Above is a pic of the Super Stallion conducting external operations. As mentioned the other day this aircraft can lift a lot of weight. We have both 'single point' and 'dual point' hooks to accomplish a variety of missions. When we lift heavy loads we use the dual points - when we lift light loads, like above, we will utilize the single point system. In no situation will we use the all three hooks at the same time. The heaviest load I have ever lifted was 19,850 lbs but that was several years ago back in California. One of the biggest factors we need to consider when conducting internal or external lifts is the temperature. Essentially, the hotter the temperature the less we can lift. People much smarter than me calculated that increased air temperature correlated to less power available from our engines and therefore, our lift capability is diminished. I will not get into the exact numbers but just know that we must conduct detailed planning before every mission to ensure we can carry the assigned passengers or cargo. Have a good day.
1 comment:
Why not three hooks? It would seem three points would create a stable plane...or perhaps you are looking to create something that is intentionally unstable so that it can sway with the movement of the aircraft?
Interesting about the conditions affecting your maximum load. Good thing you have smart people looking out for you. I expect they think you are worth looking out for.
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