Upgrade from Bell 206 B3
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Florida
Age: 59
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello !
thank you all for answers ! Just to narrow mission profile helicopter has to take 6 male adults, including pilot, each having mass of ~90 kg and fly for 125 NM in VMC conditions. Then come back with the same load without refuel with 45 minutes of fuel to spare ( 250 NM total trip ). Takeoff is made in vertically to about 30 feet AGL and then acceleration can begin. Landing profile is other way round.
Any chance that Long Ranger will cope with that mission ?
thank you all for answers ! Just to narrow mission profile helicopter has to take 6 male adults, including pilot, each having mass of ~90 kg and fly for 125 NM in VMC conditions. Then come back with the same load without refuel with 45 minutes of fuel to spare ( 250 NM total trip ). Takeoff is made in vertically to about 30 feet AGL and then acceleration can begin. Landing profile is other way round.
Any chance that Long Ranger will cope with that mission ?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Florida
Age: 59
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The only option is spend more money. This cannot be done in a helicopter for $800K. You might be able to do it in an L3 with fuel on the other other end but an L3 doesn't handle max GW like an L4 does, IMO. Clearing a 30' obstacle with 1200 pounds in a L3 with 400 pounds of fuel would not be my idea of a good time.
Coulda sold you our A109A Mk II plus Widebody for $800 Kilobucks.
It could do full fuel. Or full pax. Like a sports car, full fuel (long range tank in tail) and 3POB. Or 7 POB and you could go for 45 mins before looking desperately for fuel. But it looked good, cruised at 145kt, Vne 168kt, and the unique Italian habit of never changing its all-up weight - the fuel, when burnt, was then carried on the tailboom as soot.
It could do full fuel. Or full pax. Like a sports car, full fuel (long range tank in tail) and 3POB. Or 7 POB and you could go for 45 mins before looking desperately for fuel. But it looked good, cruised at 145kt, Vne 168kt, and the unique Italian habit of never changing its all-up weight - the fuel, when burnt, was then carried on the tailboom as soot.
Makes you wonder what the thought process is for aircraft designers.
I know, I'll give it 6 seats and a 500L fuel tank. Then I'll work out what the MTOW should be and make sure that the certified MTOW (that I decide) is a good 300kg less than that. That'll f**k them. Then I'll take an engine capable of doing the job de-rate it so that they couldn't get it off the ground full up even if they wanted to. Job done!
I know, I'll give it 6 seats and a 500L fuel tank. Then I'll work out what the MTOW should be and make sure that the certified MTOW (that I decide) is a good 300kg less than that. That'll f**k them. Then I'll take an engine capable of doing the job de-rate it so that they couldn't get it off the ground full up even if they wanted to. Job done!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Massachusetts
Age: 67
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As an L3 pilot, totally agree that you won't be able to carry that load and full fuel. But you can get a nice L3 for $700K, so I think it makes sense to double check that there's no way to carry (much) less fuel. Otherwise the L4 is probably the way to go... But you won't find a nice one for the budget you're talking about.
Since he has a 206 he already knows about the TT straps...
He could buy 2 R44s, and use a second pilot. You could do that for $800K, carry himself and six passengers and full fuel! Just saying! Turbine for 50 hours a year eats you up on the fixed costs... With the occasional expensive annual, you can easily hit $2,500 per hour @ 50 hours per year in an L3... More in an L4...
Does he do the full passenger & fuel thing all the time,. Or is that an occasional thing? Because sizing for that mission, and 50 hours a year is going to kill him on fixed costs... If it's an occasional thing maybe it makes sense to lease a 407 and pilot ( with the duals installed ) when he has that mission come up?
Since he has a 206 he already knows about the TT straps...
He could buy 2 R44s, and use a second pilot. You could do that for $800K, carry himself and six passengers and full fuel! Just saying! Turbine for 50 hours a year eats you up on the fixed costs... With the occasional expensive annual, you can easily hit $2,500 per hour @ 50 hours per year in an L3... More in an L4...
Does he do the full passenger & fuel thing all the time,. Or is that an occasional thing? Because sizing for that mission, and 50 hours a year is going to kill him on fixed costs... If it's an occasional thing maybe it makes sense to lease a 407 and pilot ( with the duals installed ) when he has that mission come up?
Last edited by Paul Cantrell; 24th Nov 2019 at 00:12.
