Helicopter lifting capabilities

[Jeff]

I am new to the RC helicopter arena and am interested in how much they
can lift. I have looked at a few models and even the Hirobo Chinook
and Vertol. But they do not know how much they will lift. If someone
out there has one of these heli's could you enlighten me. I am
looking to lift between 5 and 10 pounds. If you have a better Heli in
mind then please feel free to suggest. I am open to all makes,
models, and brands. Thanks for your time and help.

[S-Man]

Here's one that is designed for lifting and will lift 20lb for half an
hour. .S.

http://www.bergenrc.com/IndustrialTwin.asp

Jeff wrote:

> I am new to the RC helicopter arena and am interested in how much they
> can lift. I have looked at a few models and even the Hirobo Chinook
> and Vertol. But they do not know how much they will lift. If someone
> out there has one of these heli's could you enlighten me. I am
> looking to lift between 5 and 10 pounds. If you have a better Heli in
> mind then please feel free to suggest. I am open to all makes,
> models, and brands. Thanks for your time and help.

[Steve R.]

The Bergen twin is a good helicopter. I've played with one a little bit.
I'm not sure that S-Man's half hour duration estimate it doable but I know
that 15 to 20 would be no big deal.

As for the Hirobo Vertol, forget that one as a lifting platform. It's main
drive train is basically off a 30 size Shuttle and even with a 40 size
engine in it, it tends to be marginal in performance so there would be very
little reserve for lifting any kind of payload. I've got a Vertol with an
OS 32 heli engine in it. It flies but there's "no" excess of power. I've
seen several folks try to fly it with a 40 to 45 engine in it and while the
power was improved, they universally had cooling problems with it.

FWIW,
Fly Safe,
Steve R.


"S-Man" <w8an@NOSPAM.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:Gv9Lc.39391$eH1.18764925@newssvr28.news.prodi gy.com...
> Here's one that is designed for lifting and will lift 20lb for half an
> hour. .S.
>
> http://www.bergenrc.com/IndustrialTwin.asp
>
> Jeff wrote:
>
> > I am new to the RC helicopter arena and am interested in how much they
> > can lift. I have looked at a few models and even the Hirobo Chinook
> > and Vertol. But they do not know how much they will lift. If someone
> > out there has one of these heli's could you enlighten me. I am
> > looking to lift between 5 and 10 pounds. If you have a better Heli in
> > mind then please feel free to suggest. I am open to all makes,
> > models, and brands. Thanks for your time and help.

[S-Man]

I've not had the pleasure to fly the Bergen Twin, but the specs I gave
are from the website that I referenced.

Jeff, I don't think any of the off-the-shelf "toy" helicopters are going
to have much of a lifting capability without extensive modification.

..S.

Steve R. wrote:
> The Bergen twin is a good helicopter. I've played with one a little bit.
> I'm not sure that S-Man's half hour duration estimate it doable but I know
> that 15 to 20 would be no big deal.
>
> As for the Hirobo Vertol, forget that one as a lifting platform. It's main
> drive train is basically off a 30 size Shuttle and even with a 40 size
> engine in it, it tends to be marginal in performance so there would be very
> little reserve for lifting any kind of payload. I've got a Vertol with an
> OS 32 heli engine in it. It flies but there's "no" excess of power. I've
> seen several folks try to fly it with a 40 to 45 engine in it and while the
> power was improved, they universally had cooling problems with it.
>
> FWIW,
> Fly Safe,
> Steve R.

[Beav]

"S-Man" <w8an@NOSPAM.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:DMeLc.361$H33.144@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com. ..
> I've not had the pleasure to fly the Bergen Twin, but the specs I gave
> are from the website that I referenced.
>
> Jeff, I don't think any of the off-the-shelf "toy" helicopters are going
> to have much of a lifting capability without extensive modification.

You'd be surprised. A standard X-cell with little more than a good pair of
high lift section blades will lift 5lbs with ease and that's with an engine
designed 10 or more years ago. The power of motors has increased somewhat
over those twn years as has the availablitly of bigger capacity motors that
will fit the same mounts as the smaller motors.

This all leads up to a lightweight 60 (the X-cell springs back to mind)
coupled to a GOOD engine and a good set of blades with a "S" aerofoil
section (Vario blades amongst others) being capable of lifting 10 lbs with
no REAL effort.

Remer that LOTS of scale heli's based around standard 60 sized heli's fly at
weights in excess of 18lbs, and I've seen one or two above 20 lbs, and even
more for the gas powered versions using the Zenoah motor.


--
Beav


Please note my E-mail address is "beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com"
(with the obvious changes)

Beavisland now lives at
www.beavisoriginal.co.uk

[S-Man]

Beav wrote:
> You'd be surprised. A standard X-cell with little more than a good pair of
> high lift section blades will lift 5lbs with ease and that's with an engine
> designed 10 or more years ago. The power of motors has increased somewhat
> over those twn years as has the availablitly of bigger capacity motors that
> will fit the same mounts as the smaller motors.
>
> This all leads up to a lightweight 60 (the X-cell springs back to mind)
> coupled to a GOOD engine and a good set of blades with a "S" aerofoil
> section (Vario blades amongst others) being capable of lifting 10 lbs with
> no REAL effort.
>
> Remer that LOTS of scale heli's based around standard 60 sized heli's fly at
> weights in excess of 18lbs, and I've seen one or two above 20 lbs, and even
> more for the gas powered versions using the Zenoah motor.

