CH-148 Cyclone Progress

[SeaKingTacco]

To be fair, it does not happen often, but when it does, it is epically frustrating for us denizens of the aluminum tube, who sit sideways and do not have a window.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Picture from facebook of it doing hover refueling https://scontent.fyvr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/33104654_1853969121328476_3072633987403874304_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=e7ba1e41c0bdfcb2b43c58ce23781867&oe=5B8F617E

 

[SeaKingTacco]

HIFR

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Short video:  Not sure if it is already posted here.

https://vimeo.com/236927416

 

[garb811]

What are the advantages to an inflight hot refuel, which I think is what they were doing at the end, compared to putting it onto the deck for a hot refuel?

 

[winnipegoo7]

What are the advantages to an inflight hot refuel, which I think is what they were doing at the end, compared to putting it onto the deck for a hot refuel?

I assume it is usually done for practice, but some real reasons might be:

The helicopter might not always be able to land on the flight deck. The helicopter could be damaged and unable to safely land. The flight deck could be damaged; there could be objects on the flight deck blocking the deck (rope, sea container, another helo);  the flight deck could be too small for the cyclone if it’s a different class of ship; and the sea state could be too rough for a safe landing.

Also I think they do inflight hot refuels because the pilot might get wet while attempting an inflight cold refuel.

*i included one joke in this post.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

A few pictures from the RCAF FB page of the first CH-148 AirDet, with the RCAF Comd and CWO.

Article Link

There are also some pics on the VDQs FB page as well.

 

[Loachman]

My only attempts at deck landings were on severely reality-limited simulators with no peripheral vision, resulting in very few successful ones despite fairly mild (so it was claimed) sea states, but...

I've done a lot of hot refuelling on land.

The refueller has move in under the rotor disc to plug the nozzle in and remain there until refuelling is complete. A fire guard is also right up close, in the event of a leak - the nozzle separated from the hose while an AH64 was being refuelled hot several years ago, resulting in fuel being sprayed into at least one of the engine air intakes, almost immediate ignition, and complete loss of the machine but, fortunately, minor injuries.

Kiowa's fuel capacity was only 276 litres. Refuelling still took a while (although I never timed it). Larger helicopters take longer, obviously.

Trying to hot-refuel a helicopter on a pitching deck strikes me as a tragedy waiting to happen - rotors turning, major source of potential ignition in the event of a leak, personnel moving in close proximity and under the rotor disc, a large fire extinguisher that could roll or tumble, and the likely damage to the ship in the event of a catastrophic fire.

Picking up a flexible hose from a stable hover and then moving off to one side - and right over the world's biggest fire extinguisher - until refuelling is complete seems to be far quicker, simpler, and safer.

Operating over land was far more comfortable for so many reasons.

 

[Baz]

Trying to hot-refuel a helicopter on a pitching deck strikes me as a tragedy waiting to happen - rotors turning, major source of potential ignition in the event of a leak, personnel moving in close proximity and under the rotor disc, a large fire extinguisher that could roll or tumble, and the likely damage to the ship in the event of a catastrophic fire.

"Pip pip pip pip... no smoking throughout ship, fuelling JP-5..."

... so how was it in the '90s on some ship I can't remember someone tossed their still lit butt off the starboard side (where no one could see them) and it landed neqxt to the fuelling hatch.

The feeling of pulling yourself out the door even though you hooked your foot around the troop seat when trying to connect the pressure fueling nozzle for  HIFR was "special."

 

[SeaKingTacco]

My only attempts at deck landings were on severely reality-limited simulators with no peripheral vision, resulting in very few successful ones despite fairly mild (so it was claimed) sea states, but...

I've done a lot of hot refuelling on land.

The refueller has move in under the rotor disc to plug the nozzle in and remain there until refuelling is complete. A fire guard is also right up close, in the event of a leak - the nozzle separated from the hose while an AH64 was being refuelled hot several years ago, resulting in fuel being sprayed into at least one of the engine air intakes, almost immediate ignition, and complete loss of the machine but, fortunately, minor injuries.

Kiowa's fuel capacity was only 276 litres. Refuelling still took a while (although I never timed it). Larger helicopters take longer, obviously.

Trying to hot-refuel a helicopter on a pitching deck strikes me as a tragedy waiting to happen - rotors turning, major source of potential ignition in the event of a leak, personnel moving in close proximity and under the rotor disc, a large fire extinguisher that could roll or tumble, and the likely damage to the ship in the event of a catastrophic fire.

Picking up a flexible hose from a stable hover and then moving off to one side - and right over the world's biggest fire extinguisher - until refuelling is complete seems to be far quicker, simpler, and safer.

Operating over land was far more comfortable for so many reasons.

There is no loose, large fire extinguisher for hot fuels on our ships. We have fire fighting teams closed up and lots of fitted systems.

It is a routine event, with obviously catastrophic implications if someone does it wrong. That said, I have been in helicopters for literally 100s of hot fuels over the years, with nary an incident.

HIFRs, on the other hand, are nearly always a high drama affair...

 

[Loachman]

Roger. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

RCAF Video - Crew of first cyclone deployment is coming home

BZ and welcome home

 

[Baz]

There was a five ship loose form for the departure of HMCS Toronto yesterday.

 

[Rifleman62]

https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeForcesAtlantic/videos/797685777264903/    Departure Ceremony HMCS Toronto

Around the 16:26 mark. Looks like 5 escorting the ship's helo.

My Grandson is deployed on the ship.

 

[cf100mk5]

Video of Cyclone 148823 aboard HMCS Ville de Quebec.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS8pSF-9zOw

 

[Rifleman62]

https://globalnews.ca/news/4866978/new-military-helicopters-join-hmcs-toronto-as-it-departs-on-six-month-tour/

New military helicopters join HMCS Toronto as it departs on six-month tour

Video at link. Approx 01:20 mark. Just a few seconds.

 

[Cloud Cover]

Is it true that there is a Cyclone det on Asterix?

"MS Asterix, HMCS Montréal and HMCS Ville de Québec are currently the only naval vessels assigned with the Cyclone. The remaining Halifax-class frigates will receive the Cyclone once the Sea Kings are officially retired at the end of 2018."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_CH-148_Cyclone

 

[Eye In The Sky]

https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/for-crew-of-mv-asterix-return-home-means-a-chance-to-refuel-1.23546336

From Dec last year.  She departed Halifax in April 2018, well before the VDQ and the VDQ was the first Cyclone Det to sail.  Neither the Asterix or CAL had an AirDet for their Pacific deployment to OP PROJECTION.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Is it true that there is a Cyclone det on Asterix?

"MS Asterix, HMCS Montréal and HMCS Ville de Québec are currently the only naval vessels assigned with the Cyclone. The remaining Halifax-class frigates will receive the Cyclone once the Sea Kings are officially retired at the end of 2018."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_CH-148_Cyclone

No. It is not true. She is not even certified yet for Cyclone.

 

[Baz]

No. It is not true. She is not even certified yet for Cyclone.

As she went past the Cyclone Combined Test Force in West Palm Beach last year they conducted T&E.  Possibly that is where the misunderstanding is comng from?