The AgustaWestland EH-101 Merlin

The EH-101 Merlin is a medium lift, multi-role chopper developed and produced by AgustaWestland International. AgustaWestland is a joint venture formed by Agusta of Italy, shapers of the A-109, and Westland of Great Britain, shapers of the Lynx. The EH-101 is a direct rival to the Igor Sikorsky S-92 and was developed for both military and civil roles.

The multi-mission capablenesses of the chopper required AgustaWestland to four variations, two civil and two military.

The first civil discrepancy is the public utility version. The public utility version can be used for a combination of riders and/or freight. It's able to carry through a figure or functions including law enforcement, offshore oil support, fire fighting, cargo, SAR (search and rescue), air ambulance, and corporate shuttle. Aircraft constellation is based on operator need. For example, an air ambulance constellation will have got room in the cabin for flight paramedics/nurses, Sixteen stretchers, and the needed medical equipment. The hunt and deliverance discrepancy is able to transport 20 subsisters normally up to 55 in a catastrophe type situation. The public utility version of the EH 101 have a rear incline for loading/unloading. The cabin is broad and have flush necktie down points on the floor. In improver it have a roller conveyer for burden cargo on palettes and a windlass for other cargo that cannot be ego laden or loaded via the conveyor. It have an external lading hook capable of lifting 12000 lbs. The EH-101 is capable of carrying and deploying a assortment of gear wheel to include searchlights and and hoists. In improver the side lading door is equipped with a deliverance hoist.

The 2nd civil discrepancy is the Heliliner. As the name implies, the Heliliner is configured to transport people in air hose like fashion. The chopper have a system that minimizes quiver and keeps low acoustic signatures in the cabin and the cockpit for increased rider comfort. The Heliliner can transport up to 30 people in air hose style seating a distance of 460 statute miles at a cruising velocity of 180 mph. The Heliliner characteristics a broad aisle, operating expense luggage bins, a big luggage compartment and a capable and efficient air conditioning system to keep rider comfortableness no substance if the chopper is operating in Arctic or tropical climates.

The first military discrepancy is a navalized version. As expected the navalized version is built to stomach sustained maritime operations. It's used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), amphibious heli-borne assault and hunt and rescue. The navalized version is able to transport gunmen or depth charges.

The 2nd military discrepancy is the public utility version. It's able to transport 24-seated fully equipped military personnel or 45 standing fully equipped troops. It can also transport assorted equipment, cargoes and stores around the battlefield. Both military versions can be equipped with husk and flame up dispensers, infrared jammers, missile warnings, infrared counter measurements and other survivability features.

The chopper is constructed mostly of an aluminum-lithium alloy. It have a five bladed rotor coil system and is capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -45C to +55C. The cockpit utilizes a John Howard Northrop Grumman glass cockpit instrument system, which includes 6 cathode-ray tube shows and a Smiths Industries four-axis automatic flight control system. The civil version is powered by three General Electric CT7-6 turbo shaft engines rated at 2,000 SHP (shaft horsepower) each. Three Rolls Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines rated at 2200 SHP each powerfulness the military versions.

A version of the EH-101 was selected by the United States Devil Dog Corps to be the adjacent chopper conveyance for HMX-1. HMX-1 executes presidential, very important person and very important person transport. They currently utilize H-3 Sea Kings and VH-60 White Person Hawk choppers to carry through conveyance missions. The United States 101, as it's been designated, is the first non-Sikorsky chopper to wing in this function since 1957. When all 23 choppers come up on line they'll be redesignated the VH-71A Kestrel.

Both Agusta and Westland have got produced very capable helicopters. Their coaction on the EH-101 have placed the concerted company AgustaWestland on the head of chopper design.

Heavy Lift Helicopters - The MIL MI-26

The former Soviet Union have a history of producing big choppers capable of lifting heavy loads. The enormousness of the state coupled with a big figure of unaccessible countries required a dependable word form of transportation system capable of operating in rough environments. The mil Helicopter Corporation responded and have built some of the most capable heavy lift and lading choppers in the world.

The predecessor to the MI-26, the MI-6 Hook, had its start in 1954 when the Soviet OKB (Experimental Design Bureau) placed a demand for a chopper that was able to transport a warhead of 25,000 lbs a distance of 150 miles. The chopper would be particularly utile for trading operations in Siberia where rough statuses prevented land conveyance vehicles from being effectively used. The military would also be able to utilize the chopper to raise heavy weapon pieces, troops, and other big heavy loads.

