"Hottest" helicopter out there?
Thread Starter
"Hottest" helicopter out there?
Conveniently forgetting real world considerations, what the hottest, highest performing & best handling helicopter out there?
I haven't even sat in a helicopter, so know nothing beyond what I read on power, weight, heads & what not. 1st thought was something light & powerful like the MD 530F, AS350B3 or Bo 105, 2nd though was something heavier with a load of power like Lynx or AH-64, but I guess they just aren't as agile.
I haven't even sat in a helicopter, so know nothing beyond what I read on power, weight, heads & what not. 1st thought was something light & powerful like the MD 530F, AS350B3 or Bo 105, 2nd though was something heavier with a load of power like Lynx or AH-64, but I guess they just aren't as agile.
Top Answer
29th Jul 2023, 21:37
During the Cambodia Incursion late one afternoon having completed my appointed chores....I was approached by a 1st AirCav Pathfinder who begged me to fly three sling load sorties for him as his assigned Chinooks had all gone home due to the weather
I visually confirmed his loads were Ammo, Ammo/Water, and Ammo/water/food in that order and agreed to fly them as he was all but in tears over not being able to get his guys re-supplied and in real need.
Short version is there was a GCA at each end of the flight....one at the SF FOB and one at the location in Cambodia....with the plan being getting vectors and a GCA Approach at each end.
Half way there, while in/out of cloud with occasion sucker holes, in mountainous terrain.....the Bad Guys got involved and we got shot at by a .51 Cal and took a single hit....removing one fhe pedals from under my foot.
That severed some hydraulic lines and ignited a hydraulic fed fire turning the contents of the Utility Hydraulic system into a rather hot fire....being fanned with slipstream.
The flames passed back over the port side of the aircraft and burnt through the aluminum skin (and some of my own) and ignited some of the interior fabric lining of the cabin.
In time the fire died out as the contents of the system emptied....we jettisoned the sling load....did an IMC recovery to our takeoff point and I was taken. into the SF Camp to be rendered medical aid pending arrival of a Medieval Aircraft.
The close up photo of the pedal area shows some of the damage caused by the .51 Round......amazing how much power there is in such a thing even while 3-4,000 feet from the machine gun firing at you.
Another inch and I would not have any need to buy a full pair of sox.
The impact made a tremendous "Bang" and a lot of things happened all at once.
My left leg was jammed back under the seat, the aircraft really lurched about, and almost immediately flame enveloped the cockpit, making a hot greasy fire kind of noise....and my nomes flight suit and gloves began to burn away.
I recall seeing the backs of my hands bubble up and burst....which t has a way of focusing your thinking and you fall back upon your training and start earning. your flight pay.
Odd thing....we dealt with all of that without ever pulling out a checklist.
The entire crew.....five of us worked together and handled the problems.
Now....time for a big glass of Whisky and enjoy another beautiful Sun Set.
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Conveniently forgetting real world considerations, what the hottest, highest performing & best handling helicopter out there?
I haven't even sat in a helicopter, so know nothing beyond what I read on power, weight, heads & what not. 1st thought was something light & powerful like the MD 530F, AS350B3 or Bo 105, 2nd though was something heavier with a load of power like Lynx or AH-64, but I guess they just aren't as agile.
I haven't even sat in a helicopter, so know nothing beyond what I read on power, weight, heads & what not. 1st thought was something light & powerful like the MD 530F, AS350B3 or Bo 105, 2nd though was something heavier with a load of power like Lynx or AH-64, but I guess they just aren't as agile.
Lynx? There’ll be a few coffee stained keyboards out there now!
CH-47 must be a contender
The SA 315 B Lama holds the helicopter absolute altitude record of 40'814 ft, but I can't say if it still stands for lack of trying on anyone else's part.
All things considered, I'd say that nowadays nothing has more reserve power than an AS 350 B3e Squirrel, especially since the 2021 power upgrade.
All things considered, I'd say that nowadays nothing has more reserve power than an AS 350 B3e Squirrel, especially since the 2021 power upgrade.
