Helicopter Operations Division Mission Log (warning: very pic-heavy)

cakepie · June 6, 2013

Helicopter Operations Division -- Mission Log

This thread will serve to document my helicopter-related shenaniganry.

Ideas and suggestions are welcome! (But I reserve the right to do whatever I like.)

Mods Used:

Long line operations cancelled -- aircraft not capable of the delicate control necessary

[*] Operations

Towed array sonar operations

Edited June 15, 2013 by cake>pie

cakepie · June 6, 2013

Ki-6 Heavy Transport Helicopter

Description & Specifications

Meet the Ki-6 Heavy Transport Helicopter, based on the Mil Mi-6

Handles rather uniquely due to its sheer bulk, but flies fairly decently once you're used to it. Delicate maneuvers can be quite challenging, however.

Generally attains 45~55m/s in level flight; not quite the 300km/h of the real thing.

Unfortunately has some issues with shifting center of gravity, requires redistributing fuel to maintain balance.

Gallery

Top-down, left-right:

yes, she actually flies
approaching the VAB for a rooftop landing (a lot more fiddly than it looks)
showing off the cargo bay
jettisoning drop tanks on the way back from a trip to the island runway

Night operations, demonstrating navigation lights and powerful landing lights

Aesthetic notes

These are already the larger-sized "Russian Bear" model of helicopter rotor, but two are needed to simply lift this monster empty; three to maneuver comfortably with cargo. Four is a bit of overengineering, so that the rotors don't need to be operated close to full throttle, reducing the risk of overheating. The original Mi-6, of course, had just a single huge rotor. A more aesthetically pleasing alternative would be to mod the helicopter rotors to have 3.5~4 times the thrust (and to be fair, corresponding fuel consumption)
Firespitter bomber cockpit part looks closer to the real thing, but the stock Mk3 cockpit works better overall with the rest of the fuselage, aesthetically speaking.
Another minor inaccuracy is that the actual Mi-6 has rear clamshell doors; this just has a ramp.

Preflight notes

tail rotor control to be inverted, and thrust increased to 8, 16, or 32
tail wheel to be raised (wheel included as tail-protecting precautionary measure, not intended to be part of main gear)

Mods Used:

Firespitter helicopter parts
TouhouTorpedo Mk4 Cargo Fuselage; Modular Multiwheels
TouhouTorpedo Mk4 cargo retainer mass reduced to 25kg (Originally 250kg, not realistic!)

Specifications:

Part count: 74

Crew: 1 to 3

Passengers: up to 9 (in mk4/mk3 fuselage adapter)

Payload: in theory, up to 32000kg (to be empirically verified)

Length: 26m

Height: 7m (tail), 8.4m (rotors)

Empty weight: 20400kg

Fuel load: 1180L (5900kg) + 300L (1500kg) in drop tanks (1220kg empty)

Max takeoff weight: 61000kg (to be empirically verified)

Powerplant: 4 x FS2ML Helicopter Russian Bear Rotor (150kN each)

Maximum speed: 60m/s (215km/h)

Cruise speed: 45~55m/s (160~200 km/h)

Range: (to be empirically determined)

Edited April 17, 2018 by cakepie
freshen image links

cakepie · June 6, 2013

Ki-6 Heavy Transport Helicopter

Towed Array Sonar Operations

In this installment, we'll deploy a 1km long towed array sonar into the water and tow it behind the helicopter.

This 152-part vehicle consists of:

Chassis with:
- 1x front winch and 2x side winches at rear, for securement to cargo bay
- 1x tail winch for towing operations
[*] 1km sonar array consisting:
- 2 stacks of 10 sensors with winches
- 1x tail sensor (without winch)

Since the KAS winch cable is 50m in length, this gives us a 1km long array of 21 sensors, spaced 50m apart, and towed 50m behind the helicopter.

RemoteTech RC Antenna is used per sensor segment, but this does not actually serve a practical purpose, it's purely aesthetic.

(Wait, don't helicopters usually use a dipping sonar? Sure, but that's a comparatively straightforward operation -- just hover, and extend the winch. Not quite hard fun enough!)

Gallery

Payload specialist Bob Kerman supervises the loading of the towed array and ensures that it is properly tied down and secured.

She's ready to go. Take us up, Jeb!

In flight, with cargo door open for proof that the cargo is indeed loaded inside! (kids don't try this at home)

Safe landing in water; Bob inspects the cargo to ensure that it is intact.

Release the sonar array from the caddy.

Raise the caddy out of the way and assemble the two halves of the array together.

Bob looks so proud of himself!

Move the array out of the cargo bay and re-secure the caddy for towing.

Sonar array is clear of the cargo doors.

If you're wondering why I'm hiding the GUI for the screenshots, it's because the KAS window is absolutely nuts.

Start extending the array

Halfway done...

Almost there...

Bob checks to make sure that nothing has been jerked out of place by the force of the tow while deploying the array.