When the MI-6 entered production it was powered by two Soloviev D-25V turbo shaft engines rated at 5,550 SHP (shaft horsepower) each. The hook had a immense five bladed rotor coil system that had a diameter of almost 115 ft. The crew consisted of five people. Two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer, and a radiocommunication operator. The chopper had two doors on either side of the flight deck that could be jettisoned in an exigency and the windows on the pilots' sides were bulged so they could see the rear of the helicopter. The MI-6 also carried an APU (auxiliary powerfulness unit), a little turbine engine used to supply powerfulness to the ship when the chief engines were not in operation. The MI-6 was able to run twenty-four hours or nighttime in all weather. The MI-6 was also used as a civilian airliner, a fire combat aircraft, and recovered Soyuz space capsules. It had a scope of 370 statute miles and a max velocity of 190 mph.

Out of the success with the MI-6 came the MI-26 Halo. The MI-26 had its maiden flight in 1977 and went into full-scale production in 1981. When looking at the two aircraft you can see the influence that the MI-6 had on the designing of the MI-26. Though lone slightly heavier than the MI-6, the Aura can raise 44,000 pounds. It's powered by two Lotarev D-136 turbo shaft engines rated at 11,550 SHP each. The MI-26 is the lone chopper to utilize an eight bladed rotor coil system. The rotor coils are made from fibreglass and have got got Ti tips and have a diameter of 105 ft. To assist in care the aircraft characteristics built in handholds and footholds, which help when operating in severe conditions. The MI-26, like the MI-6, have an APU to supply powerfulness when the chief engines are not operating. For comparing the loading and lift capablenesses of the MI-26 are on par with that of the U.S. built C-130 Heracles conveyance plane.

The aircraft is loaded from the rear thorough clamshell doors and a fold up down loading ramp. The Aura have a upper limit velocity of 180 statute miles per hour and an operational scope of 320 nautical miles without using subsidiary combustible tanks.

The MI-26 is presently used in a figure of different functions including medevac, flying crane/construction, combustible tanker, and aerial fire fighting. The MI-26 have a crew of five. Two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster.

The MI-26 goes on the tradition of mil Helicopter of edifice some of the biggest and most powerful choppers on earth.

Helicopter Pilot Careers in Law Enforcement

In recent old age there have been an addition in the usage of choppers by law enforcement. Helicopters supply a clear advantage to law enforcement. They offer speed, a bird's oculus perspective, and the usage of specialised detectors such as as infrared that enable them to "see" in the dark. A calling flying law enforcement choppers is definitely within your range and can offer exhilaration as well as fiscal wages and occupation security.

Most, but not all law enforcement federal agencies necessitate that you be a law enforcement military officer before you go a pilot. This agency attending the police force academy and disbursement clip in a patrol auto or walking a beat. This volition expose you to the states of affairs that police force military officers on the land brush day-to-day and you'll be better able to find the best manner to help with an air unit. Some police force air power units, like the Old Line State State Police Aviation Unit, are comprised of civilians. Others engage federal agencies to supply the choppers and the pilots.

The range and depth of law enforcement trading operations changes with the department. In general, bigger sections have got more than capablenesses than littler departments. Some sections wing under VMC (visual meteoric conditions) only which intends they necessitate to be able to see the apparent horizon to keep the proper orientation of the aircraft while others run in IMC (instrument meteoric conditions) which is flight solely referenced to the flight instruments. Some sections have got got forward looking infra redness while others only have a topographic point visible light and others wing using nighttime vision goggles.

Law enforcement flying for the most portion is done stopping point to the ground. Law enforcement choppers are usually trying to happen people and vehicles that are hidden or are trying to hedge and/or escape. Because of this airplane airplane pilots who wing law enforcement choppers must stay vigilant for obstructors such as as towers and wires.

Pay for law enforcement pilots covers a broad range. As you might anticipate bigger organisations have more than wage than littler organizations. Wage can run from $40,000 per twelvemonth to $100,000 per year. The benefits received are what any police force military officer would be entitled to such as as a pension, wellness and dental care.

Law enforcement flying tin be very exciting and rewarding. Each police force section have its ain guidelines on how it enrolls and railroad trains its pilots. If you're interested in flying for a certain section contact them and inquire about their requirements. You also may desire to talk to one of their pilots. They're usually very willing to share information.