Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Ideas & Inspiration => Aero-space => Topic started by: The Big Gimper on November 24, 2018, 03:09:54 AM
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CH-54
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4842/44141054190_ef47e64a32_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2afArys)
curatorial image (https://flic.kr/p/2afArys) by SDASM Archives (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4866/32134672208_acf52be23f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QXCAuy)
RAF-CH-54-01 (https://flic.kr/p/QXCAuy) by Big Gimper (https://www.flickr.com/photos/21812089@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4907/45955994652_09b18c3153_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d1Yu8o)
RAF-CH-54-03 (https://flic.kr/p/2d1Yu8o) by Big Gimper (https://www.flickr.com/photos/21812089@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4907/45955994652_09b18c3153_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d1Yu8o)
RAF-CH-54-03 (https://flic.kr/p/2d1Yu8o) by Big Gimper (https://www.flickr.com/photos/21812089@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4810/46005535211_cf765531d1_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d6moNX)
CH-54B-Tahre (https://flic.kr/p/2d6moNX) by Big Gimper (https://www.flickr.com/photos/21812089@N02/), on Flickr
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Is there a kit available?
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Only via Ebay or FB auction groups. Revell did a SSP back in 2010. Nothing since.
LEM issued a 1/144 kit in 2014. http://lemkits.com/product/1-144-ch-54b-tarhe/ (http://lemkits.com/product/1-144-ch-54b-tarhe/)
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The Tamiya 1/100 kit was re-released a few years back.
It's very nice.
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Revell did a SSP back in 2010. Nothing since.
The Revell 1/72 kit I have is really old, scalemates says the first time it was released was in 1968
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Revell did a SSP back in 2010. Nothing since.
The Revell 1/72 kit I have is really old, scalemates says the first time it was released was in 1968
Yup. It is an antique all right.
@ Jon: thanks for the Tamyia pointer to the 1/100 kit
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The new issue of Helicopter Association International's Rotor magazine has a photo article on fire-fighting helicopters with some beautiful shots of civil Skycranes active in this effort.
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Future Builds.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4853/44580394340_726e7da21f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aVqb5C)
RCN-CH-54-01 (https://flic.kr/p/2aVqb5C) by Big Gimper (https://www.flickr.com/photos/21812089@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4821/44580394380_bd2bcf13e3_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aVqb6j)\
RCAF-CH-54-01 (https://flic.kr/p/2aVqb6j) by Big Gimper (https://www.flickr.com/photos/21812089@N02/), on Flickr
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Found this posted on the Erickson Facebook page. I wonder if there is an unsolicited proposal sitting on someone's desk?
(https://scontent.fxds1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/151621351_1702912173224921_734319283928074363_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=3&_nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=DawF3VHDH9QAX8ZXOpU&_nc_ht=scontent.fxds1-1.fna&oh=bad7479cb47fe43630ac4cee522b71fc&oe=6056F13A)
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It looks like you can find out tomorrow:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8082206922254496269
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Erickson converting an Air-Crane to haul military cargo without a pilot in the cockpit
It may be capable of fighting fires at night or resupplying troops
(https://fireaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Erickson_S64F-1024x642.jpg)
File photo. Erickson Air-Crane, Elvis, in Victoria, Australia in 2013; N179AC. Erickson photo.
The large helicopter that may be Erickson’s most well known Air-Crane, the one named Elvis, is being gutted down to the studs, so to speak. The company plans to rebuild N179AC as an S-64F+ that could operate without a pilot in the cockpit or autonomously.
The project, first announced at the Anaheim HAI convention in January, 2020, started as a way to work toward a new “pilot optional nighttime firefighting solution”, integrating Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ Technology into a digitally enabled fire management system never-before used in night firefighting. Erickson said it would enhance cockpit awareness and flight crew safety during day and night operations.
The reconstruction of Elvis will include converting it to a fly-by-wire system. When complete it will also have the other features that Erickson is building into their new line of S-64F+ helicopters, composite main rotor blades, an enhanced cockpit and flight control system, an improved water cannon, and what the company calls a modern engine enhancing range and fuel efficiency.