"good pair of high lift section blades" plus "bigger capacity motors
that will fit the same mounts" = $$$ (or £££).
Expensive modification IMO

..S.

[Steve R.]

Well, Duh! No offense but what do you want? Actually, you don't absolutely
"have" to replace the engine and blades. 5 lbs is well within the
capabilities of an average 60 in stock condition and 10 lbs is probably
doable but you might want to consider going to a more efficient rotor blade
at the very least and more powerful engine if needed.

That's all Beav was trying to say! You are correct that changing to a
bigger engine, replacing a 60 with an 80 or 90 for example will cost some
$$$'s. On the X-Cell, if you really want to do it right, you're talking a
new motor mount, changing the gear ratios, replacing the muffler (60 size
mufflers don't have enough volume for the new 90's), longer main rotor
blades which in turn, "might" require a longer tail boom and tail rotor
drive shaft to maintain clearance between the main and tail rotors. :-o

There no free lunch!

Fly Safe,
Steve R.


"S-Man" <w8an@NOSPAM.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:DJwLc.40104$eH1.19041314@newssvr28.news.prodi gy.com...

> "good pair of high lift section blades" plus "bigger capacity motors
> that will fit the same mounts" = $$$ (or £££).
> Expensive modification IMO
>
> .S.

[S-Man]

My point exactly.

[Beav]

"S-Man" <w8an@NOSPAM.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:DJwLc.40104$eH1.19041314@newssvr28.news.prodi gy.com...
> Beav wrote:
> > You'd be surprised. A standard X-cell with little more than a good pair
of
> > high lift section blades will lift 5lbs with ease and that's with an
engine
> > designed 10 or more years ago. The power of motors has increased
somewhat
> > over those twn years as has the availablitly of bigger capacity motors
that
> > will fit the same mounts as the smaller motors.
> >
> > This all leads up to a lightweight 60 (the X-cell springs back to mind)
> > coupled to a GOOD engine and a good set of blades with a "S" aerofoil
> > section (Vario blades amongst others) being capable of lifting 10 lbs
with
> > no REAL effort.
> >
> > Remer that LOTS of scale heli's based around standard 60 sized heli's
fly at
> > weights in excess of 18lbs, and I've seen one or two above 20 lbs, and
even
> > more for the gas powered versions using the Zenoah motor.
>
> "good pair of high lift section blades" plus "bigger capacity motors
> that will fit the same mounts" = $$$ (or £££).
> Expensive modification IMO

Not if you don't have to remove "old" stuff. The difference in price for the
aforementioned items is minimal, and if you haven't bought a smaller motor
or any blades yet, no major modifications are required to fit them.


--
Beav


Please note my E-mail address is "beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com"
(with the obvious changes)

Beavisland now lives at
www.beavisoriginal.co.uk

[Beav]

"S-Man" <w8an@NOSPAM.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:5bBLc.40205$eH1.19087390@newssvr28.news.prodi gy.com...
> My point exactly.

But there's an even simpler way. Get a 90 powered heli and strap on 10lbs of
weight, then go fly it.

If you want a FREE way of lifting 10lbs, forget about it, but I doubt that
jeff was looking for that.


--
Beav


Please note my E-mail address is "beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com"
(with the obvious changes)

Beavisland now lives at
www.beavisoriginal.co.uk

[Dave]

Can't say I've noticed that Bergen twins are a cheap option?
Dave ;-p


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[Steve R.]

The twin isn't cheap. It's in the neighborhood of $5000 USD's but they
assemble and test fly the machine before shipment. You have to provide or
pay for the RC equipment. For about half that, and you have to put it
together, you can get an Observer which is just a modified Intrepid Gasser.
It's also a solid machine that will lift the weights we've talking about in
this conversation.

One thing about the Observer vs the Twin. The Observer comes with a camera
turret mount on the front of the helicopter that allows for pan and tilt of
whatever video equipment you put on it. That also includes specially
modified servos for the pan and tilt function. You'll need to provide a
second RC unit (receiver, battery pack, and switch harness) to "fly" the
camera turret while someone else flies the helicopter. The Twin does not
have anything to mount a camera (or anything else for that matter) to. It's
just a big pod and boom model helicopter (minus the canopy) and you'll have
to modify it to carry whatever payload you want to haul into the sky.

FWIW!
Fly Safe,
Steve R.


"Dave" <yourejoking@NOSPAM.noway> wrote in message
news:T0OLc.504$tZ5.147@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
> Can't say I've noticed that Bergen twins are a cheap option?
> Dave ;-p
>
>
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> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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>
>