Classic Rotors

[jcochr50]

When I first saw the "Wings and Rotors museum now closed" thread, I was afraid it might be Classic Rotors. Glad I was wrong.

That being said, I wonder if we will ever see the H-21 fly again. And wonder if there is any chance that the CH-37 project will "ever" get off the ground.

Love the Fifties/Sixties era H-19, H-21, H-34 and H-37 piston engined helicopters.

[L-188]

You and me both. Back in the mid 70's there was an outfit with 2 H21's based at Rainbow airport in Franklin WI. IIRC, there were 2 H21's on the far Eastern side of the field. They had "HI Lift" painted
on the side. When I was in Jr high, I remember hearing a racket and rode my bike south. There was a shopko department store being Built and there was one of the H-21's putting the air conditioners on the roof. Remember a guy on theground doing the rigging, a guy laying on his stomach in the doorway,
and 1 guy flying. Never even thought to grab a camera.

[L-188]

Another story from the archives. Being a truck driver I've worked with some interesting characters.
One guy I worked with flew OH6's in Vietnam, and H37's in Germany. He told me about a time they
were flying to an airshow somewhere in Europe and the CO went along and brought his car so they'd
be able to explore. I want to say it was a chevelle or something like that, but anyways it fit in the cargo hold and off they went. Along the way the crew chief watched with horror as a small nydraulic leak (there were lots according to Jim) started dripping on the car. He crawled up to the cockpit and told them, they landed as soon as they could and the chevelle had a new bubbly paint job on the roof. Oh well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

[4RG.I.'S]

You and me both. Back in the mid 70's there was an outfit with 2 H21's based at Rainbow airport in Franklin WI. IIRC, there were 2 H21's on the far Eastern side of the field. They had "HI Lift" painted
on the side. When I was in Jr high, I remember hearing a racket and rode my bike south. There was a shopko department store being Built and there was one of the H-21's putting the air conditioners on the roof. Remember a guy on theground doing the rigging, a guy laying on his stomach in the doorway,
and 1 guy flying. Never even thought to grab a camera.

I believe Hi Lift continued to operate for a bit into the 1980's. The owner was a part time instructor at the A&P school I went to. One day he brought one of the H-21's in. The departure was the most interesting I've seen a helicopter do! While I'm sure it's nothing new or drastically different, he lifted up and back at quite an intense (to me) angle and rate. Later I heard one of them crashed (soft-ish, not major), I believe while doing a lift. Thanks L-188 for sparking an old memory!

[bdk]

Along the way the crew chief watched with horror as a small nydraulic leak (there were lots according to Jim) started dripping on the car. He crawled up to the cockpit and told them, they landed as soon as they could and the chevelle had a new bubbly paint job on the roof. Oh well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

MIL-H-5606 is mineral oil, not sure why it would bubble paint.

[phil65]

I think MIL-H-5606 is hydraulic fluid.
And it don't like natural rubber...

Phil

[bdk]

I think MIL-H-5606 is hydraulic fluid.
And it don't like natural rubber...

Phil

It is.

This is a highly-refined mineral-based oil derived from crude.

As a mineral-based oil, it is highly refined to remove impurities and increase performance levels. This oil is very "clean." It contains minimal if any paraffin (wax) that would affect flow rate and performance at low temperatures. As a result, this oil performs at temperatures as cool as -60 F.