Erickson expects to begin ground tests of the reborn Elvis in 2022 with a first flight by the end of 2023.
It's been done before. Two K-MAX helicopters were converted for the military by Lockheed Martin Corporation and Kaman Aerospace Corporation into an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capable of autonomous or remote controlled cargo delivery.
Source: https://fireaviation.com/2021/03/05/erickson-converting-an-air-crane-to-haul-military-cargo-without-a-pilot-in-the-cockpit/
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:smiley:
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From the Erickson Incorporated Facebook page
The S-64 Air Crane® helicopter and Erickson both have close relationships with the U.S. Air Force. The Air Crane® helicopter's history dates back to the Vietnam era when the Air Force used Sikorsky CH-54's for aircraft recovery. Erickson also has a longstanding relationship with the Air Force and is currently engaged with SOF/PR, an IDIQ contract with the U.S. Air Force.
In honor of the 74th birthday, we put together this CGI image of an Air Crane® helicopter in Air Force livery. Enjoy!
(https://scontent.fxds1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/242310573_1859321834250620_5532749596546344100_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=jiQ0ycr11LkAX9-EHas&_nc_ht=scontent.fxds1-1.fna&oh=af94f549745a5347669153c6f4734cca&oe=616DC9BD)
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Didn't a 1/35th kit just get announced?
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Didn't a 1/35th kit just get announced?
Yes - ICM
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<...> CGI image of an Air Crane® helicopter in Air Force livery. Enjoy!
(https://scontent.fxds1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/242310573_1859321834250620_5532749596546344100_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=jiQ0ycr11LkAX9-EHas&_nc_ht=scontent.fxds1-1.fna&oh=af94f549745a5347669153c6f4734cca&oe=616DC9BD)
Nice! :smiley: Looks really modern in those colours.
EDIT: How about a Skycrane/Tarhe II? Base it on the CH-53K's dynamic components. CH-54K, so to speak. ;)
With just about everything getting containerised these days, a helicopter that can forward-deploy things right into position could be of use.
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EDIT: How about a Skycrane/Tarhe II? Base it on the CH-53K's dynamic components. CH-54K, so to speak. ;)
With just about everything getting containerised these days, a helicopter that can forward-deploy things right into position could be of use.
"In 1968 Sikorsky proposed a growth crane to the Army, the S-64B, which used a 79 foot rotor
and three engines with a new main gearbox. Originally both the General Electric T-64-GE-16
and the Lycoming T-55- l-11 were proposed. The design was for a payload of 17.9 tons, with
a design gross weight of 50,000 lbs and an overload gross weight of 64,700 lbs. Weight empty
was 26,669lbs; maximum speed was 100 knots with payload and 130 knots without payload.
This concept was not pursued beyond the proposal stage, but the three engine/79
foot rotor became the basis of the CH-53E, using the General Electric engines."
(https://sikorskyarchives.com/images/images%20S-64%20TARHE/S-64%207edit.jpg)
Some more info on the Skycrane in this newsletter from 2007:
https://sikorskyarchives.com/pdf/News%20July%202007.pdf
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IIRC, there's something like that in Chris Gibson's helicopter book trilogy
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Erickson Incorporated (Facebook)
Here's a special #ThrowbackThursday photo by CW2 Paul V. Perreault.
Paul submitted this photo with the following story, "This photo shows our CH-54 carrying an early German Fokker vertical take-off jet... from its manufacturing plant (northern Germany) to its flight testing area (southern Germany); ca. 1972, [with] German crop fields in the background, between Heidelberg and Stuttgart. I took the photo from the chase aircraft . . . Shipping by barge would take too long. Shipping by train had too many railroad bumps that may damage the turbine bearings. Flying by Sky crane was quick and kept the turbine bearings protected by the wind rotation during flight."
The utility of this heavy-lift aircraft is limitless. Thank you Paul for sharing this great memory!
(https://scontent.fxds1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/244938703_1873787756137361_8678106661372743005_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=TNncsWj38TgAX-9IVDO&_nc_ht=scontent.fxds1-1.fna&oh=c24ffc32fcad36a31cf1d565a6494f3a&oe=6185FA6A)
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Well, that's one way of achieving VTOL...