Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:27 pm
The Yl-37 guys are good friends of mine. They keep the choppers on a 1800ft grass strip in Inola, Ok. YL-37 is the original scheme for the H-34 and its restored back to original config with operational hoist and everything. Its a great thing that they do with their helicopters as they take them to schools and events around the state and educate people on the history involved.
That Pop A Smoke convention was a ton of fun, I was in one of the helicopters playing nanny to a current USMC photographer. We flew thru downtown ft worth and turned the convention center parking lot into an LZ.
Jason
That Pop A Smoke convention was a ton of fun, I was in one of the helicopters playing nanny to a current USMC photographer. We flew thru downtown ft worth and turned the convention center parking lot into an LZ.
Jason
Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:28 pm
I was a U.S. Border Patrol Agent for about 5 years. Where I was (San Diego) we had several OH-6's, MD500E's, MD600N's and one UH-1. The OH-6's and the Huey were Vietnam veterans. Two of the OH-6's even had bullet hole patches from their Vietnam time. The pilots always prefered the OH-6's over the MD's even though they were newer. The pilots said the little birds were faster and more manueverable.
It used to break my heart when I'd have to go fly as the observer with the pilots! LOL I loved flying with the ex military pilots. They were always the ones that flew down real low. Nothing like flying along the beach just about the waves at night or chasing illegal aliens a bush top level with a turbine helo! YEEEEE HAAAAAA!
Here's some pics of the birds I got to fly in. Unfortunately I didn't get to fly in the UH-1.
It used to break my heart when I'd have to go fly as the observer with the pilots! LOL I loved flying with the ex military pilots. They were always the ones that flew down real low. Nothing like flying along the beach just about the waves at night or chasing illegal aliens a bush top level with a turbine helo! YEEEEE HAAAAAA!
Here's some pics of the birds I got to fly in. Unfortunately I didn't get to fly in the UH-1.
Great Pics
Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:21 pm
Nice pics .... thank you for sharing
R4, R5, R6
Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:07 pm
Is anybody restoring any of these to flight condition? I'd love to do an R-4- tube and rag, radial engine. Any projects out there?
Re: R4, R5, R6
Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:17 am
Note to self- wooden rotor blades with 60 year old glue joints. Build new ones!Forgotten Field wrote:Is anybody restoring any of these to flight condition? I'd love to do an R-4- tube and rag, radial engine. Any projects out there?
Yanks has a project (no fabric) on display in Chino.
Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:26 am
Here's your chance to purchase some warbird helos:
**http://www.barnstormers.com/cat.php?PHPSESSID=c638d6032719f4296a3d5f0cd73865b5**
UH-1H PARTS & AIRCRAFT • FOR IMMEDIATE SALE • For sale are 4 UH-1H aircraft and related component parts. These aircraft are currently disassembled to varying degrees. Some components with records, some without. 7 engines are available including 2 -22's. Available as a complete package or parts. From Venezuelan Air Force. Perfect for Public Use. • VISIT MY WEBSITE [this takes you to: http://www.aerotechus.com/]• Contact Brian L. Ingraham - AERO TECH located Seabrook, TX USA • Telephone: 713-429-4334 • Fax: 713-439-1665 • Posted February 23, 2007
The ad above is incorrect in that these are from the Venezuelan Air Force, because these choppers come from the Venezuelan Army.
How do I know? Well, they happen to be stored in a hangar a few feet from my apartment in Texas, I have seen them and photographed them.
Saludos,
Tulio
**http://www.barnstormers.com/cat.php?PHPSESSID=c638d6032719f4296a3d5f0cd73865b5**
UH-1H PARTS & AIRCRAFT • FOR IMMEDIATE SALE • For sale are 4 UH-1H aircraft and related component parts. These aircraft are currently disassembled to varying degrees. Some components with records, some without. 7 engines are available including 2 -22's. Available as a complete package or parts. From Venezuelan Air Force. Perfect for Public Use. • VISIT MY WEBSITE [this takes you to: http://www.aerotechus.com/]• Contact Brian L. Ingraham - AERO TECH located Seabrook, TX USA • Telephone: 713-429-4334 • Fax: 713-439-1665 • Posted February 23, 2007
The ad above is incorrect in that these are from the Venezuelan Air Force, because these choppers come from the Venezuelan Army.
