Jump to content

Aerial crane: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Clean-up/Corrections
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(41 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Sikorsky Skycrane carrying house bw.jpg|thumb|upright=1.14|A Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane carrying a house]]
[[File:Erickson Aircrane Gypsy Lady landing at Wagga Wagga Airport (cropped).jpg|thumb|The [[Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane]] has been in service for over five decades]]


An '''aerial crane''' or '''flying crane''' is a [[helicopter]] used to lift heavy loads. As aerial cranes, helicopters carry loads connected to long cables or slings in order to place heavy equipment when other methods are not available or economically feasible, or when the job must be accomplished in remote or inaccessible areas, such as the tops of tall buildings or the top of a hill or mountain, far from the nearest road. Helicopters were first used as aerial cranes in the 1950s, but it was not until the 1960s that the popularity of the use of them in the [[construction]] and other industries began to catch on. The most consistent use of helicopters as aerial cranes is in the [[logging]] industry to lift large trees out of rugged terrain where vehicles aren't able to reach, or where environmental concerns prohibit the buildings of roads.<ref>Stephens, Ernie. [http://www.avtoday.com/rw/commercial/heavylift/9023.html "Helicopter Training on the job: Flying the Line"]. ''Rotor & Wing''. March 2007. Accessed on 1 November 2008.</ref> These operations are referred to as '''longline''' because of the long, single sling line used to carry the load.<ref>Webster, L. F. ''The Wiley Dictionary of Civil Engineering and Construction''. New York: Wiley, 1997. ISBN 0-471-18115-3</ref>
An '''aerial crane''' or '''flying crane''' is a [[helicopter]] used to lift heavy or awkward loads. As aerial cranes, helicopters carry loads connected to long cables or slings in order to place heavy equipment when other methods are not available or economically feasible, or when the job must be accomplished in remote or inaccessible areas, such as the tops of tall buildings or the top of a hill or mountain, far from the nearest road. Helicopters were first used as aerial cranes in the 1950s, but it was not until the 1960s that their popularity in [[construction]] and other industries began to catch on. The most consistent use of helicopters as aerial cranes is in the [[logging]] industry to lift large trees out of rugged terrain where vehicles are not able to reach, or where environmental concerns prohibit roadbuilding.<ref>Stephens, Ernie. [http://www.avtoday.com/rw/commercial/heavylift/9023.html "Helicopter Training on the job: Flying the Line"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120719175721/http://www.avtoday.com/rw/commercial/heavylift/9023.html |date=2012-07-19 }}. ''Rotor & Wing''. March 2007. Accessed on 1 November 2008.</ref> These operations are referred to as '''longline''' because of the long, single sling line used to carry the load.<ref>Webster, L. F. ''The Wiley Dictionary of Civil Engineering and Construction''. New York: Wiley, 1997. {{ISBN|0-471-18115-3}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2012}}
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2016}}


[[Bell 47]] helicopters were the first, lightweight aerial cranes to be used in the early 1950s. Unfortunately, due to the helicopter's limited power, it was never capable of carrying more than just a few hundred pounds of cargo. In the 1960s, the [[Sikorsky S-58]] replaced the Bell 47 because of its larger power margin. Even today, S-58s can be found carrying medium-size loads. The 1960s also brought the [[Bell 204/205#Derivatives|Bell 211 ''HueyTug'']], a specially produced commercial version of the UH-1C for lifting medium loads, and even the popular [[Bell 206]] was used for light loads. But there continued to be a demand for aircraft able to lift even larger loads
[[Bell 47]] helicopters were the first, lightweight aerial cranes to be used in the early 1950s. It was never capable of carrying more than a few hundred pounds of cargo. In the 1960s, the [[Sikorsky S-58]] replaced the Bell 47 because of its larger power margin. Even today, S-58s can be found carrying medium-size loads. The 1960s also brought the [[Bell 204/205#Derivatives|Bell 211 ''HueyTug'']], a specially produced commercial version of the UH-1C for lifting medium loads, and even the popular [[Bell 206]] was used for light loads. But there continued to be a demand for aircraft able to lift even larger loads


