Life in the old girl yet? (S61 merged threads)
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Hey HeliTester Dude!
Well I'm not overly surprised that the 61 wins out over the 60 and I'm pretty sure the main reason in the 61s stand up cabin but .. the 61 really is getting a bit long in the tooth. Noise, vibration and hands over the throttles during take off and landing all come to mind!
Back in the 60s I'm sure this bird was the bees knees but now it should proabably be consigned to the museum.
Edit: In response to Decu Total's post (where do these names come from!!!)
You could be right Decu. With all due respect to the likes of Coulson, Wiggins and others who reconfigure 61s ... I am always just a little concerned coz most of the hardware in the NW and BC is ... arrgghh!!!! ... ex-logging
inventory!
Well I'm not overly surprised that the 61 wins out over the 60 and I'm pretty sure the main reason in the 61s stand up cabin but .. the 61 really is getting a bit long in the tooth. Noise, vibration and hands over the throttles during take off and landing all come to mind!
Back in the 60s I'm sure this bird was the bees knees but now it should proabably be consigned to the museum.
Edit: In response to Decu Total's post (where do these names come from!!!)
You could be right Decu. With all due respect to the likes of Coulson, Wiggins and others who reconfigure 61s ... I am always just a little concerned coz most of the hardware in the NW and BC is ... arrgghh!!!! ... ex-logging
inventory!
Last edited by Hell Man; 17th Jul 2010 at 11:03.
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Hell Man,
Seems like the US Government disagrees with your take that the S-61 should be relegated to a museum!
www.defencetalk.com/us-to-purchase-s-61t-helicopters-for-use-in-afghanistan-24368/
Seems like the US Government disagrees with your take that the S-61 should be relegated to a museum!
www.defencetalk.com/us-to-purchase-s-61t-helicopters-for-use-in-afghanistan-24368/
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A thing of beauty relegated to a side show attraction! *sniff*
Many a happy hour at the controls of such a beastie ...... thousands of unhappy ones as it went wrong.. again!
Many a happy hour at the controls of such a beastie ...... thousands of unhappy ones as it went wrong.. again!
Hell Man,
How can you say such things? I flew the old "sticky bun" for 25 years and over 12000 hours and it's probably the best large helicopter airframe of all time. The engines and mechanical bits are pretty damned reliable too.
I've been flying the EC225 for a few years now and love the power, speed, range, load carrying and panoramic glass panel with brilliant automation. But I'll go to my grave swearing the old bus was THE classic of its time and should have been upgraded.
The EC225 is a bit cramped for most purposes and as for the S92.........well, the less said the better.
Well I'm not overly surprised that the 61 wins out over the 60 and I'm pretty sure the main reason in the 61s stand up cabin but .. the 61 really is getting a bit long in the tooth. Noise, vibration and hands over the throttles during take off and landing all come to mind!
Back in the 60s I'm sure this bird was the bees knees but now it should proabably be consigned to the museum.
Back in the 60s I'm sure this bird was the bees knees but now it should proabably be consigned to the museum.
I've been flying the EC225 for a few years now and love the power, speed, range, load carrying and panoramic glass panel with brilliant automation. But I'll go to my grave swearing the old bus was THE classic of its time and should have been upgraded.
The EC225 is a bit cramped for most purposes and as for the S92.........well, the less said the better.
Last edited by Colibri49; 18th Jul 2010 at 11:46.
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I'm having a poke at the 61 because she's been around sooo long but make no doubt about it ... along with the Bell UH1 she's the 'Dakota' of the helo world and I love her to bits!
The DoD contract highlighted by HeliTester for approx. 100 S61T's is going to be a fantastic re-birth for this iconic bird. With composite blades and glass cockpit she'll offer some real improvements over the N model.
But how about other technical improvements. Let's hear from the techies how Sikorsky can vamp up the T model to reduce noise, vibration and fuel consumption while increasing speed (load lifting performance already achieved through the new blades so I understand).
S61 Glass Cockpit
The DoD contract highlighted by HeliTester for approx. 100 S61T's is going to be a fantastic re-birth for this iconic bird. With composite blades and glass cockpit she'll offer some real improvements over the N model.
But how about other technical improvements. Let's hear from the techies how Sikorsky can vamp up the T model to reduce noise, vibration and fuel consumption while increasing speed (load lifting performance already achieved through the new blades so I understand).
S61 Glass Cockpit
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Suppose the S-61T modernization program, which includes better performing composite main rotor blades, glass cockpit, modular wiring harness, etc., was applied to the commercial version S-61N. And then suppose that upgrade was expanded to include new engines. Could that machine compete with the EC225/S92?
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Anyone with any further updates regarding the DoD contract for the S61T in Afghanistan?
Am wondering why this (presumably IFR equipped) Carson 61 is in the 'experimental' category?