How do I know? Well, they happen to be stored in a hangar a few feet from my apartment in Texas, I have seen them and photographed them.
Saludos,
Tulio
Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:43 pm
Wasn't the CAF planning on restoring an R-4 to flight until they realized it was near impossible to find the right engine?
Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:22 pm
The 180 hp Warner 550 might be a hard unit to find...but I'm sure it was used elsewhere....ground vehicles, APUs?
But after looking at an uncovered wooden blade (NASM? NMUSAF?)
I'd think those would be even a bigger issue. Not simple a piece of carved wood, they're a wooden frame covered with fabric...not unlike an old wing.
After seeing the time/work it took to make a set of 4 tapered ailerons for a friends Boeing 40 project...I'd really expect the blades to be the show stopper on an authentic R-4 flying restoration.
But after looking at an uncovered wooden blade (NASM? NMUSAF?)
I'd think those would be even a bigger issue. Not simple a piece of carved wood, they're a wooden frame covered with fabric...not unlike an old wing.
After seeing the time/work it took to make a set of 4 tapered ailerons for a friends Boeing 40 project...I'd really expect the blades to be the show stopper on an authentic R-4 flying restoration.
R4
Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:48 pm
Problems with R-4's that I see
Warner 180 HP
Blades
Gear box
The gearbox on an R-4 is about the size of a WWII Jeep transmission, and I have only seen one laying by itself, so I am sure it has some really wonderful complicated drive shafts or couplers which attach it to the rotor and tail rotor system. I have never seen an R-4 engine come up for sale. The blades would also not be easy- I believe they were a wood spar, wood ribs, and plywood and fabric covering. As easy to build as a CG-4A wing.
Just a pipe dream, I guess, but the R-4 was a VERY important early success that led us into larger helicopter experimentation and production.
Warner 180 HP
Blades
Gear box
The gearbox on an R-4 is about the size of a WWII Jeep transmission, and I have only seen one laying by itself, so I am sure it has some really wonderful complicated drive shafts or couplers which attach it to the rotor and tail rotor system. I have never seen an R-4 engine come up for sale. The blades would also not be easy- I believe they were a wood spar, wood ribs, and plywood and fabric covering. As easy to build as a CG-4A wing.
Just a pipe dream, I guess, but the R-4 was a VERY important early success that led us into larger helicopter experimentation and production.
Sat Feb 24, 2007 2:34 pm
Tulio wrote:Here's your chance to purchase some warbird helos:
**http://www.barnstormers.com/cat.php?PHPSESSID=c638d6032719f4296a3d5f0cd73865b5**
UH-1H PARTS & AIRCRAFT • FOR IMMEDIATE SALE • For sale are 4 UH-1H aircraft and related component parts. These aircraft are currently disassembled to varying degrees. Some components with records, some without. 7 engines are available including 2 -22's. Available as a complete package or parts. From Venezuelan Air Force. Perfect for Public Use. • VISIT MY WEBSITE [this takes you to: http://www.aerotechus.com/]• Contact Brian L. Ingraham - AERO TECH located Seabrook, TX USA • Telephone: 713-429-4334 • Fax: 713-439-1665 • Posted February 23, 2007
The ad above is incorrect in that these are from the Venezuelan Air Force, because these choppers come from the Venezuelan Army.
How do I know? Well, they happen to be stored in a hangar a few feet from my apartment in Texas, I have seen them and photographed them.
Saludos,
Tulio
With all the crop dusting UH-1's here in Ca, it wouldn't suprise me if they go in that direction as compared to a museum or private collector grabbing them.
Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:12 pm
Hey Vulture,
Great topic, helo's are one of the most overlooked of the warbird family. Nice to see them get some attention.
Brian...
Bit O’ History:
May 11 1954: TOS by the RCN going to VH21 Shearwater as RCN 945. Delivered in US Army markings.
Oct 26 1954: Involved in a 8.5 hour rescue to evacuate injure lighthouse keeper from St Paul’s Island in the Cabot Straight. The Pilot was later awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
March 1955: re-numbered RCN245
Apr 55: Plane guard duties on the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent
Sept 11 1956: accident aboard the HMCS Labrador sustaining some damage to the belly of the aircraft.
