Towing a R44 on a trailer

[Clouds]

Hello all - is this allowable or affect warranty of helicopter?
If not, does anyone know any companies specialising in this type of transport in NSW or VIC?
Thanks all

[Eric Hunt]

a. Find a trailer wide enough to accommodate the skid width plus the ground handling wheels. remember to put wooden chocks in the head to stop any metal bits touching any other metal bits.
b. Keep looking, one might exist somewhere....
c. Stuff it, take the chocks out and fly the rotten thing to wherever you need it.

[RePLCPLH]

Sounds scary. Trailers are great at messing up all kinds of things if you don't get it right. Given the brain damage with removing and reinstalling blades etc, I'm with Eric- get someone to fly it wherever it needs to be.

[SuperF]

Don’t do it, unless you cannot fly the helicopter due to maintenance issues. It will do more damage to the helicopter than any small amount you may save.

[County]

Super F.... what damage do you do ? We have towed choppers on trailers for many years and thousands of K’s. Had a door come open once which was a poppet but got caught unawares.
Choppers get towed all over America, especially the Ag Guys.

[Roundhill150]

A trailer is the best place for the things

[Heliduck]

Skid tubes suffer the most, they’re not built for the fore-aft acceleration/deceleration experienced when going over big bumps & everything starts jumping around. I travelled all over Alberta & BC towing a Hiller on a trailer earlier this year, & although I didn’t have any issues 2 others in the team broke the skids, 1 the crossmember & the other the upright. I think an R44 skid gear would handle it well but the attachment points onto the airframe would be a concern. A good air-ride trailer would help.
Ashley is right, lots of people do it without issues, but the more you do it the more opportunity you have to break something. I took a jet ranger from Cairns to Redcliffe on a bogie drive truck once (no air ride suspension there!!) & didn’t have any issues with skid gear, the driver is probably just as important as the vehicles used.
Summary - good gear, good roads & good driver, absolutely go for it. If any of those 3 don’t apply, think twice about it.

[County]

There are somethings we take for granted, but in this dumbed down world you can’t.
If your considering towing your helicopter there is a lot of planning involved, purpose built trailer. Suspension suited to a large but lite load, you don’t want suspension jarring the load. We have rubber base for skids to sit on and bolted clamps to secure skids to trailer. Plan your route, good roads and remember your height. A low bridge or servo roof could ruin your day day. Driver is very important, don’t rush. I have found 90klm is a good speed, you don’t need to travel fast as you can travel a long way at night.
I would never put a chopper on a truck for transport, suspension way to hard.

[Leethallee]

We have a trailer big enough and have moved many helicopters around, let me know if you need it done.

Lee

[Twistgrip]

Have to agree with County and others. Why bother sending it on a trailer. Depending on the distance but even still if it’s in Oz the maths and potential issues encountered you would generally be better off If you did the ferry.

[Rotorpilot]

I would be happy to ferry the machine for you.

[County]

Not sure if you would be if you couldn’t log the hours !!

[Rotorpilot]

Not sure if you would be if you couldn’t log the hours !!

what do you mean couldn't log the hrs? Thought that only happened in the NT?
As long as you don't get charged for it it's all experience. I heard of one guy asking for fuel money for a ferry once even though the owner had already charged the client for it. some people.

[County]

I live in SA and an hour away from a job that NSW aircraft can beat me on ferry, flying all the way and back.
Trailer is at times the only competitive edge you got.