Helicopter pulling a Hover Barge....

[JR2]

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Is that crazy or what... .



Here is the story:

The Hover Barge Tow







Note: An expandable version of this picture is available in our Photo Gallery.



In June 1982, Columbia Helicopters was hired by Sohio to participate in a test on Alaska's North Slope. The purpose of this test was to evaluate the ability of a helicopter - the Boeing Vertol 107-II - to tow a fully-loaded hover barge over water, snow and ice.

The test began in Prudhoe Bay on June 17. The Vertol's 600-foot long line was connected to hover barge ACT-100, jointly owned by Global Marine Development and VECO. Air blowers on the 170-ton barge forced a cushion of air under the barge, which was kept in place by rubberized skirt material. This first test was run around Prudhoe Bay with an empty barge, and was successful. During this and subsequent tests, the aircraft often flew with a nose-down angle approaching 25 degrees.

Next, ACT-100 was loaded with 40 tons of cargo for another close-in test run. Once more, the helicopter showed it could move the barge despite the additional weight.

The final aspect of the test was to tow the hover barge over a 50-mile course to a drill site named Alaska Island where Sohio had just completed an oil well.

During the tow to the island, headwinds over 30 knots were encountered, and snow and ice buildup were also factors. Regardless, the Vertol was able to bring the empty barge to the island successfully.

On the return trip to Prudhoe Bay, when this photo was taken, the barge carried 50 tons of cargo, bringing the total weight to 220 tons. As with the previous tests, this task was accomplished successfully.

This photograph is one of longtime Columbia Helicopters' photographer Ted Veal's most famous photographs. The use of a powerful telephoto lens makes it appear as though the helicopter is closer to the ice than is actually the case.



Hover Barge Tow Photo © Columbia Helicopters, Inc. 1982



Hover Barge Tow Posters

Full-color, 19" x 25" posters of this image are available from Columbia Helicopters. For each poster, send $2 plus shipping (United States and Canada add $2; International add $6). Payment in U. S. dollars only. U. S. and International Money Orders only. No cash, personal checks or credit cards will be accepted. Send orders to:





Hover Barge Poster

Columbia Helicopters, Inc.

PO Box 3500

Portland, Oregon 97208



www.colheli.com/colheli.html







The company that did this just came to Alaska to lift a 28K lb power transformer to the remote oilfield island I work on. I was not here to see it but I guess it was a very impressive sight.

 

[AKAMAC]

And I thought "because You can" was why we have 700+HP trucks driving around town.

This adds new meaning to "Test load projection capability".

All I can say is "pucker factor" for the pilot.

 

[dalton4]

That is some risky flying. In case of a loss power situation it would be immediate crunch time. At least they wouldn't have pick out a spot for the crash landing because they would already be looking at it.

 

[hdm48]

Oh my gosh. And here I thought flying under a bridge was crazy. They would have to drill a hole under the seat to break the suction in order for me to get out.



jeez, that's nuts





Dave

 

[JR2]

I know it looks crazy but aparently they did an emergency release test while towing this thing and the chopper gained altitude fast. I think the deal is that the cable is hooked in front of the center of gravity on the chopper so if the cable breaks the natural reaction of the chopper is to level off and then go UP. At least that is how it was explained to me by some of the old timers who actually saw this test and where working around it.



Its still a scary pic, but the article mentions that the picture was taken from a great distance with a big lense and it makes it look like the chopper is closer to the ice than it actually is.

 

[JConley]

Why isnt there any rotor wash on the snow? Sorry... looks like a photoshop to me.

 

[Chief USA]

The photo is real. Had the poster up in the office when I was still in the military. In the event of an engine failure; they jettison the tow cable and fly away single engine.