Devon and Cornwall EC145

[widgeon]

Saw a pic today of the new EC145 that shows something mounted just below the rear clamshell doors. Hard to tell from the picture what it is but it looks to be gimbal mounted , is it the FLIR would not seem to be a ideal location. Anyone know what is is ?
http://www.policeaviationnews.com/Ac...sApril2010.pdf

[SilsoeSid]

Perhaps these will help, thanks to UK Emergency Aviation - Police Helicopter Gallery - G-DCPB









p.s. It takes longer to log into PPrune and post, than to google it

(yes, it's quiet here )

[notar]

Seems they have already lost a bit!

[RotaryWingB2]

He's correct, it is the nightsun.

[southerncanuck]

widgeon, that is our ec-145 stepmount, with the spectrolab xp on the rear hardpoint, flir starsafire on the fwd hardpoint. we are supplying EC UK with both the 135 and 145 steps for the UK police forces
cal

[widgeon]

Thanks ,looked at the web site Illumination Systems Searchlights Product Detail

Must be the XP version , I know they were working on this back in 2001 nice to see it finally made it to market.

[Coconutty]

Yes - It IS the Nitesun XP

From the PAN article mentioned :

" ..... due to its increased load carrying capacity...."

Anyone know exactly how much the increased load carrying capacity is with their new EC145 - in it's current configuration, over the previous aircraft ( BK117 )

[Rigga]

The NiteSun seems to be mounted on the rear end of the Step - not behind the clamshell doors.

Moved due to the Met's experience? It would be interesting to see where the cameras fit.

[Hughes500]

EC145 ! Looks like my council tax will be going up as D & C try and keep up with The Met !

[B.U.D.G.I.E]

It would be interesting to see where the cameras fit.

so whats the big black ball shaped thing at the front then

[bolkow]

I notice they have not included the nose radome for radar that the Met has on all three of their examples.

[Pan Euro]

Following the Police mini tender for the 6 (now7) EC 135 aircraft the Meeker mount was selected as being the answer to problems previously experienced with the Mac Pod. The sucess of this has led to that now being the product of choice offered by EC UK for both the 135 and the 145 in the police role, and guess what ? it works !

[212man]

It would be interesting to see where the cameras fit.

so whats the big black ball shaped thing at the front then

You couldn't write this stuff!

[MightyGem]

I notice they have not included the nose radome for radar that the Met has on all three of their examples.

Maybe they don't have weather radar?

[Madbob]

Note the right skid mod to accomodate the NiteSun and compare it with the standard ski tip on the other side.

I wonder if this is an approved CAA/JAA mod and whether trials have been carried out to test them during an autorotation/run-on landing? Just an observation, anyone know the answer?

MB

[SilsoeSid]

I wonder if this is an approved CAA/JAA mod and whether trials have been carried out to test them during an autorotation/run-on landing? Just an observation, anyone know the answer?

Of course no one in the CAA would have thought to ask the question, 'If it's a police helicopter we are CoA-ing, where are the Nitesun and Camera?'

Again, something that could easily be overlooked as the 'test pilot' climbs into the aircraft from the stbd side, having not done a walkround or w/b check!


May I refer to 212mans earlier comment,

You couldn't write this stuff!

[Rigga]

I apparently made a bit of a bum question - but the photos didnt appear on the screen when I first saw this thread, just a link to a poor picture.

So, apart from no radar, the D&C 145 also doesn't have Hoist and Roping Beam attachments or the USL hook and mirrors, or Loudspeakers but it has the Wire Cutters (for which the Met didnt buy the blades). What a wonderful amount of standardisation the police forces have? I wonder if NVG is still installed. I don't see in these pics any aerials for digital downloading?

The Wire Cutter Modified Skids are supposed to avoid trapping Cables/Wires under the Fuselage and so need to have that very high front profile to guide cables away - I guess this camera mount is supposed to fill that gap (but I somehow doubt it!)

I am quite surprised that the CAA/EASA were persuaded to allow this variance from the STC. Is there a smooth talker somewhere at ECUK or D&C? Will it take a Wire Strike to reinstate the correct front end?

[southerncanuck]

rigga, whether using our step mount or the EC bolster step, one has to remove the lower wirestrike deflectors (pixie boots) to allow the camera to be installed. if you have one payload fwd, then the lower wirestrike remains installed on the opposite. many operators have removed the lower wirestrike deflectors on both sides as a common install is camera and light on the forward end. which is the case for all EC bolster step installs. our stepmount has the advantage of a rear hardpoint, hence the XP located at the aft location.
so no, its not a variance of the stc
cal

[Ian Corrigible]

Cal beat me to the chase, but the EC145 operated by Suffolk County PD in NY also lacks the skid-mounted wirestrike protectors:



I/C

[Rigga]

Guys,

Thanks for the quick answers and explanations and the nice Metro Aviation photo. They all put my mind at rest. I was not aware of partial installations of Wire Cutter Mods.

SC - I believe 'yours' is the better step assy.

Rigga