Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw

Rotor-Head

Shawn Adams
Joined
Nov 29, 2004
Messages
1,207
Location
Jacksonville, OR
Aircraft
Air Command Elite 503 DCDI Sport Rotors - Cesnna 152-172 - R44 - MD500D/E - QuickSilver MXLII Sport
Total Flight Time
220 Fixed Wing - 3000+ gyro 600+ Helicopter
Today I was contracted to shoot the first test of the new AussieSkySaw, designed to trim the powerline tree-lines here in Oregon.

Huge thing. The saw is about 70 feet long and is suspended by a 100 foot pole under the Sea king. At the bottom is a V6 Mazda motor to drive the saw blades.

This first test was a partial success and a partial disapointment (for the saw company). A few belts broke while cutting. It did fantastic job while it was in the air. They are now making modifications to the saw and it will be cutting again in a few weeks.

Here are some digital stills took inbetween the video shooting.
 

Attachments

  • [RotaryForum.com] - Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw
    helisaw-1.webp
    41 KB · Views: 0
  • [RotaryForum.com] - Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw
    helisaw-2.webp
    40 KB · Views: 0
  • [RotaryForum.com] - Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw
    helisaw-3.webp
    31.2 KB · Views: 0
  • [RotaryForum.com] - Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw
    helisaw-4.webp
    36.2 KB · Views: 0
  • [RotaryForum.com] - Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw
    helisaw-5.webp
    41.6 KB · Views: 0
  • [RotaryForum.com] - Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw
    helisaw-7.webp
    46.7 KB · Views: 0
  • [RotaryForum.com] - Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw
    helisaw-8.webp
    43.4 KB · Views: 0
  • [RotaryForum.com] - Sikorsky S-61 Heli-Saw
    helisaw-9.webp
    92.4 KB · Views: 0
From what they tell me, this method has been used for quite a while (pre-Bond). I asked them the same question. They their engineer told me that the "bond-saw" would not work very well for actuall cutting. There goes Holywood again... exagerating stuff!!!
 
I've seen photos of a similar saw used over in Europe somewhere. It wasn't quite as large as the one above. I can't remember what country it was in. Some of the utility companies also use a similar saw on a skidder/tractor for clearing along power lines from the ground.
 
Kevin_Richey said:
I would PAY to have a ring-side seat to watch that go to work on the trees!
It was impressive. Between the sound of the Sikorsky rotors, the wood cutting and the howling-ring-sheer sound of the cutting blades, it was very cool, and loud.
 
Shawn;

What equipment do you use to shoot your videos?
What platform? Gyro? Helo?

Thanks,
Tom Millican
Somerville, TN, USA
 
My wife and I saw something very similar to this a couple of years ago while driving on Interstate 20 between West Monroe and Ruston, LA.

Needless to say it was very surprising and very impressive.

Haven't seen it since.

Pat O'Neal
 
Tom_Millican said:
Shawn;

What equipment do you use to shoot your videos?
What platform? Gyro? Helo?
Everything and all.

I shoot a lot of DV and now am shooting a bunch of HD and HDV. I so shoot quite a bit from helicopters and I will be shooting from my gyro as soon as I get my mount built.... The Helicopter/Saw was just shot on DVCAM from the top of the hill.
 
Shawn,
There is a guy in Sebring Fl. who developed a system called "pedfly" he shot videos with both hands and flew his gyro with his feet. He could climb,desend,turn and bank with his feet alone.I don't know if he got to the point of take off and landing or not but he was working on it. He shot some very good quality videos and still shots with his sysyem. Here is the last phone numbers and email address that I have for him.

Neil Angus 863-385-1675 [email protected]
 
Rotor-Head

Rotor-Head

Holy Crap, Batman!!! :eek:

It might be more cost effective to just cut a wider swath along the line.

Two pilots, maintenance chief and an engineer; aircraft operating cost (fuel, oil, storage and maintenance), equipment operating cost, transit costs, mortgage interest and insurance costs, two or three hour flight range.....

$200 an hour personnel (conservative)
450 an hour fuel (3+ gal./min. fuel consumption-conservative estimate)
500 an hour payment on the principal
50 an hour payment on interest
50 an hour insurance payment
50 an hour maintenance shop expenses
50 an hour parts and replacement costs
100 an hour overhead expenses
$1350 ~ $2200 Basic Operating Expenses
x 10 demand factor
$13500 ~ $22000 an hour Total Cost of Doing Business

* Aircraft can stay on station about 2.5 hours depending on transition time.
* Looked like it covers about .5 miles an hour
* 5 hours/day operation and 1 hour transition time
* 2.5 miles a day production

~$17750/hr. x 6 hr. = $106,500 a day cuttng 2.5 miles

$42,600 per mile.

Compared to four men with chain saws and a truck. ???? :confused:

I'd Rather Be Flying
Thomas
 
Thomas said:
Holy Crap, Batman!!! :eek:
Compared to four men with chain saws and a truck. ???? :confused:
They tell me that it takes about 20 men about 2 months to do the same amount... I'm not a math major, but I am sure that they are doing whatever is the best time to cost ratio... ? Keep in mind that they are cutting to TOP of the treeline (80-150 feet up from the ground). Now yout talking crains or some sort of support vehicle on the very un-even ground, etc...
 
Rotor-Head

Rotor-Head

I am sure they have figured all angles, but .... it still looks mighty dangerous; although I'd do it ........... for a little while. :o

Businessmen don't always consider the danger factor when they think they can save a buck; that is why there are labor unions, OSHA, environmental protection agencies, etc. Not trying to stir anything up but I have seen helicopters go down just dragging seismic equipment through the trees. These guys are towing a string of spinning saw blades. I say Yikes!!! :eek:

I'd Rather Be Flying
Thomas
 
It's an awesome machine, luckily it is noisy enough to warn the animals away, otherwise you'd have PETA fools hanging in the trees. :confused:
Gives new meaning to taking a little off the top. :eek:
Keep the cool videos comming...
 
Back
Top