Helicopters / Seaplanes on Yachts

This is a thread on Delta Marine's 164' Expedition Yacht "TRITON", which you can use as reference.
Triton has an EC130 copter:
* Max Weight : 5,291lb
* Capacity : 1 Pilot + 6/7 Passengers
* Power Plant : 1 Turbomeca ARRIEL 2B1
* Fast Cruise Speed : 235km/hr-127kts

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/delta-yacht/3477-review-deltas-164-expedition-triton.html?highlight=triton

I assume similar gross-weight helicopters from other manufacturers can be used (for ex. AgustaWestland, BellTextron).

Another one is Schweer's 194' "SENSES" also has a helipad, and her specs states: "Helicopter facilities certified to a maximum of 2.5 tonnes."

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/new-custom-classic-unique-yacht/161-schweers-yachts-senses-59m.html?highlight=senses

The above are just examples, and I remember one superyacht that had a Sikorsky on it's helipad (not sure about the model, though).

Yeah, I remember that, it was a robinson R22 or R44.

Found the link
http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3447

My mistake it isn't an R22 or R44 must have been another picture I remember looking at.

Having operated a Cessna 206 and then 208 Caravan from a yacht for many years all over the world the advantages are clear. 2 tonne payload, 140 knots cruise and 900 mile range come in pretty handy.

On the other hand I cannot deny that the MD900 I am currently involved with is perfect for short trips for arrivals and departures.

You could put a 208 and say a R44 on a 70m yacht. Wingspan of a 208 is 57 feet but it doesn't matter that the wings protrude beyond the yachts beam so a 12m yacht beam is OK . Draft would be 4 to 4.5 metres depending on how much MGO you want to carry.

Well, here's a random thought. As Eric said, stern launching a seaplane results in the easiest handling. However, assuming insufficient beam for a full hanger, that does leave the plane stowed exposed at the stern of the yacht. Given that planes are more delicate than boats, wouldn't it be better to stow the plane near the middle of the yacht? Even though this would mean providing a crane setup for putting the plane over the side. Thinking minimizing potential storm damage here.

Kelly Cook

Same wavelength alright. It was Navy seaplane practice that I had in mind.

Kelly

I honestly don't think a seaplane is the answer. Yes, it's faster and you can cruise hands-off, BUT... the limitations far outweigh the range and speed. A heli is the only dinghy that makes sense....

With a seaplane, you are limited in both take-off and landing conditions. You also have the difficulty in loading/unloading the plane from the deck. Adding to this... trying to unload a pilot or passengers from a seaplane to a yacht will most likely result in someone getting wet. The wings are slightly wider than the pontoons.

I have to admit, my only experience with a seaplane is limited to a Buccaneer Ultralight with floats... quite possibly the best bang for the buck in aviation history and a heck of a lot of fun to fly low & slow. A heli on the other hand offers much greater convenience, at the cost of speed and range. My only concern with a heli is its exposure to a demanding environment. I kept my R-22 inside a hangar. Typically, you don't have that luxury on a yacht, but of all the places... this is where it's needed the most. Offshore conditions are far more severe than those found onshore... even 100 yards inshore. Salt and sun will take it's toll on any machine, whether it be car, boat or plane. With a heli, you've got lots of exposed moving parts, specifically unprotected steel and alloy components, that are critical links. However, with diligent maintenance, none of this is a concern.

Getting back your question... "seaplane or heli"... in my mind (what's left of it after 45 years)... a helicopter is the only logical solution. However, if you really need an S-61... I suggest purchasing a surplass aircraft carrier! All joking aside, the S-61 is among the most proven and capable helicopters in the world. It's absolutely astonishing, given it's size and weight, it's capable of rolling (due to a rigid rotor head). VERY few heli's can do this, such as the Bolkow 105 and select others.

You don't need to choose a heli the size of an S-61 for amphibean capabilities. There are floats available (or pop-outs if needed) for any machine. Yes, they will hinder your cruise speed, but they truly expand the usefulness of the machine. Just be prepared to swing when you spool-up.

Let us know what you decide on. Post a picture, or take us for a spin. YF rules.

Yup. I wus thinking a chopper is much more practical myself. I would guess that the one solid advantage of the seaplane is range. But even that would only come into play in really remote territory. Back in civilization the chopper could make the same trip with a refuelling stop?

Kelly

Big Choppers and planes.

You will need to check your deck calcs, clearances and such. The skidded/pontooned choppers require less structure as their wieght is distributed over the skid. Wheeled Landing gears are point loads that generally require more structure, especially under class/MCA rules. Generally a deck for a wheeled chopper will be about 50% heavier than one for a skidded chopper. Then worst case senario, emergency landing, uses chopper weight x 2.5 for load calcs. So with the larger chopper these numbers get big quickly. I think the pad then should probably be main deck aft or over a fully enclosed deck. A bird that big would make an overhanging deck too massive.

Are there any planes that can be fitted with pontoons that might have removable or foldable wing structures? The Navy does this, granted, they usually fold up and clearance in the aircraft carriers are not that critical. If the wings could be folded or rotated to be longitudinal with the fuselage it would make things soo much easier.

Regards,
Peter

You might want to take a look at AgustaWestland's BA609 Tilt-Rotor Aircraft.
Max take Off 7631 kg 16800 lb
Max Useful Load 2500 kg 5512 lb
Engine Rating (2 x Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67A)
Crew - Pilot / Passengers 2 / 9
Length : Overall - 13.30 m
Width : Overall - 18.30 m
Height : 4.50 m
This seems to be "lighter" than an S-61/SH-3, which has a max take off wt. of approx. 9700 kg.
You definitely need a "large" yacht to support either aircraft's weight.

Just a suggestion

How about a WIG Tender?

More robust than a heli, fast as a Sea plane and much more fule efficient to boot.



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