Bell 47 Helicopter - Australia

[3rdaavbn]

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[Another Ahab]

And then there was the young lady I once dated (years ago, and this is no BS) who used to be a metallurgist at Sikorsky (in CT).

She told me a story about the "Jesus Nut", and I can't remember what particular helicopter she was referring to. It was the nut that held the rotor blades onto the driveshaft (?, or whatever that shaft would be called: I confess I'm not an aviator). She said that it was completely UNNATURAL the stresses that one critical piece of metal would go through (between angular momentum, vibration, tensile forces, temperature changes, etc.). And that whenever they failed, well you can maybe figure out how that nut got its name. A whole lot of work and research went into getting that one piece of hardware right (alloy, casting, machining, etc). Who knew?

 

[Stoner63]

That would be the CH47 Chinook. Every flight requires both fuel tanks be full and the crew chief standing by with a 55 Gallon drum of Hydraulic fluid for in flight issues like controls.....

 

[hndrsonj]

And then there was the young lady I once dated (years ago, and this is no BS) who used to be a metallurgist at Sikorsky (in CT).

She told me a story about the "Jesus Nut", and I can't remember what particular helicopter she was referring to. It was the nut that held the rotor blades onto the driveshaft (?, or whatever that shaft would be called: I confess I'm not an aviator). She said that it was completely UNNATURAL the stresses that one critical piece of metal would go through (between angular momentum, vibration, tensile forces, temperature changes, etc.). And that whenever they failed, well you can maybe figure out how that nut got its name. A whole lot of work and research went into getting that one piece of hardware right (alloy, casting, machining, etc). Who knew?

The Sikorsky MH53 used the "Jesus Nut"

 

[saddamsnightmare]

December 25th, 2013.

Jesus Nut aside, It will take a brave man to fly one of those Bell -47's unless they have been well maintained. Our little helicopter was due to be replaced with a Bell Jet Ranger, but logic finally weighed in and the operating costs were excessive for a package freight (repair Parts) and passenger hauler, so it was replaced with an ex USAF Step Van..... Much cheaper on the surplus market and no expensive repairs to keep it driving!


Merry Christmas!

 

[KenaAuto]

Looking forward to pics.