Mar 21 57: HMCS Shearwater / HU21 Sqn
Jul 16 1958: To VU-33 Patricia Bay BC Re-numbered 621
May 18 1960: Avenger Taxied into aircraft Cat C accident
Jan 18 64: SOS. Official last flight of all 3 HUPs on Feb 28 64, as of Dec 2/63 1631:02 hours.
1964:-82 Pacific Vocational Institute Burnaby BC. Kept in running shape.
Feb 17 1982: Donated to the Canadian Museum of Flight and repainted in VU-33 markings.
Can’t remember the year: The Canadian Museum of Flight sold HUP to Classic Rotors in the US in trade for a piece of crap ex-US military HUP (which is now at the Shearwater museum) and some cash. The CMF also threw in a Brantley and a Piasecki/Vertol 44B ex-Vertol demonstrator that was blessed by Pop John XXIII.
It was a sad day when the CMF sold that HUP, I was sad to see it go.
Great topic, helo's are one of the most overlooked of the warbird family. Nice to see them get some attention.
Brian...
Vulture wrote:Thank you for your MSGs ... I noticed a RCN on that site provided, does anyone have any information on the ex-Royal Canadian Navy HUP-3 on the Classic Rotors site?
Bit O’ History:
May 11 1954: TOS by the RCN going to VH21 Shearwater as RCN 945. Delivered in US Army markings.
Oct 26 1954: Involved in a 8.5 hour rescue to evacuate injure lighthouse keeper from St Paul’s Island in the Cabot Straight. The Pilot was later awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
March 1955: re-numbered RCN245
Apr 55: Plane guard duties on the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent
Sept 11 1956: accident aboard the HMCS Labrador sustaining some damage to the belly of the aircraft.
Mar 21 57: HMCS Shearwater / HU21 Sqn
Jul 16 1958: To VU-33 Patricia Bay BC Re-numbered 621
May 18 1960: Avenger Taxied into aircraft Cat C accident
Jan 18 64: SOS. Official last flight of all 3 HUPs on Feb 28 64, as of Dec 2/63 1631:02 hours.
1964:-82 Pacific Vocational Institute Burnaby BC. Kept in running shape.
Feb 17 1982: Donated to the Canadian Museum of Flight and repainted in VU-33 markings.
Can’t remember the year: The Canadian Museum of Flight sold HUP to Classic Rotors in the US in trade for a piece of crap ex-US military HUP (which is now at the Shearwater museum) and some cash. The CMF also threw in a Brantley and a Piasecki/Vertol 44B ex-Vertol demonstrator that was blessed by Pop John XXIII.
It was a sad day when the CMF sold that HUP, I was sad to see it go.
Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:33 am
That Piasecki Retriever looks very sweet. Any projects available on the market ?
Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:11 am
I know the CAF had the R4 project but could not find the parts for a flying restoration. Anybody know whar happened to the rest of the project?
Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:13 pm
MAAM's HH-52 flew up until about 3 years ago, 2 or 3 times a year. The only thing keeping it grounded is it's need for a new igniter
Re: R4
Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:39 am
Forgotten Field wrote:Problems with R-4's that I see
Warner 180 HP
Blades
Gear box
The gearbox on an R-4 is about the size of a WWII Jeep transmission, and I have only seen one laying by itself, so I am sure it has some really wonderful complicated drive shafts or couplers which attach it to the rotor and tail rotor system. I have never seen an R-4 engine come up for sale. The blades would also not be easy- I believe they were a wood spar, wood ribs, and plywood and fabric covering. As easy to build as a CG-4A wing.
Just a pipe dream, I guess, but the R-4 was a VERY important early success that led us into larger helicopter experimentation and production.
One of my desires if I ever win the Lottery is to create a replica R-4 using an existing , newer helicopter powerplant, transmission and rotors. It wouldn't be totally authentic, but you could fly it safely. Believe it or not, the early piston engined version of the French Alouette as well as a Bell 47 are within very close proximity to the rotor diameter and length of an R-4.
Sacrilege, I know, putting a Sikorsky in the air with French or even, God forbid, Bell parts, but I think it would be neat. You'd also be able to carry more than two, 160lbs, people!
Jerry