Larger helicopters became commercially available after the [[Vietnam War]] as helicopter manufacturers focused on selling commercial versions of their military aircraft. For instance, [[Boeing Helicopters|Boeing Vertol]] [[CH-46 Sea Knight|Model 107]] and [[CH-47 Chinook|Model 234]] aircraft have been used to carry even heavier payloads than their lighter predecessors. But the heaviest loads required a pure aerial crane. The answer came from [[Sikorsky Aircraft|Sikorsky]]'s [[S-64 Skycrane]]. Originally produced for the military as the [[CH-54 Tarhe]] for heavy lifting of downed aircraft and artillery pieces, the S-64 Skycrane was nothing more than just enough airframe to attach two powerful engines, the main and tail rotors and transmissions, a cockpit, and a [[Cargo hook (helicopter)|cargo hook]] and winch system.
Larger helicopters became commercially available after the [[Vietnam War]] as helicopter manufacturers focused on selling commercial versions of their military aircraft. For instance, [[Boeing Helicopters|Boeing Vertol]] [[CH-46 Sea Knight|Model 107]] and [[CH-47 Chinook|Model 234]] aircraft have been used to carry even heavier payloads than their lighter predecessors. But the heaviest loads required a pure aerial crane. The answer came from [[Sikorsky Aircraft|Sikorsky]]'s [[S-64 Skycrane]].<ref>[http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/S-64_Product_History%20modX.php S-64 Skycrane]-Retrieved 2016-09-05</ref> Originally produced for the military as the [[CH-54 Tarhe]] for heavy lifting of downed aircraft and artillery pieces, the S-64 Skycrane was nothing more than just enough airframe to attach two powerful engines, the main and tail rotors and transmissions, a cockpit, and a [[Cargo hook (helicopter)|cargo hook]] and winch system.


Skycranes were used in 1972 when the Chesapeake Bay Bridge connecting Maryland and the Eastern Shore was being built to bring concrete and other supplies to the construction site. In 1993, an Erickson aerial Skycrane, normally used for hauling lumber in Oregon, was used to remove the “Statue of Freedom” from the top of the Capitol dome in Washington, D.C. The statue was placed on the ground while it was being cleaned and restored before being gently returned to the top of the dome, once again with a Skycrane.
Skycranes were used in 1972 when the Chesapeake Bay Bridge connecting Maryland and the Eastern Shore was being built to bring concrete and other supplies to the construction site. In 1993, an Erickson aerial Skycrane, normally used for hauling lumber in Oregon, was used to remove the “Statue of Freedom” from the top of the Capitol dome in Washington, D.C. The statue was placed on the ground while it was being cleaned and restored before being gently returned to the top of the dome, once again with a Skycrane.
Line 15: Line 15:


* [[Kaman K-MAX]]
* [[Kaman K-MAX]]
* [[Kamov Ka-26]]
* [[Kamov Ka-27]]
* [[Kamov Ka-27|Kamov Ka-32K]]
* [[Kamov Ka-226]]
* [[Mil Mi-10]]
* [[Mil Mi-10]]
* [[Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave]]
* [[Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave]]
* [[Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe]]
* [[Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe]]
* [[Sikorsky S-60]]
* [[Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane]]
* [[Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane]]

== Companies using aerial cranes ==
This is a list of companies that have used aerial cranes in their operations.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Company
! Aircraft
! Country
|-
| [http://www.air-crane.com/index.php Canadian Air Crane] (now part of [[Erickson Air-Crane]]) || [[Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane|Erickson S-64E and S-64F]] || Canada
|-
| [[Carson Helicopters]] || [[Sikorsky S-61]] || United States
|-
| [[Columbia Helicopters]] || [[CH-46 Sea Knight|Boeing Vertol 107-II]] || United States
|-
| [[Columbia Helicopters]] || [[CH-47 Chinook|Boeing 234]] || United States
|-
| Construction Helicopters, Inc. || [[Sikorsky S-61|Sikorsky S-61N]] || United States
|-
| Construction Helicopters, Inc. || [[Sikorsky H-34|S-58T]] || United States
|-
| Construction Helicopters, Inc. || [[Bell 206|B206L4]] || United States
|-
| Construction Helicopters, Inc. || [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1B]] || United States
|-
| [[Croman Corporation]] || Sikorsky S-61 || United States
|-
| [[Erickson Air-Crane]] || Erickson S-64 Aircrane || United States
|-
| [[Evergreen International Aviation|Evergreen Helicopters, Inc.]] || Erickson S-64 Skycrane || United States
|-
| [[Evergreen International Aviation|Evergreen Helicopters, Inc.]] || Sikorsky S-61 || United States
|-
| [[Heavy Lift Helicopters]] || [[CH-54 Tarhe]] || United States
|-
| [[Heavy Lift Helicopters]] || [[CH-53 Sea Stallion]] || United States
|-
| [[Swanson Group Aviation]] || [[Kaman K-MAX]] || United States
|-
| [[Swanson Group Aviation]] || [[Aérospatiale Lama]] || United States
|}


