Helicoptors

[Tonz]

do helicoptors have decent air conditioning? Reason is they would need it especially in Aus summers but? but?

[Charliewool]

Helicopters and aircon, huh?..Sounds like you’re been out in the sun Tonz!

[Tonz]

we had a grass fire nearby couple of days ago and then watching a couple today. My thinking...Id love a ride in ine but not in summer heat.

[Captain Stubing]

Are you forgetting about the big fan fitted on top, Tonz?

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by Captain Stubing

Are you forgetting about the big fan fitted on top, Tonz?

A common myth is that the rotors make them fly, when in reality, they just beat the air into submission.

[ford71V8]

No doors.
But you'll hang on so tight, you wont remember if you were too hot up there

[Itsme]

Been up in a few light planes in the summer heat, never really felt hot unless you keep all the windows shut, plenty of air flow vents to keep you reasonably cool.
Cannot imagine helicopter being different.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Itsme

Been up in a few light planes in the summer heat, never really felt hot unless you keep all the windows shut, plenty of air flow vents to keep you reasonably cool.
Cannot imagine helicopter being different.

Air's (generally) cooler at altitude. Helps a bit

The offset to that is the large canopy area. In my time in the Jabiru, the hottest part was ground ops, as you didn't get any air cooling, but you got lots of radiant heat through the canopy, especially on sunny days. We often operated on the ground in hot weather with the doors open prior to takeoff. Once airborne, things were fine.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0

Air's (generally) cooler at altitude. Helps a bit

The offset to that is the large canopy area. In my time in the Jabiru, the hottest part was ground ops, as you didn't get any air cooling, but you got lots of radiant heat through the canopy, especially on sunny days. We often operated on the ground in hot weather with the doors open prior to takeoff. Once airborne, things were fine.

Understand all that, last time in light plane was over Arnham & Kakadu in NT in their wet season, very hot & humid, the flight was bearable temperature wise.
Cheers

PS: I need to get the nerve to go up in a helicopter, hopefully will do it soon.

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by Captain Stubing

Are you forgetting about the big fan fitted on top, Tonz?

And doesnt that fan do a great job of keeping the crew cool! have you ever seen how much a chopper pilot sweats when that fan stops turning?

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Itsme

Understand all that, last time in light plane was over Arnham & Kakadu in NT in their wet season, very hot & humid, the flight was bearable temperature wise.
Cheers

PS: I need to get the nerve to go up in a helicopter, hopefully will do it soon.

Apologies, most of what I posted wasn't really aimed at you, per se, was just using your post as the starting point of my thoughts.

My best helicopter experience was when the RAAF officer training organisation first moved to Sale. My (defence) workplace was asked to supply volunteers to participate in an exercise the school was running out at the Dutson range. We were to act as friendly villagers displaced by aggressors. The trainee officers were to assess the situation and organise a medivac for us.

Jumped into the back of the S-76, flown out to Dutson (about 10 mins flight time) over the Gippsland Lakes and dropped over at the camp that a couple of the school's instructors had set up. Ate their rat packs for about an hour or so until the trainees rocked up, did a bit role playing whilst they did their bit, then jumped into the back of the chopper again for a ride home, this time with both side doors open and low level over the lakes.

Pretty cool way to spend the morning at 'work'. Taxpayers money hard at it

Just do it, Itsme, you'll love it!

[Cav]

Helicopters?

Just enjoy the view ...

[lra]

My first flight in a helicopter was an Iroquois (like Cav's above) as an observer in a RAAF SAR exercise looking for a 'body' in the water off Stockton Beach. ( Reality = a joy flight. )
On the ground warming up and pre-flight checks, the thing rattled and shook and clattered, and I am thinking "What have I got myself into." Took off, and suddenly all smooth and natural aircon, but still noisy.
Since then, whenever Missus and I get a chance for tourist sightseeing flights, yeah, you bet. Lots of out of the way places in SA and WA. Best flight was Uluru to Kings Canyon and back, with about 6 laps of Uluru and KataTjuta coming up to sunset.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Thought I'd share another helicopter experience.

Back in the early 2000s, I became the asset engineer for the ejection seat and life support gear on the raafs pc-9 fleet. The pc-9 is generally better known as the aircraft the roulettes aerobatic team flew. However, it's primary role was as a training aircraft, with 65 of them in four locations across the country.

The life support gear I looked after included the life-raft fitted to the ejection seat, oxygen masks, helmets, g-suits, the secumar self inflating life preserver, survival aids etc. I'd had experience with life support gear on different aircraft, but I wasn't familiar with some of the gear used on the pc-9.

So, to get a better appreciation, i joined some of the pilots in some water training. We made our way out to the Gippsland Lakes, donned our flying gear (sans the helmet as they don't really appreciate being dunked in water), jumped into the tinny, where we were taken out to some already inflated single-man life-rafts (as fitted in the ejection seat) and threw ourselves into the water. Our task, once the secumar had inflated, was to make our way to the life-raft, weighed down by our flying gear, and clamber into the life-raft, where we'd wait until the search and rescue chopper came to rescue us.

Once the chopper was above us, they'd lower the strop near us, we'd need to exit the life-raft, make our way to the strop, place it under our arms, give the thumbs up signal, and we'd be winched up to the chopper. We'd then grab a seat, and depending as to how many of your counterparts remained in the water, wait until they'd been picked up, and then the chopper would make its way back to shore.

Another tough day in the office.

Miss some of the experiences I had in defence.

[creative]

Some do, so yes...

My last, and only jaunt in one, had it...

[Cav]

Chopper winching out of mangrove swamps...

[Honest Gaza]

I would think that some do. I've had 3 Scenic Flights in Helicopters and have to say I never felt hot or cold during the flights.

Fiji - Doors off (so probably not)
Hawaii - had heating but not sure if that was reverse cycle Air Con
Grand Canyon - was a bloody hot day and we were comfortable in the Helicopter (so I'm guessing yes)