High Density Altitude/Heavy hauler

[westwind]

A few years ago, we contracted a Sikorsky Skycrane to install lift towers at my place of work. If memory serves, it operated at over 11,000', with a density altitude of maybe 12,500' or so, while taking a max load of 5,000 to 6,000 lbs.
It looks like we will be doing a lot of work this summer at an altitude of 12,800' with a DA estimated to be over 14,000' I always thought that the Skycrane was the 800 lb Gorilla in this game, but our Lift's Manager said (over a beer or three ) that he is bringing in something with even more lifting capability. Enlighten me on what is out there that can do this job. Thanks

 

[mattpilot]

the Skycrane can lift some 15000lbs.... (**edit: according to one source)

The Mi-26 has the greatest lifting capacity of any helicopter of ~44000 lbs.

There are some inbetween, but the only one i can think of right now is the Sikorsky SA-64F with a lifting capacity of ~24300 lbs. (**edit, according to another source - the SA-64 IS the skycrane, btw - sorry for the screwup).

 

[mattpilot]

What exactly are you lifting? Logs?

I found a little webpage that should be of interest to you, if thats infact the business you are in.

http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/DOCREP/005/AC805E/ac805e06.htm

 

[westwind]

Hmmm. That SA-64 in your link looks identical to the machine we used for our last lift installation. Orange, named "Bubba", kinda big (duh!), spittin' image for the one on the movie "Swordfish". I have video of it in action, but need to transfer it to digital and find somebody to host it. http://news4colorado.com/localnews/local_story_020124311.html/resources_storyPrintableView
This is the project that was recently given the go-ahead. No tree cutting for this one. It's all above tree-line. Should be an interesting project.
Previous lift installations required some helicopter logging over wetlands, once with a Kaman K-Max and once with a Bell 214 (If I remember correctly).
I kinda figured that there was some crazy Soviet-era hardware out there that bested American helicopters. Is anybody operating the Rooskie stuff over here?

 

[mattpilot]

hmm.. i didn't notice that... The sikorsky SA-64 IS the skycrane.... Can't believe i screwed that up. I also don't know why i have 2 different max weights on it. I looked it up on 2 different sources.

Sorry 'bout that

 

[Ollie]

Any chance he's talking about bringing in a Chinook? They have exceptional lift capabilitites even at high density altitudes.

 

[westwind]

He didn't mention the Chinook. We have used the Chinook in the past, but it was quite some time ago. I'll try and get a straight answer from him without the beers next time.

 

[FracCapt]

It looks like we will be doing a lot of work this summer at an altitude of 12,800' with a DA estimated to be over 14,000' I always thought that the Skycrane was the 800 lb Gorilla in this game, but our Lift's Manager said (over a beer or three ) that he is bringing in something with even more lifting capability. Enlighten me on what is out there that can do this job. Thanks

Probably the K-Max. It's got some pretty impressive lift capability. Counter rotating intermeshing main rotors. Do a Google search for Kaman K-Max and you should be able to find info about it.

 

[mattpilot]

Probably the K-Max. It's got some pretty impressive lift capability. Counter rotating intermeshing main rotors. Do a Google search for Kaman K-Max and you should be able to find info about it.

This one?

http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/DOCREP/005/AC805E/ac805e06.htm

 

[Ollie]

That link looks like it's talking about the KA-32 Helix. I could be wrong though. This is the Kaman K-MAX: http://homepages.wwc.edu/student/jorgbr/