Helicopter Crane

[enginerding]

Has anyone heard of a helicopter crane that is able to lift 30,000+ pounds?

We are considering some options for access to a site and we have a heavy lift that requires a heavy crane to cross small bridge. A temp bridge is looking to be about $70k and I thought a helicopter might be better. I just don't know if they can lift over 30 kips.

 

[Dinosaur]

Call the nearest National Guard office, and get in touch with their avation group. I don't think 30k is out of the realm of possibilities, but I'm not saying it is the right solution either. Good Luck.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Do a Google on "heavy Lift Helicopters". Doesn't look like there is much out there that can lift 30,000 lbs unless owned by the Army or Russia.

 

[Bribyk]

From Erickson Helicopter's website: "The Erickson S-64F features a strengthened airframe, a rotor system with longer chord length, and two Pratt and Whitney engines rated at 9,600 SHP which gives the S-64F model an external load capacity of 25,000 pounds (11,340 kg) at sea level".

This is close to what you need. Can you reduce the load slightly? These models are used for heavy lift and logging operations.

 

[JStephen]

Long long ago, I checked into this in the Dallas area. A company had a crane locally that could lift up to 5,000 lbs or so. To get anything more, they had to fly one in from St. Louis, and it was like $50,000 to fly it down here. So don't get your hopes up.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

As I live in St. Louis - I know of that company. He took an old Korean War chopper - stripped it and put in a HUGH engine. He does many heavy lifts in this area.

 

[JStephen]

I was googling around a bit, and it seems those old military helicopters are/were not that uncommon in that business. I remember seeing a Dallas-are helicopter that was definitely up in years.

I ran across this video, which I though was interesting. Although, it looks like it could be a good way to pluck a helicopter out of the sky, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCgr0VzJrzU

 

[enginerding]

I will have to look up the actual weight, but I don't think it will be much less than 30 kips.

I think it would be great to see the US Army bid against the Russian Army for the job! It's not like there is anything else going on for the army these days...

The first option is 70 grand plus the crane so if this runs 50 grand, we still save money. I did the google searches and found many helicopters that are able to lift that, but none seemed available for hire. I thought if there was something available, maybe someone here had heard of it.

Thanks all for your help.

 

[amorrison]

Maybe a loooong weight distributing truck like this so not much weight is on the bridge at any given time.

http://news.thomasnet.com/images/large/453/453637.jpg

 

[swearingen]

Another type of weight distributing truck:

http://www.scheuerle.de/EN/branches/haulers2.php?id=505&en_fahrzeugart=50

If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS

http://www.eng-tips.com/supportus.cfm

 

[malaycobra]

You can expect to pay $150k for a helicopter lift like this.

Also, they are very weather sensitive. One breath of wind and they cannot go to work.

Contact me through the website below. We'd love to take a look at lift options for your job.

http://www.hliconsulting.com

http://www.hliconsulting.com

Specialists in Heavy-Lift and Transport Planning

 

[dik]

They used a big sikorsky (sp?) to add the top to the CN tower; I don't know what the capacity of it was.

Dik

 

[malaycobra]

Erickson now have a model that will lift 25,000 Lbs

http://www.ericksonaircrane.com/img/aircranespecs-designandperf.jpg

Their web site:

http://www.ericksonaircrane.com/index.php

http://www.hliconsulting.com

Specialists in Heavy-Lift and Transport Planning

 

[enginerding]

Ballpark guestimate at price?

This might be academic because I am told the bridge cannot support the concrete trucks either...

 

[malaycobra]

I've never ordered one, but scuttlebutt suggests 6 figures...

http://www.hliconsulting.com

Specialists in Heavy-Lift and Transport Planning

 

[amorrison]

Questions for the O.P.
What is the actual width of the river?
How deep?
Velocity of water flow?
Is the bottom rock or mud?
Can this prize object get wet?
What are the river's banks like - mud,rock, height wrt water level?
How about a local river barge or one that can be trucked in?
A weight of 30,000 lbs isn't all that much water displacement = a cube of water 8x8x8ft.