Life in the old girl yet? (S61 merged threads)
 

Financial news reports:

AP
Sikorsky, Carson to update S-61 helicopters
Tuesday September 30, 1:32 pm ET
Sikorsky, Carson to update S-61 durable helicopter line in service nearly 50 years


STRATFORD, Conn. (AP) -- One of the most durable work horses in helicopter fleets is getting a makeover.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., announced Tuesday an agreement with Carson Helicopters Inc. to modernize the S-61 helicopter, also known as the Sea King.


The S-61 helicopter began flying in 1959, serving in the U.S. Navy, Britain's Royal Navy and other overseas fleets. The more than 1,000 Sea Kings that were produced have flown a combined 3.8 million flight hours, Sikorsky said.

About 620 of the helicopters remain in service in commercial and military markets worldwide.

In the modernization program, the airframe will be extensively refurbished with a new glass cockpit and cargo hook and hoist system. New composite main rotor blades that improve aircraft performance will be used, providing additional lift and speed capabilities.

The upgrades will be done at Sikorsky Aerospace Services in Chase Field, Texas.


Other than Carson which companies are looking at upgraded 61's and for what roles?

Carson
 

Carson is the Company that actually does the update; the S-61 composite blade is quite well known as the "Carson Blade". Cougar helicopter out of St John's Newfoundland operates a Carson bladed aircraft and I believe that they did some of the engineering work for the integrated glass cockpit as well?

Anyhow the point is that yes in fact they will be breathing new life into the S-61, and that is great. The S-61 should be universally recognized as the DC-3 of helicopters.

And this is what they'll look like from the inside (courtesy of Phil Kemp):

http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/40...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/39...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/38...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/18...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/41...600x600Q85.jpg

That is the best news I have had for a while. I apprenticed on the 61 and you can have the rest of them, I will happily retire off the top of one of them.
Lovely old machine that is desreving of a facelift and upgrade.

We likes that!! :ok:

Stupid Question?
 

Where is Phil these days? - obvious answer is Carson but not necessarily true!

Trog

Fantastic pictures of a great aircraft. The reason the S-61 is still flying strong after so many years is a tribute to such a great design. It flies beautifully, has excellent flying characteristics and a superb cabin. I really hope that this upgrade proves successful and a few more 61 airframes get an extended life. Give me a Carson 61 instead of an S-92 any day.

I'm also pleased to see the analogue style guages displayed on a digital screen. I hate this modern trend towards moving tapes and linear scales !!

Long live the S-61

Three Bristow 61s left Shetland last week to the States by ship from Liverpool. I believe they have been sold to Carsons.

Have Carson or Sikorski done anything about the Achilles Heel - the high speed inputs were 50's technology and could let the old girl down.

New blades and cockpit great stuff; long may she fly (hopefully with enough spares!).

No idea, I'm afraid. Phil posted these shots in the 'Rotorheads around the World' thread back in June (page 205).

Here's an external shot:

http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/40...600x600Q85.jpg

Thanks B73!
 

Thanks mate,

I'll chase him up from there.

Trog

Was PK at Vortex in Vancouver?

Does anyone know if this new partnership announcement between Sikorsky and Carson will result in an updated RFM supplement?

Although the new blades are fantastic, in the offshore world they really do nothing for payload or increased speed as you are still forced to use the original VNE and Cat A charts.

Whats needed: Revised Cat A graph
Revised OEI climb performance chart
Revised VNE chart

P.S. is it an illusion, or doesn't picture number 2 look like 30 degrees of bank but with the AH showing level?

Heh! Nice mockup but the EFIS shows straight and level and the view out the window shows something rather more exciting!

We had this discussion when the pictures first appeared - it's an island in a lake. The actual horizon show wings level.

For Mr. Toad, I believe that the 24000 series MGB fixed or at least improved the HSS input problem? Great machine and great pictures, I would happily fly my whole family across the country in a well maintained SeaKing, not sure I could say the same about some of the newer plastic wonder machines, (think three engines and real sexy Main Rotor Blades)

Departed S-61`s
 

Any idea which ones have gone?

Never having flown the S61/SeaKing, I am always intrigued by the television cockpit pics showing the co-pilot with his hands on the speed selects during take-off & landing/hovering situations. Anybody enlighten me what this is about?

Do Carson/anyone else have any plans to put a modern, more powerful engine with FADEC into the S61? My understanding is that they have always been underpowered especially when OEI. This together with the Carson glass cockpit would surely make a truly superb modern machine.

Departed S61's
 

thorpey


G-BBVA, G-BBHL and G-BGWJ were sold to Carson

G-BGWK remains at Sumburgh in storage,

902Jon
 

S61 or US manufactured Sikorsky SH3 etc. Seaking - GE Engines with hydromechanical governors.
Prone to Rotor RPM droop so RPM increased from normal cruise figure of 100% for take off/landing/hovering by advancing Speed Select Levers to 104% (? I haven't flown one for yonks so brain may be going). In the event of any malfunction, both SSL's are advanced fully forward which is why NHP keeps hand on levers during these phases of flight.

Westland built Seakings with much more powerful RR Gnome engines controlled by fuel computers (albeit very basic) - much more responsive - no need for SSL advance.

Trog