And we're off, at a low, slow, forward hover (a tricky proposition in this aircraft), so that the cables don't snap. Still, it is hard to avoid the sensor nodes from bouncing and skipping along the surface of the water.

500m later, we descend again. The damage:

Happily, we remembered to bring spare tires along.

Recovering the sensor array:

Separate into two stacks of ten, and attach back to the chassis:

Load and secure in cargo bay:

Headed back to base:

Unloading operations

Only slightly worse for wear, the sonar assembly!

The inevitable commemorative picture.

Yes, towed a 1km-long array over a distance of only 500m. Whatever, I was getting sick of having to reload from quicksave due to parts breaking off.

Mods Used:

Kerbal Attachment System (obviously)
RemoteTech Relay Network (aesthetic, no functional purpose)

Edited April 17, 2018 by cakepie
freshen image links

cakepie · June 6, 2013

Ki-6 Heavy Transport Helicopter

Underslung Load Testing

This series of tests are intended to demonstrate and prove the ability of the Ki-6 to transport underslung loads.

For this we'll be using a variant of the aircraft that has additional winches attached to the belly of the fuselage:

This configuration of winches allows us to adapt to a variety of loads, using any number of points of attachement:

one: center
two: front & center
two separate loads: front & center
three: front & 2 sides

We'll also carry an assortment of accessories for attaching to and securing the cargo:

We'll primarily use the KAS radial connector port, but we've also got one each of the grappling hook and electromagnet accessories in case they're needed.

Missions

7.8-ton tanker truck, 3 cables - proof of concept
7.8-ton tanker truck, 3 cables - flight envelope testing
5-ton weight, 1 cable - accurate delivery
Long line operations cancelled -- aircraft not capable of the delicate control necessary

Gallery

(Extra pictures not belonging to any particular testing mission)

These are just pretty cool cinematic-style shots:

Drop tank separation while transporting underslung load

Dangerous maneuver

Propensity to overheat even attempting the slightest maneuvers while under heavy load (depicted: tanker truck, full -- 23.8t )

Other bonus screenshots

Mods Used:

Kerbal Attachment System (duh)

Edited April 17, 2018 by cakepie
freshen image links

b0bby · June 6, 2013

very nice ideas and craft

POTKC · June 7, 2013

Please don't tell me that this thread has died...

cakepie · June 15, 2013

Ki-6 Heavy Transport Helicopter

Underslung Load Testing - 7.8-ton tanker truck, 3 cables - proof of concept

This mission is part of a series of underslung load tests in which we demonstrate and prove the ability of the Ki-6 to transport various kinds of external loads.

This test is a proof-of-concept that involves a crewed tanker truck, empty of fuel, that weighs in at 7.8 tons, suspended by three cables. The main objective is safe lifting and landing of the truck, including survival of the truck crew.

Gallery

So, we've got this tanker truck, it doesn't quite fit through the cargo door...

Preparing attachement points for lifting the cargo:

Attach the cables:

Airborne!

Approaching for drop-off:

Lined up...

Poised for release.

Release the cables!

Disconnect the attachments

And then retract the winches

Helicopter landed.

Success!

Mods Used:

Kerbal Attachment System (duh)

Edited April 17, 2018 by cakepie
freshen image links

cakepie · June 15, 2013

Ki-6 Heavy Transport Helicopter

Underslung Load Testing - 7.8-ton tanker truck, 3 cables - flight envelope testing

This mission is part of a series of underslung load tests in which we demonstrate and prove the ability of the Ki-6 to transport various kinds of external loads.

This test is intended to test the speed and maneuverability of the aircraft while transporting an underslung external load of an empty tanker truck, weighing 7.8 tons, suspended by three cables.

As a secondary objective, we will also lower and release the cargo by winch rather than by outright descent of the entire helicopter, as demonstrated previously.

Gallery

Once again, we have the same tanker truck as before...

It doesn't fit safely through the door.

Preparing attachement points for lifting: one in front...

And two in the rear:

Attaching the cables:

Everything is in position:

Let's get back in the aircraft.

All set for take off

And up we go!

Retracting the cables to bring the load (and center of gravity) higher up:

There, that's much more stable:

Forward travel maintaining constant altitude: speeds up to and above 50 m/s

Banking turns at speed: no problem

Coming in for a test of new cargo release procedures:

Lowering by winch:

Cargo safely deposited:

Separation

Success!

Mods Used:

Kerbal Attachment System (duh)

Edited April 17, 2018 by cakepie
freshen image links

cakepie · June 15, 2013

Ki-6 Heavy Transport Helicopter

Underslung Load Testing - 5-ton weight, 1 cable - accurate delivery

This mission is part of a series of underslung load tests in which we demonstrate and prove the ability of the Ki-6 to transport various kinds of external loads.

The objective of this test is to, in separate runs, deposit two 5-ton weights on the roof of the VAB to test the use of a single winch, and to demonstrate the accurate delivery of cargo.

Gallery

Two 5-ton weights attached to caddy, ready to be deployed for test lifting.