Life in the old girl yet? (S61 merged threads)
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Fascinating comparison of how the US State Dept wants lots of dependable and mendable 1950s agricultural technology for Afghanistan and other bundhu-ops places when the UK MOD is spending squillions on a scant handful the ultimate state-of-the-art tetchy maintenance-hungry computerised to the eyeballs Chinooks and Merlins.
I wonder which is the better policy. (actually, I don't wonder for more than a nanosecond or two).
OK, I know the S61s are unlikely to be used in the front line, but even so, which is likely to be the hardier when taking fire? Plastic Merlins full of vulnerable electronics that virtually need an autoclave to mend even small holes in the structure or simple tin boxes?
I get the feeling we're using thoroughbred racehoses for ploughing rocky fields out there.
I wonder which is the better policy. (actually, I don't wonder for more than a nanosecond or two).
OK, I know the S61s are unlikely to be used in the front line, but even so, which is likely to be the hardier when taking fire? Plastic Merlins full of vulnerable electronics that virtually need an autoclave to mend even small holes in the structure or simple tin boxes?
I get the feeling we're using thoroughbred racehoses for ploughing rocky fields out there.
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S-61L 'Shortsky'
Sunwest's 'Shortsky' leaving the Nahatlatch Valley (August 2010) for Qualicum after working fires.
HM
To the Moderator: Could you re-name this thread 'Sikorsky S61' or 'S61 Issues' etc. - it would make the thread easier to find!
Sunwest's 'Shortsky' leaving the Nahatlatch Valley (August 2010) for Qualicum after working fires.
HM
To the Moderator: Could you re-name this thread 'Sikorsky S61' or 'S61 Issues' etc. - it would make the thread easier to find!
Hell Man
All S-61Ts will be short fuselage models. All of the donor airframes for S-61T models are ex military at this stage.
Carson may continue to re blade and re engine some older S-61N models but while similar, they will not be T designated aircraft, that is a Sikorsky designator.
All S-61Ts will be short fuselage models. All of the donor airframes for S-61T models are ex military at this stage.
Carson may continue to re blade and re engine some older S-61N models but while similar, they will not be T designated aircraft, that is a Sikorsky designator.
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Carson Develops New S-61 Tail Rotor
Thierry Dubois for Rotor & Wing International
November 2010
Pennsylvania based Carson Helicopters is developing a composite tailrotor upgrade for the S-61 medium twin. Thanks to a more efficient design the new tailrotor will yield an increased payload at altitude. Speaking at the European Rotorcraft Forum in Paris, company President Frank Carson said the current five bladed rotor lacked efficiency. According to Carson his company’s objective is to design blades which provide increased yaw control at high altitude, using less power while providing a retrofit which does not require any modifications to the aircraft.
With our first blade prototype we failed said Carson as it exhibited “very high control loads.” One reason for this was a mismatch of the inertial properties when compared with the original blade. An additional problem was caused by a minor contour error in the blade mould.
Relative to the original design, the airfoil profile has changed and Carson has introduced an eight degree twist resulting in lower control loads. With material fatigue tests complete Carson hopes to begin flight testing the new blade in November. Carson engineers hope that by requiring less power the new tailrotor will add an additional 300 lbs of lift to the main rotor.
Carson has also exposed the S-61 to an engine upgrade replacing the CT-58-140-1/2 with the T58-GE-16 boosting engine power from 1,400 to 1,870 hp.
Thierry Dubois for Rotor & Wing International
November 2010
Pennsylvania based Carson Helicopters is developing a composite tailrotor upgrade for the S-61 medium twin. Thanks to a more efficient design the new tailrotor will yield an increased payload at altitude. Speaking at the European Rotorcraft Forum in Paris, company President Frank Carson said the current five bladed rotor lacked efficiency. According to Carson his company’s objective is to design blades which provide increased yaw control at high altitude, using less power while providing a retrofit which does not require any modifications to the aircraft.
With our first blade prototype we failed said Carson as it exhibited “very high control loads.” One reason for this was a mismatch of the inertial properties when compared with the original blade. An additional problem was caused by a minor contour error in the blade mould.
