WSBTV Antennae replacement Atlanta

[nomorehelosforme]

Happened this week.
Always admire the accuracy needed in contracts like this, and admire the guys with big balls to climb 900ft to unbolt the old and then guide the new antenna into place. Here is the news clip I found, pretty sure others may have better film of the operation.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atl...line/997941294

[Fareastdriver]

The registration appeared to be N906CH. Has anybody any idea of the history of this S61?

[finalchecksplease]

Helicopter Sikorsky S-61N Serial 61-490 Built in 1971
Registrations:
N906CH
C-FHHD
G-BFPF
N61NW
​​​​​​​ZS-HDK
used by:
Northwest Helicopters CHI Aviation (Construction Helicopters Inc)
Hayes Forest Services
British Airways Helicopters
Caledonian Helicopters
Court Helicopters.

[Democritus]

Just to clarify the above, as G-BFPF this helicopter was with British Airways Helicopters from 1978 until July 81 when as British Caledonian Helicopters we operated it until Bristow took us over in November 1987. The ownership of all the ex-British Caledonian machines was then re-registered to Caledonian Helicopters at Redhill - to all intents and purposes they were Bristow machines. Until they were repainted in Bristow colours they were operated with the word "British" merely painted over. In early 1989 PF left the UK for Court Helicopters in South Africa. Good to see her still operational as a short 61.

[nomorehelosforme]

Slight irony, we are collecting the now scrap antenna tomorrow morning on a truck, shame the S61 couldn’t have delivered it while on line, our scrap yard is 2 miles away..

[212man]

Originally Posted by nomorehelosforme

Slight irony, we are collecting the now scrap antenna tomorrow morning on a truck, shame the S61 couldn’t have delivered it while on line, our scrap yard is 2 miles away..

which route, clear of residential areas, do you suggest they flew?

[Salusa]

With respect to the original post. That is some good long line skill!

Want a job?

[LRP]

Lining up the bolt holes was a nice touch.

[Nubian]

Originally Posted by LRP

Lining up the bolt holes was a nice touch.

Would be even more impressive to do it without the guide wires doing the job...

[Bksmithca]

Originally Posted by Nubian

Would be even more impressive to do it without the guide wires doing the job...

Nubian
What Guide Wires, They may have had a short alignment pin at the top but there are no guide wires used in this process as the risk to the tower crew would be to high to be acceptable.

BK

[Hadley Rille]

Originally Posted by Bksmithca

Nubian
What Guide Wires, They may have had a short alignment pin at the top but there are no guide wires used in this process as the risk to the tower crew would be to high to be acceptable.

BK

The wires are visible at 1:21 and immediately afterwards the antenna can be seen rapidly rotating left and right as it lines up.

[nomorehelosforme]

Originally Posted by Hadley Rille

The wires are visible at 1:21 and immediately afterwards the antenna can be seen rapidly rotating left and right as it lines up.

I will ask the question to the tower crew in the morning. Always best to get it from the horses mouth!

[212man]

Originally Posted by Hadley Rille

The wires are visible at 1:21 and immediately afterwards the antenna can be seen rapidly rotating left and right as it lines up.

Yes they are very clearly visible - one either side - also whilst it is on the ground.

[Nubian]

Originally Posted by nomorehelosforme

I will ask the question to the tower crew in the morning. Always best to get it from the horses mouth!

By all means. I’m used to tower construction, so go right ahead. This technique of having 2 guidewires hanging from the flange is used extencively, as it makes sure the sections are alligned properly on top of eachother in a simple way.
This will also help stabilize the load from starting to swing when being lowered into place, as it acts like an anchor, and is making the job for the pilot a lot easier. You can see this from the gopro video how the antenna is offset to target, then it slides sideways in, then twists ("the pilot" align the holes ) as the antenna makes contact.

Bksmithca,

Nubian
What Guide Wires, They may have had a short alignment pin at the top but there are no guide wires used in this process as the risk to the tower crew would be to high to be acceptable.
BK

If you know this type of work and look for details as someone doing this type work, you see it quite easily.


Cheers

[nomorehelosforme]

Originally Posted by Nubian

By all means. I’m used to tower construction, so go right ahead. This technique of having 2 guidewires hanging from the flange is used extencively, as it makes sure the sections are alligned properly on top of eachother in a simple way.
This will also help stabilize the load from starting to swing when being lowered into place, as it acts like an anchor, and is making the job for the pilot a lot easier. You can see this from the gopro video how the antenna is offset to target, then it slides sideways in, then twists ("the pilot" align the holes ) as the antenna makes contact.

Bksmithca,



If you know this type of work and look for details as someone doing this type work, you see it quite easily.


Cheers

Here is another antenna job in the UK that clearly shows the use of 2 guide wires, also helps to make sure nobody gets their fingers chopped off!

https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=9qDu0_1573537613