by Guest » November 17, 2017, 6:15 pm
The choice to airlift the patient to Marathon, Ontario could have also been dictated by the fuel status of the helicopter that apparently flew from Traverse City to the James R. Barker in northern Lake Superior. I believe these helicopters have a maximum range of around 900 miles, but in actual operation and with hovering (the account says the helicopter hoisted the patient aboard) its actual operational range would be much less. Other factors that would affect the helicopter's range would also be its loadout, weather conditions, and the actual fuel consumption of its power plant among others. With my father serving with a rotary aviation unit in West Germany, Georgia and Washington State I grew up around helicopters and they are very delicate machines far less forgiving than fixed wing aircraft but with their own advantages and limitations. In addition, any airlift of a patient has to have the goal of providing the stricken individual with care at a medical facility on the ground as quickly as possible. Oh well, just adding my 2 cents.
The choice to airlift the patient to Marathon, Ontario could have also been dictated by the fuel status of the helicopter that apparently flew from Traverse City to the James R. Barker in northern Lake Superior. I believe these helicopters have a maximum range of around 900 miles, but in actual operation and with hovering (the account says the helicopter hoisted the patient aboard) its actual operational range would be much less. Other factors that would affect the helicopter's range would also be its loadout, weather conditions, and the actual fuel consumption of its power plant among others. With my father serving with a rotary aviation unit in West Germany, Georgia and Washington State I grew up around helicopters and they are very delicate machines far less forgiving than fixed wing aircraft but with their own advantages and limitations. In addition, any airlift of a patient has to have the goal of providing the stricken individual with care at a medical facility on the ground as quickly as possible. Oh well, just adding my 2 cents.