Relative to the original design, the airfoil profile has changed and Carson has introduced an eight degree twist resulting in lower control loads. With material fatigue tests complete Carson hopes to begin flight testing the new blade in November. Carson engineers hope that by requiring less power the new tailrotor will add an additional 300 lbs of lift to the main rotor.
Carson has also exposed the S-61 to an engine upgrade replacing the CT-58-140-1/2 with the T58-GE-16 boosting engine power from 1,400 to 1,870 hp.
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US gets its first upgraded Sikorsky S-61
Hartford, December 3rd 2010
A unit of Sikorsky Aircaft has delivered to the U.S. State Department the first in a batch of upgraded S-61 helicopters, the civilian version of Sikorsky's military Sea King.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services in Shelton said three more S-61s are due for delivery by yearend, along with 13 more next year.
They are among up to as many as 110 of the helicopters the state department wants for ferrying able-bodied and sick passengers, as well as for global relief missions. The value of these orders and the full contract has not been publicly disclosed.
The upgrades include composite main rotors, cockpit improvements to reduce pilot fatigue and improve safety, and enhancements that make the aircraft easier and cheaper to operate and maintain.
Sikorsky Aircaft is a division of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford.
U.S. gets its first upgraded Sikorsky S-61 | Hartford Business
Hartford, December 3rd 2010
A unit of Sikorsky Aircaft has delivered to the U.S. State Department the first in a batch of upgraded S-61 helicopters, the civilian version of Sikorsky's military Sea King.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services in Shelton said three more S-61s are due for delivery by yearend, along with 13 more next year.
They are among up to as many as 110 of the helicopters the state department wants for ferrying able-bodied and sick passengers, as well as for global relief missions. The value of these orders and the full contract has not been publicly disclosed.
The upgrades include composite main rotors, cockpit improvements to reduce pilot fatigue and improve safety, and enhancements that make the aircraft easier and cheaper to operate and maintain.
Sikorsky Aircaft is a division of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford.
U.S. gets its first upgraded Sikorsky S-61 | Hartford Business
S61 Main Rotor @100% Nr = 203 rpm
Previous post had asked what the Main Rotor RPM is on S61 - for some reason the question has now been edited out...........
Previous post had asked what the Main Rotor RPM is on S61 - for some reason the question has now been edited out...........
Last edited by farsouth; 30th Dec 2010 at 11:30. Reason: To explain apparently random post !!!!
, so last chance ever...
Afghan 61s
A Carson Helicopters S61T (modified) departs Shamulzai Forward Operating Base in Zabul province, Southern Afghanistan on 4th February 2010. In the foreground are US Army Lieutenant Hans Mogelgaard from Pensacola Florida (left) and Specialist Joshua Blair from St. Paris Ohio of Echo Company, 4th Brigade combat team, 1-508 parachute infantry regiment.
The 61 is part of a seven aircraft contract won by a company known as Presidential Airways (formerly a subsidiary of the firm known as Blackwater). Presidential are now owned by another prominent US State Department contractor, AAR Corp.
Related news release
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I can say, with a fair amount of certainty, that the S-61 in that picture is not a new "T" model. It looks just like all the other grey S61N's PAW is running in Afghanistan.
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I'm pretty sure all the "T" models are converted SH-3 (Sea Kings) or Shortsky's.
That a/c in the picture is an "N" but more likely an "NM" as hard to tell if there are sponsons fitted or not. The clue it is not a short is the position of the FOD shield. In a short model the FOD shield partially covers the skylights.
That a/c in the picture is an "N" but more likely an "NM" as hard to tell if there are sponsons fitted or not. The clue it is not a short is the position of the FOD shield. In a short model the FOD shield partially covers the skylights.
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I'm pretty sure all the "T" models are converted SH-3 (Sea Kings) or Shortsky's.
That a/c in the picture is an "N" but more likely an "NM" as hard to tell if there are sponsons fitted or not. The clue it is not a short is the position of the FOD shield. In a short model the FOD shield partially covers the skylights.
That a/c in the picture is an "N" but more likely an "NM" as hard to tell if there are sponsons fitted or not. The clue it is not a short is the position of the FOD shield. In a short model the FOD shield partially covers the skylights.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n-runway-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ning-start.jpg