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* Day, Dwayne A. [http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Rotary/skycranes/HE13.htm "Skycranes"]. (web essay). Centennial of Flight Commission. Accessed on 12 October 2008.
* Day, Dwayne A. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070409021135/http://centennialofflight.gov/essay/Rotary/skycranes/HE13.htm "Skycranes"]. (web essay). Centennial of Flight Commission. Accessed on 12 October 2008.
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


{{authority control}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.ericksonaircrane.com/ Erickson Air-Crane]
* [http://www.evergreenaviation.com/EHI/index.html Evergreen Helicopters, Inc.]
* [http://www.constructionhelicopters.com/ Construction Helicopters Inc]


[[Category:Helicopters]]
[[Category:Helicopters]]

Latest revision as of 22:54, 3 April 2024

The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane has been in service for over five decades

An aerial crane or flying crane is a helicopter used to lift heavy or awkward loads. As aerial cranes, helicopters carry loads connected to long cables or slings in order to place heavy equipment when other methods are not available or economically feasible, or when the job must be accomplished in remote or inaccessible areas, such as the tops of tall buildings or the top of a hill or mountain, far from the nearest road. Helicopters were first used as aerial cranes in the 1950s, but it was not until the 1960s that their popularity in construction and other industries began to catch on. The most consistent use of helicopters as aerial cranes is in the logging industry to lift large trees out of rugged terrain where vehicles are not able to reach, or where environmental concerns prohibit roadbuilding.[1] These operations are referred to as longline because of the long, single sling line used to carry the load.[2]

History

[edit]

Bell 47 helicopters were the first, lightweight aerial cranes to be used in the early 1950s. It was never capable of carrying more than a few hundred pounds of cargo. In the 1960s, the Sikorsky S-58 replaced the Bell 47 because of its larger power margin. Even today, S-58s can be found carrying medium-size loads. The 1960s also brought the Bell 211 HueyTug, a specially produced commercial version of the UH-1C for lifting medium loads, and even the popular Bell 206 was used for light loads. But there continued to be a demand for aircraft able to lift even larger loads

Larger helicopters became commercially available after the Vietnam War as helicopter manufacturers focused on selling commercial versions of their military aircraft. For instance, Boeing Vertol Model 107 and Model 234 aircraft have been used to carry even heavier payloads than their lighter predecessors. But the heaviest loads required a pure aerial crane. The answer came from Sikorsky's S-64 Skycrane.[3] Originally produced for the military as the CH-54 Tarhe for heavy lifting of downed aircraft and artillery pieces, the S-64 Skycrane was nothing more than just enough airframe to attach two powerful engines, the main and tail rotors and transmissions, a cockpit, and a cargo hook and winch system.

Skycranes were used in 1972 when the Chesapeake Bay Bridge connecting Maryland and the Eastern Shore was being built to bring concrete and other supplies to the construction site. In 1993, an Erickson aerial Skycrane, normally used for hauling lumber in Oregon, was used to remove the “Statue of Freedom” from the top of the Capitol dome in Washington, D.C. The statue was placed on the ground while it was being cleaned and restored before being gently returned to the top of the dome, once again with a Skycrane.

Purpose-designed aircraft

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stephens, Ernie. "Helicopter Training on the job: Flying the Line" Archived 2012-07-19 at archive.today. Rotor & Wing. March 2007. Accessed on 1 November 2008.
  2. ^ Webster, L. F. The Wiley Dictionary of Civil Engineering and Construction. New York: Wiley, 1997. ISBN 0-471-18115-3
  3. ^ S-64 Skycrane-Retrieved 2016-09-05
  • Day, Dwayne A. "Skycranes". (web essay). Centennial of Flight Commission. Accessed on 12 October 2008.