Helicopters / Seaplanes on Yachts

This begs the question, what would the typical teardrop look if Lars took to the air!

We already have flying Wallys. The F-117!

To beat this design can´t be too hard. After the Stockholm Boat Show I´ll give it a try...

Hi,

If you are going to have a fixed structure on a boat I would say that it's width then becomes the vessels maximum beam.

Naval Architects/Designers please feel free to correct me on this.

I am building a 70 m vessel with helipad on the upper deck. The size of the helipads are under actual revision and probably the width of the helipad will be reduced from the actual 1D to 0,83D (D is the overall length of the helicopter with rotors turning). MCA has delegated this matter on the Helideck Certification Agency. I can tell you that we are experiencing some problems to place the helipad in the 70 m vessel.

Wasn´t the helipad in the original design brief then?

@K1W1

The widest point of vessel is the maximum beam yes. Sometimes though the beam of a vessel will only refer to the beam of the hull, excluding any protrusions such as rubrails and styling details.

@mp-willow: Having a wider than main hull (or at waterline hull) is most certainly feasable, but can have different effects when you start looking into styling and stability. First can be worked in, the second it can open a strange can of worms depending on exact placement and width with respect to the rest of the vessel. For a hanger for a fixed rotor craft, a multi-hull might be a better option!

Cheers,
Pete

I ask the same question?!?!?

But a lot of helipads are not a full 1D in width (am assuming the beam here). I know the rules vary with how the heli will be used so I would have look things up.

We are doing the preliminary design, hull lines, GA, tank testing, etc to start with the steel work in October. The helipad is just in development.

If you want a helipad fully operational and licenced you need the approval from the MCA; you can have an "helipad" that does not fullfill all the requirements, but will not be aproved.

It is my understanding that to be approved it must pass the crash rating of the aircraft used. A MD 500 or A-Star is a light bird, an S-76 is much heavier, adding that weight on a high deck could be a daunting task. What is the pad designed for?

Steve

The pad is designed for a MD Explorer. We have not started with the structure design and requirements for the helipad. For the moment we are solving the geometry, requiring the helipad to slide aft about 4 m in order to comply.

If you can move the pad 4 meter aft, it sounds as it was not in a good position anyway. Having open decks aft below will create problems with things flying around, so moving the helipad back or adding air deflectors will be needed in such a design. In your case it seems to be needed for free rotor space as well.

The main concern is to support the helipad when extended aft, because can't be just cantilever. I will post in this forum the final solution and pictures when available.

might help ?

Back in the early 90's, we mod. a 103' with a retractable aft flybridge for a mid. size chopper. Also a retractable swimplat. for a hovercraft.

Then, may be you can help us. Please send me a private message and we will talk about.

heli or float plane

I'm converting a 132 ft. North Sea trawler into an expedition yacht.

I'm planning to be able to carry either a heli or float plane.

As to the weight issue, my 2 alum. tenders weight more than either a Zenith CH 801 floatplane or a Bell Long ranger.

Yes, a heli has more flexibility but it's more expensive to operate and the range is limited. Good pilots with lots of hours are expensive too.

A floatplane yes, is cheaper (I'm looking at a Zenith or a Cessna 182) but you'll have wings sticking out and you need prettty flat water which quickly becomes a problem if you're not near coastal waters. A custom floating (inflatable) dock should take care of passengers getting in and out.

So, it really depends on where you plan to operate and how much $$ you have.

Good luck.

Thorwald Westmaas