Tree pruning in a 500...

[BigMike]

Lifted from the video 'THe Last Great Adventure' about deer hunting in New Zealand:

YouTube - 500 abuse

I don't believe the skid mod is approved any longer...

[gafa1]

one of the best DVD'S you wil see on how to work a 500, tree pruning i though that was why they invented the chopper!!!

[RINKER]

Cool video but as a mere ppl with a fair bit of experience I have to ask the question. Does anyone think it's a good idea to intentionally put the main rotor into the tree tops albeit only slightly.I've read, like many about wartime experiences etc, but to do it on purpose?. Any pro pilot care to comment.

[Flying Bull]

Hi Rinker,

if you ever had a loose scotch tape on a blade or a plastik basket fiddling with a blade, you won´t ask the question.
Blades are not designed to cut trees - and if you´re realy unlucky, you missed a thick piece and what happens then, you can watch at the videothread at prrune.

Yes, they´ve done it in nam - but beeing under fire and having a Huey is something totaly different to doing it on purpose in peace-time.
I´ve seen the blades of a 205, which went through branches cause it was overloaded. The Bird made it, some windows broken - and scars on the blades. Lots of repair needed....

Greetings Flying Bull

[soupisgoodfood]

How about tree felling?

[Chopri]

"The Last Great Adventure"! A must see DVD Some crazy footage in there!

[Pilot DAR]

Is it not the case that the pilot must report a "sudden stoppage" blade strike following such an occurrance? It's a rather expensive inspection on a 500.

Do remember that the 500 has an AD with respect to hidden blade spar faults, and blade separation. Is the wild animal worth the risk and cost?

Not for me!

[DBChopper]

Is the wild animal worth the risk and cost?

Those were my thoughts too. I mean, picking up wounded troops out of a war zone, I grant you, but a bloody deer!!??

[finalchecksplease]

Those were my thoughts too. I mean, picking up wounded troops out of a war zone, I grant you, but a bloody deer!!??

Well the price they were paying for them in those days made it worth it, that's why there were loads of them doing it: money talks ....

[winged hunters]

Yep, deer were worth ALOT of money in the 80's. A live hind was worth as much as $4300NZ in the early 80's, when a 500 only cost about $400NZD an hour to run. In that tight Urewera country a certain amount of blade contact is part of the job.

Unfortunately it seems like these guys don't know what rules are, it's not really any different today with the venison recovery.

[Scissorlink]

I like the announcers comments with the Blackhawk

[rotorrookie]

Would have been a good idea to pull away from the tree before shutting down....or get the crowd away, might have turned ugly if the blades would start flying
But hey thats goverment funded so what is one gearbox and few blades for a good show

[500 Fan]

Are they still flying for Venison in NZ?

Are there any helicopter operators still earning a living from the Venison Industry in New Zealand? And what are they flying? R22s or 500s? I have "The Last Great Adventure" and a few other deer-hunting DVDs from South Coast Productions and they painted a picture of an industry that had all but disappeared. Must have been some interesting flying in the height of the eighties though.

500 Fan.

[Ned-Air2Air]

I think you would probably find a handful of guys still doing venison recovery, but thats about it, and most of them are using R-22s or 300s. I think the only ones using the 500 would be Dave Saxton's operation in Haast.

Others probably do it as a "hobby".

Anyone else care to comment.

Ned

[skidbiter2]

There is still a bit going on, but usually along with other general commercial work.
R22's have been the main transport for the last few years, but there is still a bit done with 500's.

You should ask "Winged Hunters" though, as he sounds like he is an 'expert' on anything in NZ!