 600 that was destroyed (paint and windows) because it was shrink wrapped with dust under the shrink wrap then trucked 3000 miles. I've also heard from a guy who used to truck his 206L around that it can put flat spots in the TR drive shaft bearings. They need the oil pressure otherwise it is metal on metal.

If you ask me, if it can fly, you fly it.

[chopjock]

If you ask me, if it can fly, you fly it.

There are advantages to trailering though. For example you can mobilise 24 / 7, day or night and in almost any weather! Also no flight plans required. Sea crossings are much less stressful too! and think of the component times you are saving on. Also if it breaks down you can recover it yourself! Probably take your own fuel too.
Flying long distance to a location just to do work makes it an expensive taxi.

[500guy]

Originally Posted by chopjock

There are advantages to trailering though. For example you can mobilise 24 / 7, day or night and in almost any weather! Also no flight plans required. Sea crossings are much less stressful too! and think of the component times you are saving on. Also if it breaks down you can recover it yourself! Probably take your own fuel too.
Flying long distance to a location just to do work makes it an expensive taxi.

I'll agree with you on the weather bit. And the sea crossings, (though its not an issue in the US)

I have not filed a flight plan ever. Not sure I ever will. VFR only and 99% of that is in uncontrolled airspace.

If it breaks down? my do your ships break down that often? We have less than one day a year per aircraft down for maintenance.

look at the opportunity cost of putting it on a trailer.
If i finish a job in New York today, and want to bring it to job in Missouri (1000 miles away) I can fly it there in the better part of a day and be ready to work the following day. If I trailer it, it takes at least 2 days to load it remove the blades (500) truck it there and unload it. the few thousand dollars in component time is more than paid for from the extra day of work.