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R44 Pop-out floats

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Old 24th Jul 2007, 14:17
  #21 (permalink)  
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Hello Scooter Boy,

Thanks for your reply - all understood. Just to clear up any confusion as to why I am asking these questions is that I have no intention of ditching a R44 or inflating the floats - this is research for a software project and I am just trying to get the size and shape (pictures) of the pop out floats when inflated and how they sit in the water, as well as some ref pics of the actuating controls.

I have mailed Robinson but have not yet seen a reply. They may be busy at Oshkosh of course as it was the PR dept I mailed, but in the meantime of anybody can help out with pics I would be most grateful.

Many thanks

Alex Ford
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 15:22
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Keeping a helicopter the right way up in a swell has traditionally always been a tricky problem due to the high CofG.
I think the CofG on a 44 would be much lower as the engine is slung at the bottom (and would be about 6" above the water) whereas on a 206 or 355 the engines are up top and so the 'ability' to rock over in a mild sea state would be higher.



I'm sure Robinson must have tested this to get FAA certification for the system.

I recall Dick Sandford talking about the low CofG on the Robinson Safety Course and the ability to remain upright in quite a high sea state but I do not recall the source of the data (but I do remember a photo). SB, any better recollection of what he said?

h-we
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 18:25
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B.T.W. Can somebody tell me where the cylinder that holds the nitrogen(?) that is used to inflate the floats is kept on the aircraft please? If in the cabin is it normally in view when flying or under a seat or such like?

Thanks

Alex Ford
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 18:29
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Bravo73,

I just noticed that you wrote:

>PS Just noticed that you wanted a shot of the heli floating on water. Will a float test in the hangar do?

Yes that may be of help - do you have any others apart from the one shown in your previous posting please?

Thanks

Alex Ford
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 18:34
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Under the left hand front seat (as you can see in the picture).



Apologies for the lamentable quality of this 'interim' picture.

Seen from the outside, ze float packs (which we all hope would work if needed)


Last edited by helicopter-redeye; 24th Jul 2007 at 18:54.
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 19:05
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Looking forward to the project, Alex. I hope you find what you are looking for here. Floats would be a great addition.

- Will
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 19:37
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try apical industries, they can probably help, keep in mind they did the original float system for robby and now have their own
dr
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 20:32
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Hello helicopter-redeye,

Thanks for that initial pic. I am presuming the red handle is the actuator for the floats that you grip in a upwards fashion? Is the silver horseshoe shape the safety catch you release to enable the handle to be pulled?

Also assuming that that the red handle is in the 'safe' position in the pic?

Also I assume (2!) that when the left seat is down the bottle is totally out of view?

Many thanks

Alex Ford
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 20:34
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Chopperdr,

Thanks for that tip, I had a look but they only have a single unattached pic on display, but maybe me worth chasing up with a mail.

Alex Ford
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Old 24th Jul 2007, 21:29
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Originally Posted by Alex_Ford
do you have any others apart from the one shown in your previous posting please?
'Fraid not. Thats all 30 secs of work on Google Images produced!
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Old 25th Jul 2007, 06:42
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Yes the bottle is under the seat (you can get a small bag on top and next to as well).

The red handle is the trigger.

The silver U shaped part is the safety catch. From the RHS front seat using thumb press the safety bar in and turn round backwards. The system is now armed. Pull the trigger up to fire.

Remember to take the pin out of the bottle before flight (Pin not shown here) but if you cannot see it and its attractive orange streamer then you should be able to see it behind you hanging from the headsets hook to remind you the system is armed.
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Old 25th Jul 2007, 07:22
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Bravo73, Ok no problem - thanks

Alex Ford
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Old 25th Jul 2007, 07:30
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helicopter-redeye,

Thanks for that info. The nice PR lady at Robinson has kindly sent me some good pics of the emergency floats inflated and attached to the skids so what I am looking for now is a small set of decent quality pics of the collective attached part of the system, preferably (or more) 4 views, one each from either side, one from the top and one (as far as possible) from the underside so that I can accurately see how it is set up and placed - if you are able to do that I would be very grateful, but of course understand if you are unable to do that.

I see you are up at Sheffield, I am just north of Oxford - I would come up and see you (if that was OK with you of course!) to take the pics myself but I am on holiday from the end of this Friday so am unable to do so at present, but my fellow colleagues would appreciate the pics so that they can work on it whilst I am away.

Many thanks

Alex Ford
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Old 25th Jul 2007, 09:48
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Originally Posted by Alex_Ford
The nice PR lady at Robinson has kindly sent me some good pics of the emergency floats inflated and attached to the skids

Can you post them on this thread for the rest of us, please Alex?




Just idle curiosity on my part mind...
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Old 27th Jul 2007, 16:36
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Here are the pictures

Bottle under LH seat with pin in (safe)



Lever up with trigger visable RH front seat



Pin in 'flight mode'



Trigger detail seen fron right hand side



Top view (note safety catch lock on RHSide and loop matching bar RHS



Lever up with trigger fron LH side (as it would be in an emergency landing at touchdown just before firing the mechanism)



Lever down from LH seat



If you want to view the technology 'in the flesh' this is OK in 2 weeks + as I'm away

h-r

Last edited by helicopter-redeye; 27th Jul 2007 at 16:47.
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Old 16th Aug 2007, 09:32
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helicopter-redeye,

Many thanks for those picture - much appreciated.

Alex Ford
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Old 16th Aug 2007, 09:56
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Bravo 73,

Here they are:










Thanks

Alex Ford
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Old 16th Aug 2007, 10:08
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Thanks
I'm sure that you've made DONKEY73 very happy...
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Old 16th Aug 2007, 10:23
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Man, those floats are so powerful they have blown the whole ship off the skids set!!
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Old 17th Sep 2007, 20:12
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Question time again please!

On the picture below what is the yellow text on the black bit shown in the red circle also does the black bit move? As far as I can see the black bit is a rectangle of metal that the U shaped safety pin that stops the handle being pulled, slides in and out of?



Thanks

Alex Ford
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