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CH47 HC1 had a VNE of 160 kts, I explored this limitation en-route RAF Gutersloh in I think 1983 trying to catch a Puma .going to the same destination. I was overhauling the Puma when I saw the airfield passing below. Quick power reduction took ages to slow down and late call finalls to land. Not many helicopters are able to maintain VNE straight and level!
Thread Starter
CH-47 - While fast & powerful, does it have the agility & chuckability of the smaller contenders (have always thought of it as a fast HGV rather than something sporty)?
Avoid imitations
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CH47 HC1 had a VNE of 160 kts, I explored this limitation en-route RAF Gutersloh in I think 1983 trying to catch a Puma .going to the same destination. I was overhauling the Puma when I saw the airfield passing below. Quick power reduction took ages to slow down and late call finalls to land. Not many helicopters are able to maintain VNE straight and level!
Whilst the Lynx isn't much good hot and high (better with T800 engines) it is still the world speed record holder - 216Kts (249 mph) set in 1986
Yes G-LYNX was modified but not by much - the military release to service for Mk 7 (no TOW booms) and 9 had a VNE of 156 Kts which was very achievable in level flight and could easily be exceeded if you weren't paying attention.
A light slick (no TOW booms) could sustain 3000 f/min RoC
Yes G-LYNX was modified but not by much - the military release to service for Mk 7 (no TOW booms) and 9 had a VNE of 156 Kts which was very achievable in level flight and could easily be exceeded if you weren't paying attention.
A light slick (no TOW booms) could sustain 3000 f/min RoC
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The hottest would be the EC-120.
All that glass and no ventilation, apart from a piddly fan that just blows in your eyes. No good in an Oz summer. My feet, in black shoes, were in direct sunlight and felt like they were on fire. Had to fly with left hand on cyclic and right hand trying to scoop air in through the piddly sliding window. Back seat pax were really suffering.
Had an S-76B at 185 kt briefly (Vne 155 kt) but that's another story.
All that glass and no ventilation, apart from a piddly fan that just blows in your eyes. No good in an Oz summer. My feet, in black shoes, were in direct sunlight and felt like they were on fire. Had to fly with left hand on cyclic and right hand trying to scoop air in through the piddly sliding window. Back seat pax were really suffering.
Had an S-76B at 185 kt briefly (Vne 155 kt) but that's another story.
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This was without any doubt the "hottest" helicopter I ever flew!
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An H160 if way hotter if you look through the design and technologies that are being used.
Did I forget the aerobatic capabilities of the Lynx? Loops, barrel rolls, back flips etc - that is handling
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This confuses me a bit, my naive view was that with a very reasonable power to weight ratio & at least what appears to be plenty of agility that it would be a contender of sorts?
The inner child say that it's it's the fastest & can go upside down - what else would you want.
The inner child say that it's it's the fastest & can go upside down - what else would you want.
This confuses me a bit, my naive view was that with a very reasonable power to weight ratio & at least what appears to be plenty of agility that it would be a contender of sorts?
The inner child say that it's it's the fastest & can go upside down - what else would you want.
The inner child say that it's it's the fastest & can go upside down - what else would you want.
All that said a whole lot of fun; it was when they stopped leaking oil that you had to worry.
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This confuses me a bit, my naive view was that with a very reasonable power to weight ratio & at least what appears to be plenty of agility that it would be a contender of sorts?
The inner child say that it's it's the fastest & can go upside down - what else would you want.
The inner child say that it's it's the fastest & can go upside down - what else would you want.
One type that surprised me with its speed is the Mi35 (export version of Mi24 - Hind) - when flying EC155s in the Niger Delta, cruising at around 155 KTS TAS, the Nigerian Air Force Mi35s would overtake us with a significant advantage. Their ETAs suggested they were doing around 180 kts......
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Did I forget the aerobatic capabilities of the Lynx? Loops, barrel rolls, back flips etc - that is handling
I didn't think it was possible until I saw it. Very impressive
