Helicopter Towing A Barge
 

Not sure if this is bullshit or not, although my meter is chirping preeeetty damn loud. Whatcha think? Bullshit, or not?

More info http://www.pprune.org/3541135-post333.html

That's Columbia Helicopters, click on "Hover Barge Photo", on the right scroll.

I have that poster... I may have worked on that 107.

I lean toward total BS due to lack of rotor wash on the ice. You would see some kind of turbulence either way, esp with water there.

Good point, Merc.

if the Helo was Horizontal i would agree , But as you can see it is Pitched forward ,

BS

1. No rotor wash, as already mentioned.
2. Tow cable way too short, leaving zero room for error.
3. Check the reflection of the heli in the water in the foreground. It ain't quite right.

Less sure about this, but couldn't that model helicopter simply lift the barge right out of the water and drop it wherever?

I don't know about that one. Chinook sling load capable up to 26,000 lb center hook, 17,000 lb forward/aft hook, 25,000 lb tandem.

Rotor wash over water.

Did y'all miss Bruce's post or....?

Very politely worded. :blush: I have now.

Still doesn't look right, regardless of the comercial website claims. But what eva...

It would be the CH-46A Sea Knight, not a Chinook, but a mini-Chinook.

= 9977 pounds.

Everything you always wanted to know about the Boeing Vertol:

http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_...rtol_ch-46.php

It doesn't look right because you're seeing it thru a telephoto lense, not just your eyes.

Here's a nice wiki on perspective distortion.

I'm going with whatever Bruce says since he builds the fucking things.

I have no idea what he does for a living but I believe you. I'm cool with it. I was more of an end user when it came to those things.

I was wondering just the other day, what Bruce does for a living. Builds choppers, eh? Cool.

That was a 170 ton hover barge (cargo hovercraft), with 50 tons of cargo. But since it's supported by an air cushion, the helicopter only has to slide it along over water, or ice. It was being tested because the tug boats worked on the water, but couldn't move it over the ice, often encountered around the oil rigs.

But ... if its got all the fans and stuff to make it a hover-barge .... why not add a few extra fans for control and motive power and make it a regulation hovercraft?

:worried: More perspective?

The photo was taken by Ted in a helicopter, in such a way that it appears that he is closer to the ice than he really is.
Also, please look at our annual calendar with pictures of helicopters from Columbia in each month.

Translation courtesy of Mrs. BrianR.

You'll have to ask Sohio, it's their barge, and they hired Columbia to try and pull it.

Merc, thank you for your 'end use'.

Wow! That is one of the coolest freaking pictures I've seen. Ever! I would not want to be on the shithook.

If Bruce says it's the real thing, I'll believe him.

That picture was taken back in 1982, Boeing even had posters made.
A framed enlargement hangs over in "mahogany row"*.

* Executive offices.

Dig it.