Helicopter Lift for Construction?
Construction helicopters are one of those machines that probably provoke a great deal of curiosity in people who’ve never had to work with them to any degree. After all, while everyone recognizes the tremendous mechanical power of terrestrial construction machinery, it’s easy to wonder just how much of this same stamina a seemingly fragile rotary flying machine has for a helicopter lift.
The answer to this question varies a fair bit depending on helicopter types, but basically, it can be summed up as: A lot. Despite the fact that helicopters of all types have to constantly fight gravity with heavy mechanical and rotary effort, those designed to carry cargo can really push the boundaries of what you might think possible.
The slightly more complex answer is that heavy lift helicopter design will heavily influence carrying capacity. So, if we start with the lightest types of light utility helicopters, they can usually manage between 1,000 and 4,000 pounds.
On the other hand, the world’s absolute most powerful heavy-lift choppers, such as the ex-Soviet Mil Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter, can transport a whopping 44,000 pounds or more. That’s the same as 11 family sized cars and enough weight to give even many terrestrial heavy transport vehicles a serious run for their money.
A Look at Maximum Gross Weight
All aircraft are given a maximum gross weight figure as part of their certification process. This amount includes all aspects of its possible weight while ensuring that the machine is capable of safely staying in the air. Maximum gross weight is basically a helicopter’s total mass during hover and includes
- The chopper’s empty weight
- The average weight of its pilots and passenger complement
- The maximum cargo weight, which can be internal or externally hooked to the chopper
- The weight of a full load of fuel
Certain highly specialized heavy lift helicopters, because they’re designed specifically for hauling loads, are designed to minimize all other types of weight by being stripped bare of everything possible except for a minimal air frame, cockpit, fuel tanks and equipment for hooking cargo to the chopper and lifting it.
Because of all of the above, heavy lift helicopters can haul all of their different weight categories safely, reliably and in ways that make them far more versatile than any ground-based piece of hauling machinery. For example, just try getting a 20,000 pound generator into the middle of a deep mountain forest without a road or runway in sight. A heavy lift helicopter can do exactly this.
Now, for a detailed breakdown of capacities, let’s look at several commonly used cargo hauling helicopter models and show you just how powerful and versatile they can be.
Bell 407HP
Classified as a medium-lift utility helicopter, the Bell 407HP can do some heavy lifting that’s more than adequate for many different transport and commercial/industrial/utility construction projects. This compact chopper can handle a maximum external load of 2,500 pounds and manages this with a single engine. The 407HP is a basic workhorse and great for utilities projects, transporting medium-sized machinery and placing pipes or lattice structures on construction projects.
Airbus AS-350 B3
Airbus’s AS-350 B3 single engine turbine chopper is classified as a lit utility helicopter and can handle external loads of up to 3,200 pounds. It’s useful for many of the same tasks as the Bell 407HP above but due to its fuel efficiency and range, is also a great bird for geological surveys, infrastructure inspections, power line patrols and transporting light machinery. It lacks the passenger space of some other choppers in its class however.
Bell 205A-1++
Bell’s 205A-1++ is sort of a beefy cousin to the 407HP. This chopper is classified as a heavy-lift utility helicopter and has both passenger space and hefty external cargo-carrying capacity. The 205A-1++ can support up to 4,000 pounds of external weight and has been widely used in numerous construction, inspection, rescue, aircrane and utility construction/maintenance projects. It’s excellent for placing steel beams, installing HVAC units or transporting generators to remote locations.
Kaman K-Max K-1200
The Kaman K-Max K-1200 is a medium-lift synthropter that uses intermeshing motors that rotate in opposing directions for greater lift capacity. What this translates into in practical terms is a superb heavy lifting ability that lets it externally haul up to 6,000 pounds. Many remote construction and heavy utilities transport organizations love the K-Max for its safe stability at hauling materials for heavy pipeline or power line projects, placing transmission towers, installing natural gas or petroleum pipe segments and for its versatility with equipment installation.
Sikorsky S61N
This bulky chopper is the civilian version of the extremely popular Ch-3 Sea King and makes for a great heavy-lift helicopter that’s also useful for firefighting or rescue operations. The S61N can basically be reconfigured into all sorts of roles but one thing that remains notable throughout is its serious lifting capacity, which tops out at roughly 10,000 pounds of external weight. This it lifts with dual turboshaft engines that each generate 1,500 horsepower.
Boeing CH-47F ‘Chinook’
The Boeing CH-47F is easily one of the most absolutely recognizable, internationally popular and widely used heavy lift helicopters in the world. There are plenty of good reasons for this. This long-haul chopper is a great medevac bird, an excellent military transport machine and is easily versatile in so many other civilian, government and emergency roles. The CH-47F Chinook can haul up to a whopping 24,000 pounds with the 4,700 horsepower that each of its two turboshaft engines creates.
Light, medium or heavy lift choppers are absolutely ideal for helicopter construction lift services in just about any context. If you think you might need help on your next transport or construction project with one of these extraordinary machines, don’t hesitate to contact FairLifts heavy lift helicopter services for a consummately professional assessment.