Yacht Helicopters

Thank you for point that out Gush. Again my last post focused primary on the weight issue, though my primary concern was too much weight up top. I kind of ignored other aspects involved in helicopter operation on yachts. Another problem with the Ilona hanger is that the size constrains imposed on the heli. If the owner wishes to upgrade, then the option is limited.

I didn’t know that the system has more than 70 hydraulic rams. I would figure that they can probably get away with less? Ecstasea has very similar heli hanger design at the bow, but it doesn’t get used a lot. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that it is a bit more difficult to land on the bow hanger rather than at the stern heli pad. Aside from a more difficult landing, I think the bow hanger solution on Ecstasea is the best hanger that I have seen. But a difficult landing also means a more dangerous landing, and safety should always be the first consideration. It’s a tough one. Octopussy of course has one of the most versatile hanger, but it requires both landing space and hanger space (two deck height no less), arguably the most reliable and robust implementation, but very expensive in terms of space.

There is an old thread that seems to have re-surfaced, all based on what's been said at the start of this one, V22 etc.

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/technical-discussion/4554-helicopters-seaplanes-yachts.html

Aggressive Maneuvers for Autonomous Quadrotor Flight

I know Carl has a fascination with helo's and when I saw this I said YES...got to post it:

Aggressive Maneuvers for Autonomous Quadrotor Flight
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7eJsvQ/www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvRTALJp8DM

Very cool! How are they doing that? Certainly not by hand/eye control I assume.

Won't let me edit my other posting so lets try this better link to that quadrotor


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvRTALJp8DM&feature=player_embedded#!

Serene Motor Yacht and other aircraft carriers

It's amazing to me how many yachts are out there that have helicopters on them. My interest in yachts really started with helicopters and then spread to yachts, after I just moved to Marina Del Rey in California.

I have seen a great deal of yachts in the meantime. Needless to say that the most fascinating ones have helicopters (among other toys like submarines, smaller boats, jetskis and so on) on them.

It started with the Plan B, then the Attessa IV, and most recently the Serene, which didn't even fit through the marina entrance. It stayed anchored outside the marina. I attached a few photos. The greatest part about the Serene is that you can lower the helipad one story down into a secret helicopter garage.

I took all these photos below - it's quite fascinating, I just had to share them with other people who like yachts (and choppers). To find more photos (didn't want to spam this post with all the photos), follow the links above the photos.

Meantime I will keep an eye on the boats out there in the marina.

Axel

(Mod Note; All website links and hotlinked pictures are removed.)

Lumix makes it happen

Thanks, Yacht News! I'm using the latest generation Panasonic Lumix ZS10 pocket camera. That's all I got. If you're going after helicopters (which I do as a hobby) it's key to have the camera handy at all times, helicopters come and go quickly. It's a bit better with yachts! Although they also tend to disappear as quickly as they appear. So I always have the camera on me. The night shots of the Attessa IV are done in "starry sky" mode, which lets you choose a shutter speed of 15, 30, or 60 seconds. I took those with 15 sec exposure, setting the camera right onto the dock, which is floating! I was lucky to catch a quiet night. For the Serene photos I used a lifeguard shack as tripod (you can see the sand came out real nice but I think the yacht moved around a bit during the 15 sec exposure) and also the 15sec cam settings. In all cases I had to take quite a few photos (with 2 sec self timer as to not ruin the shot while pressing the shutter) and pick out only the best ones.

I didn't know helicopters were allowed to take of so close between other yachts?

See video below:

Plan B helicopter take off - YouTube

Curious Q - Anyone experienced first hand of being in a Helo landing on a pitching deck be it in broad daylight or in the dark ? .

Lots of times on drillships in all kinds of seas. It is generally a daylight affair for safety reasons and I can't recall ever doing night ops.

We never did night landings on drill platforms (lot more stable), let along ships in SE Asia

Insurance companies would freak

Another helicopter landing on yacht in port

This time its attessa IV

Again a helicopter landing in a port on a yacht.

See video below:

Helo Landing on A-tesa 2012July - YouTube

Yes, she is in port, but appears to be pretty much on her own. That may be why it was allowed. Unless of course, it was an emergency med-evac or delivery of a doctor.

Hi,

In the attached photo the machine was turned around 180 Deg and flown off the pad and out of the shed.

Photo was taken Merrill Stevens in Miami in the early summer of 1988.