Helicopter Question: Wire Cutters?
jack...@ptw.com
Many helicopters have 'blades' that are supposed to prevent entanglement
in aerial wires. Are these supposed to cut the wires or simply catch
them to prevent tangling?
Regards,
JR
Dissatisfied_taxpayer@myhome
They are to cut the wires. Usually up to 1/2" high tensile wires. To
catch the wires does no good. They are designed to cut using a
hardened point at the base of the cutter. Actually they are in two
parts. The catcher: Which is the big spike that looks like an
antenna, and a blade assembly near the base. The wires have to be cut
or they will damge or cut a control tube causing a loss of control.
cool shots
They are a Canadian Invention and they are supposed to cut the wire What
would be the use of only catching the wire?
W gilson
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1747
M Benton
The WSPS (Wire Strike Protection System) on my helicopter is designed to
cut wires. This is usually only successful if the wire is not too slack
and if it is hit generally at a 90 degree angle. Along the center of
the front of the helicopter there is a sawtooth that is supposed to
"score" the wire so it is weaker when it wedges into the actual cutting
area. I have never been so lucky as to test it myself but I here it
does work. :-) Hope that helps some.
Mike Benton
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Ralph Jones
jack...@ptw.com wrote:
> Many helicopters have 'blades' that are supposed to prevent
> entanglement
> in aerial wires. Are these supposed to cut the wires or simply catch
> them to prevent tangling?
They are definitely cutters. If your helicopter hits a wire and doesn't
cut it, you're still in deep yogurt.
rj
Paul F. Ponte
Ralph Jones <rnj...@teal.csn.net> wrote in article
<33E21E57...@teal.csn.net>...
> > in aerial wires. Are these supposed to cut the wires or simply catch
> > them to prevent tangling?
>
> They are definitely cutters. If your helicopter hits a wire and doesn't
> cut it, you're still in deep yogurt.
>
> rj
>
>
I work for an Army helicopter unit. A couple of years ago, one of our
UH-60's flew into some nearly-invisible high-tension electric lines. The
wire cutters sliced right through three very thick cables and the bird
landed safely and later flew home by itself. On inspection back in the
hangar, we found that the high-voltage of these lines had melted some
parts, burned others, and actually arc-welded at least one bearing in its
socket. The crew of that ship will gladly tell you that the wire cutters
saved their lives that day.
Will Chabun
Dissatisfied_taxpayer@myhome wrote:
>
> They are to cut the wires. Usually up to 1/2" high tensile wires. To
> catch the wires does no good. They are designed to cut using a
> hardened point at the base of the cutter.
In an article on helos vs. wires in the most recent issue of Aviation
Quarterly magazine, it was mentioned that this system was developed by an
engineer at Bristol Aerospace's facility in Winnipeg in the mid-1970s.
The Canadian Forces had requested the gadget after losing a Kiowa
to an uncharted wire during earthquake relief work in Italy around 1973,
IIRC. I know I saw a kit fitted onto a CF 444 Squadron Kiowa in Lahr in
1980; a pilot said it was quite new at the time.
wjc
Fum
Judging from the shape of the forward "blade" on the Apache immediately
ahead of the gun turret it appears that it is certainly intended to "cut".
The blade is angled down and forward, thus it would guide the cable up and
towards the fuselage. Immediately below the fuselage where the "blade" is
attached the edge leads down and back to a deep slot in the "blade". Thus a
cable would be guided into the slot and then cut.
Marc Smith
jack...@ptw.com wrote in article <33E13C...@ptw.com>...
>Many helicopters have 'blades' that are supposed to prevent entanglement
>in aerial wires. Are these supposed to cut the wires or simply catch
>them to prevent tangling?
>
>Regards,
>
>JR
X58Guy
Talk about been there done that! I was the C/E and left seater in a
flight of three. We were chalk two. The lead aircraft was NOE along a
river and was about to over fly a bridge. The PC saw the wires on the far
side of the bridge but NOT the ones on the near side. The warnings from
the third aircraft were a bit too late. It was the most beautiful things
I have ever seen. The cut was so clean that the wires gracefully floated
away from the aircraft. No damage done to the aircraft (luckly) but a
small town went with out power for a while. A very tense and scarey
moment, but very cool too!>Subject: Re: Helicopter Question: Wire Cutters?