Flying low,slow, heavy, hot and now...... under power lines!?

[abrutus]

If you dont dare to do this... you have no business in Ag-Aviation!.. ....
ok.. in all seriousness, this guy must really know his airplane and its limitations, but man, the other day somebody posted a video about somebody landing on a narrow road and people were freaking out...
now, what do you think about flying underneat high-power lines?...

 

[milleR]

With a good pilot it seems like it's safer than trying to out climb/dive them.

 

[Hacker15e]

Not unusual from the Ag flyers I've been acquainted with over the years.

 

[USMCmech]

Now, what do you think about flying underneat high-power lines?...

Many ag airplanes have a cable running from the top of the canopy to the top of the vertical stab, so if they do touch a powerline, it will be carried up and over the tail.

I like this vid even better

 

[ctab5060X]

Many ag airplanes have a cable running from the top of the canopy to the top of the vertical stab, so if they do touch a powerline, it will be carried up and over the tail.

I like this vid even better

Depends on the power line. A high tension cross country line will slice the cockpit in half.



Flying under power lines definitely falls under the "Don't try this at home" category.

 

[Lawman]

Depends on the power line. A high tension cross country line will slice the cockpit in half.



Flying under power lines definitely falls under the "Don't try this at home" category.

Plenty of helicopters have it in their Training manual for the Army. It's not terrifying once you do it and realize you won't just explode for trying it.

We used to train it all the time and at speed too, not just a slow hover. You ran parallel to the wires to check droop in the middle and verify altitude + 30 feet of clearance altitude, then do a 270 degree turn and cross as close to the superstructure as possible (highest wire point).

When you figure my rotor disk is 59 feet in diameter I'm at greater risk than some little 206 or Argo plane with a spray kit.

 

[ctab5060X]

Plenty of helicopters have it in their Training manual for the Army. It's not terrifying once you do it and realize you won't just explode for trying it.

We used to train it all the time and at speed too, not just a slow hover. You ran parallel to the wires to check droop in the middle and verify altitude + 30 feet of clearance altitude, then do a 270 degree turn and cross as close to the superstructure as possible (highest wire point).

When you figure my rotor disk is 59 feet in diameter I'm at greater risk than some little 206 or Argo plane with a spray kit.

@Lawman

Glad that there is training for this in the Army. Unfortunately, ag operators have little if no formal training for flying under wire. Not to mention they rarely have the luxury of flying parallel to the wires to check for droop.

I wasn't trying to say you would explode if you did fly under wires, but there are still young/inexperienced and impressionable pilots out there that might not see the planning/training/experience that goes with these operators flying under wires. Thus the "Don't try this at home".

Also, I would caution about calling ag planes little. The AT-802A has the same wingspan as your rotor disk.

 

[texas17]

You have to know your personal and aircraft limits.

Picture is from an ag training course my current company paid for me to do.

 

[GolfChuck]

Many ag airplanes have a cable running from the top of the canopy to the top of the vertical stab, so if they do touch a powerline, it will be carried up and over the tail.

I like this vid even better

@Fencer I think you missed your calling

 

[z987k]

Depends on the power line. A high tension cross country line will slice the cockpit in half.



Flying under power lines definitely falls under the "Don't try this at home" category.

I've got quit a few strips I like to pop into for back country access that have those tall high tension lines at one end. I'm probably 200ft or so under them crossing the threshold at 50kts and they have the orange balls on them.

 

[Burrito]

I've got quit a few strips I like to pop into for back country access that have those tall high tension lines at one end. I'm probably 200ft or so under them crossing the threshold at 50kts and they have the orange balls on them.

May be a noob question, but aren't the balls on the lines at the drooping point for crop dusters and other pilots to see from altitude?

 

[ctab5060X]

May be a noob question, but aren't the balls on the lines at the drooping point for crop dusters and other pilots to see from altitude?

They are just for visibility and generally only around airports.

My old home airport had them marking the top wire of normal power lines as they were close in on the approach.
They also build some new high tension lines about 2 miles west of the airport when completed, they marked the top of the lines and poles while ag operators were flying beneath the lines.