[High-Tech/Vehicles] Rugged, Simple SAR/Medevac Helicopters

thrash · 04-07-2020, 10:11 PM

Just some quick notes, in no particular order:

Salt water ingestion is the primary maintenance impact on turbine helicopters in over-water operations. Since the alloy surfaces that are most vulnerable to corrosion are also the ones that have to be exposed for heat control, etc., the only solution is to wash the engines down with fresh water on a frequent basis. (This also applies to operating in volcanic ash, which might be a thing in a supernatural campaign.)

Twin engines are the most important feature for over-water operations. This is why the Marines use UH-1N's and SuperCobras.

Skid-equipped helicopters have ground handling wheels that attach to the skids and raise them off the deck using hydraulic hand pumps or levers. They get used all the time for things like pushing in and out of hangars, so deck handling is not significantly different.

A two blade, semi-rigid rotor system (like a Huey or a Jet Ranger) is relatively easy to tie down and stow. It's only when you get into four-blade rotor systems that you have to worry about folding blades.

Most of the helicopters flown to oil rigs in the Gulf are (or were) Bell Jet Ranger variants. For special ops, don't forget that 160 SOAR uses MH-6/AH-6, which are military MD500 variants and have a lineage going back to the LOH in Vietnam.

Even with auxiliary tanks, helicopters based on the US gulf coast aren't going to be able to reach the Caribbean islands. You're probably better off basing in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, or even Haiti (if it doesn't have to be US territory). Great Circle Mapper has some useful tools for showing operational ranges from airports (which it will also find for you) or geo coordinates.

Any ship with a flat, unobstructed deck can work as a tender. An old LST is ideal, but I'd suggest looking for an open-deck, ocean-going ferry -- one with most of the superstructure to the rear. There are usually a half-dozen suitable ones for sale used at any given time worldwide, for a couple of million dollars (depending on size and condition). This also allows you to carry and deliver ground vehicles in shallow water or to minimally prepared docks.

04-07-2020, 10:11 PM	#37
thrash Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: traveller	Re: [High-Tech/Vehicles] Rugged, Simple SAR/Medevac Helicopters Just some quick notes, in no particular order: Salt water ingestion is the primary maintenance impact on turbine helicopters in over-water operations. Since the alloy surfaces that are most vulnerable to corrosion are also the ones that have to be exposed for heat control, etc., the only solution is to wash the engines down with fresh water on a frequent basis. (This also applies to operating in volcanic ash, which might be a thing in a supernatural campaign.) Twin engines are the most important feature for over-water operations. This is why the Marines use UH-1N's and SuperCobras. Skid-equipped helicopters have ground handling wheels that attach to the skids and raise them off the deck using hydraulic hand pumps or levers. They get used all the time for things like pushing in and out of hangars, so deck handling is not significantly different. A two blade, semi-rigid rotor system (like a Huey or a Jet Ranger) is relatively easy to tie down and stow. It's only when you get into four-blade rotor systems that you have to worry about folding blades. Most of the helicopters flown to oil rigs in the Gulf are (or were) Bell Jet Ranger variants. For special ops, don't forget that 160 SOAR uses MH-6/AH-6, which are military MD500 variants and have a lineage going back to the LOH in Vietnam. Even with auxiliary tanks, helicopters based on the US gulf coast aren't going to be able to reach the Caribbean islands. You're probably better off basing in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, or even Haiti (if it doesn't have to be US territory). Great Circle Mapper has some useful tools for showing operational ranges from airports (which it will also find for you) or geo coordinates. Any ship with a flat, unobstructed deck can work as a tender. An old LST is ideal, but I'd suggest looking for an open-deck, ocean-going ferry -- one with most of the superstructure to the rear. There are usually a half-dozen suitable ones for sale used at any given time worldwide, for a couple of million dollars (depending on size and condition). This also allows you to carry and deliver ground vehicles in shallow water or to minimally prepared docks.