HM
Am wondering why this (presumably IFR equipped) Carson 61 is in the 'experimental' category?
HM
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S-61 retrofit.
Hello to all.
I`ve been looking for information about S-61 retrofit, but is dificult to find any details.
Does anyone know anything about its IFR rating?. I`ve seen some pictures that the helicopter was cut two meters so far, behind the cockpit, but I dont know if that cut is mandatory in every retrofit. In that case, I think, the cargo door with the external winch goes to the rear part.
May be, some of you has flown the new S-61 with fiber blades, glass cockpit and so on. I`d like to know your feelings in flight and if her personality still remains.
Thanks and good flights.
I`ve been looking for information about S-61 retrofit, but is dificult to find any details.
Does anyone know anything about its IFR rating?. I`ve seen some pictures that the helicopter was cut two meters so far, behind the cockpit, but I dont know if that cut is mandatory in every retrofit. In that case, I think, the cargo door with the external winch goes to the rear part.
May be, some of you has flown the new S-61 with fiber blades, glass cockpit and so on. I`d like to know your feelings in flight and if her personality still remains.
Thanks and good flights.
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Haven't seen the "T's" yet
Seems Afghanistan is where the 61's and 214ST's have come to finish out their lives. Since new aircraft are too expensive and MI's are off limits to many contracts I expect the 'ol girl to be slogging along for quite some time...(there is still a DC3 running around the skies). Apparently the government is fond of museum pieces. It also makes sense from a contracting perspective since it is paid by the blade hour. If you have to go everywhere at 90kts and refuel constantly...cha ching! The poor girl is like a giant B206 in the summer here. It's nice to look at all the same.
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Afghanistan.
There is quite a few types across here at the moment lots off Bell 212,412's
The S-61T's are doing well. We see them everyday and the fit inside is very sexy indeed. Currently there used on the US Embassy contract bassed at Kabul airport and out stations they have the standard long S-61N airframe the disscusting cut and shut job converstion Shortsky's.
The pilot and crew love them they are rated as good if not better than the S-92 and are much more forgiving from a pilot and crewmans point of view.
Also across here Dyn Corp have S-61N's as well as Xe logistics with there SA-330J's and S-61N.
It is very aparent that the S-61 maybe finished with Oil & Gas work sadly but they have a very growing future hear in Afghanistan and other Hostile enviroments
The S-61T's are doing well. We see them everyday and the fit inside is very sexy indeed. Currently there used on the US Embassy contract bassed at Kabul airport and out stations they have the standard long S-61N airframe the disscusting cut and shut job converstion Shortsky's.
The pilot and crew love them they are rated as good if not better than the S-92 and are much more forgiving from a pilot and crewmans point of view.
Also across here Dyn Corp have S-61N's as well as Xe logistics with there SA-330J's and S-61N.
It is very aparent that the S-61 maybe finished with Oil & Gas work sadly but they have a very growing future hear in Afghanistan and other Hostile enviroments
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September 20, 2010
Sikorsky Aerospace Services today announced the U.S. State Department has ordered 11 additional upgraded S-61TM utility helicopters for use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) is the aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).
Earlier this year, the State Department entered into a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for up to 110 upgraded S-61 aircraft for passenger and cargo transport missions in support of its worldwide operations. Under the IDIQ agreement, the first four aircraft purchased in February are currently in completion and are scheduled for deployment in Afghanistan this fall.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services today announced the U.S. State Department has ordered 11 additional upgraded S-61TM utility helicopters for use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) is the aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).
Earlier this year, the State Department entered into a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for up to 110 upgraded S-61 aircraft for passenger and cargo transport missions in support of its worldwide operations. Under the IDIQ agreement, the first four aircraft purchased in February are currently in completion and are scheduled for deployment in Afghanistan this fall.
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Are they basically remanufacturing the 61 that were in the bone yard ?. I know quite a lot had been stripped of their dynamic components , will they be manufacturing new 24000 series MGB or does this model use the 22000 series boxes.
Out of interest does any one know the serial number of the last production S61 ?.
They show 61-822 delivered to UK Coast guard in 1987 is there a later one ?.( I am sure there are westland versions that were delivered later)
here sikorsky s-61 H-3 - Helicopter Database
Out of interest does any one know the serial number of the last production S61 ?.
They show 61-822 delivered to UK Coast guard in 1987 is there a later one ?.( I am sure there are westland versions that were delivered later)
here sikorsky s-61 H-3 - Helicopter Database
Last edited by widgeon; 7th Oct 2010 at 00:09.
Good ole girl, have over 3000 hours offshore Eastern Canada in 61s, most of that hand flying approaches to mins with no autopilot, but she was stable and loved every minute of it.
not me flying here....
not me flying here....
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Out of interest does any one know the serial number of the last production S61 ?.
I flew it in 1989, but never recorded the serial number so can't say what that was.