Last Saturday At Work Was Different

[Mike J]

So I have been a Sheet Metal Worker since 1989. The bread & butter of our work is HVAC systems. Installing ductwork setting units, etc. This past Saturday I got to work a helicopter lift for the first time ever. One of the people with the general contractor took a video. I thought some here might find it interesting as many here are aviation buffs. I was impressed. One of the guys timed it. We sat 37 units in 2.24 hours.

Here is the link. https://youtu.be/fKPhd0el0fU

 

[CGDustDevil]

When I was a fixed-wing tech in the USAF, we referred to helicopters as "loosely associated clusters of aircraft parts flying in close formation"... That one didn't roll up into a ball, so it was apparently a good one!

Interesting video! Thanks for posting!

 

[contender]

Since I rarely go to youboob,,, I didn't watch the video. But I have seen actual setting of HVAC units by a helicopter. And being an old crewchief,,, I can attest to the fact that it takes a good pilot,,, especially if there is any wind,,,,,,,,,,!

 

[wwb]

When I was a fixed-wing tech in the USAF, we referred to helicopters as "loosely associated clusters of aircraft parts flying in close formation".......

It is a well-known fact that helicopters don't actually "fly"; they just beat the air into submission.

Really impressive helicopter lifting.... a Sikorsky Skycrane. When you see one take off with an APC slung under it, you can't help but wonder how it's possible.

 

[Fox Mike]

They call themselves "Air Crane" but they are flying turbo powered CH-34s and not the true "Air Crane/Sky Crane" which was the CH-54. Way back when I crewed a VH-34. They had the big Wright R-1820-84 radial engine. They placed the turbine engines in later and called it an S-58T. They WOULD do some lifting though, with either engine.

 

[exavid]

The Sky Crane is still alive and pretty well, Erickson here in Southern Oregon, used to rebuild the Sikorsky Sky Cranes but now build them.
I used to like working under helicopters hooking up lifts, detaching cables and that sort of thing because I got overtime for the whole shift on those days. Hazardous Pay. Using them for travel to mountain top communication links in SE Alaska got hazardous pay. That was well earned because a couple of those sites required the chopper to put its skids against the rock and then I had to climb off while he was hovering. Not flat ground at all up there. It was awfully lonely when that helicopter left you up there. One really hoped the usual bad weather didn't return before you got off the mountain top. I only got stranded for a day on those years but one of my friends spent three days in one of those. pretty scary at night when the wind is howling around the fiberglass shelter shaking the hell out of it and it's pitch black outside. We did have one ripped off a mountain one winter. Lucky no one was in it. Overnight accommodations left a bit to be desired. Some MREs and a sleeping bag.

 

[RSIno1]

Got to see a few of those when I was a kid. My dad worked for Carrier as a tool engineer but they'd rotate sending engineers to oversee big jobs and make sure warranty claims weren't filed for on site damage.

 

[caryc]

Very interesting. I wonder how much money the owner of that helicopter made that day?

Looked like it sure beat hoisting them up there with a crane then trying to maneuver them into place.

 

[powder smoke]

Haven't seen much of that since 1970 when with the Air Mobile 101st.
Cool stuff looked like a smooth operation. ps

 

[Mike J]

I was impressed. It went really fast. A crane isn't bad for some things but this building is a warehouse for Amazon in Braselton, GA. It is 700,000 square feet IIRC. You would have spent a huge amount of time setting up and breaking down a crane to try to get to everything. Some other folks & I spent about 2 1/2 weeks cutting holes, setting curbs & getting the supply & return starter pieces in. A helper & I did all the final preparation to have everything ready for this to happen. When we got there at 4 a.m. that morning all we had to do was take off all the curb caps, remove them from the roof & we were ready to go. The helicopter got there a little before 8. It was a fast paced day.

 

[gramps]

I was impressed. It went really fast. A crane isn't bad for some things but this building is a warehouse for Amazon in Braselton, GA. It is 700,000 square feet IIRC. You would have spent a huge amount of time setting up and breaking down a crane to try to get to everything. Some other folks & I spent about 2 1/2 weeks cutting holes, setting curbs & getting the supply & return starter pieces in. A helper & I did all the final preparation to have everything ready for this to happen. When we got there at 4 a.m. that morning all we had to do was take off all the curb caps, remove them from the roof & we were ready to go. The helicopter got there a little before 8. It was a fast paced day.

Fast paced? :shock: Now there is an understatement! IMO :lol:
gramps