Kermit! The very 1st Revel Model Aircraft I built was around 1960 and was of this Helicopter. Been in Love with this Bird ever since! Can't wait to hear and see this beautiful work of art!
FWIW: When my parents first took me to Disney World in 1973 - I was 12 years old - we stayed in a hotel off the Disney World site. There was a farm field across the road from this hotel, and what I think was an S-55 helicopter was being used for crop dusting.
N17756 Used to be a Papillon Grand Canyon Tours Helicopter, I know cause i used to be a fueler for Papillon when i was a young pup ages ago, my goodness i haven't seen the S55 in so so long, glad to see it in good hands !
Kermit, don't forget the rotor brake, I watched one windmill in Vegas during a microburst, the main rotor blades struck the tailboom many times before a courageous pilot climbed in and set the brake as the aircrafts left main wheel came off the ground.
I worked for Papillion, biggest problem they had was torque issues with the 5 blade rotor and turbine engine, cracks developed in the tail boom (made of magnesium) and the main rotor gearbox. Also not enough power on hot days. But the ride was nice and the glass floor was a great view. Was a neat idea, But the grand Canyon and Las Vegas heat were tough.
Many years ago I stopped at a small local field originally built by a crop duster. I was asking about flight training. The airport owner saw my sports car so invited me into his private hanger to see his very nice sports car collection. In the back was a flyable S-55 which he said was the very first production S-55.
My instructor was the certification pilot on this machine. Told me the front windshield busted out on him at high speed testing. That’s why it is a reinforced windshield..
Thanks for the wonderful video gentlemen!! I truly hope to be part of the Fantasy of Flight crew someday. Keep up the great work. Much respect and support from Oklahoma.
Even when nobody's around, Can't remember the countless times I got called in to work to repair damage by the "unknown forklift operator," even a trip to Madrid Spain.
the blue one he said in the aquisition videos said he wants to get the blue one on static display as he has a former Aris Helicopters S-55 in his Golden Hill facility same P&W R-1340 as the blue one. but the video on aris helicopters the guy flying it leaned the mixture out and it quit as they did a autorotation and landed in a schoolyard and took the rotor blade caps off. as he plans to fly that with the Ex turbine one the S-55QT. was a former whisper jet helicopter used in the grand canyon
Those trucks are amazing. They have a compartment on the back which I assume is the storage unit for all the moving equipment plus a crew rest area. I've seen sleeper cabs before but nothing like that. Awesome idea!
That is a sleeper or living quarters. lots of new trucks are getting what is more like an RV unit behind the cab than what people think of as a sleeper. Rules for trucks have changed and length restrictions are not the same. That is why you see hardly Zero cabovers and more Trucks with the living box in the back. See Hours of Service Regulations and electronic logging devices (ELDs) is Similar to a GPS, the small device connects to a vehicle’s engine and tracks how long a truck is in motion. If it says your time is up your time is up the truck will have to pull over and stop and wait. No matter the location. So having the little RV Box out back makes your mandatory time off a little more enjoyable. In places like CA when the truck is off duty it can not be left idling. So you have to run you A/C unit off a separate APU or plug in.
Aviation guys usually have the best trucks,that company is International Machine Transport. I met the guy in the link when he was picking up a core from a Citation in the hanger next to me. ruclips.net/video/WPm9njRY8Fs/видео.html He was a really cool guy,he let my daughter look around/play in the drivers seat etc and she still talks about it 2 years later lol. All he does is haul jet engines for the most part around.
Re: truck idling in CA. I assume you mean California and not Canada. If that is the case, maybe it applies to Los Angeles County only. (LA County only gets more stupid with their laws about emissions.) Even into 2018, I've seen trucks idling wherever throughout the state.
It has been that way from around 2008 and is the entire state. In parts of CO you can be sent to jail for up to a year for idling your Truck. FLORIDA Statewide - Repealed effective 2/16/2012 - In some states you can not let your car idle too. So all the parents sitting out side the school with the A/C or Heater running. That is illegal in several states. No idling next to a school.
Wow, round engines, grease oil and smoke all combined with AIRPLANES. I cut my teeth on radials and am proud to say I have never lit a turbine. Wish I could work in the states. Would be knocking on your door. Not only fix them, but little piece of paper says I can fly them to. Love the vids.
Overall, very nice looking fuselages, and good teamwork, positive attitudes! I remember these as a kid in Europe, Sabena had a shuttle flight from Maastricht, a heliport built especially for them with a nice restaurant. Loved to watch them take off, the engine made a tremendous noise.
the s-55 or the h-19 is referred to the chickasaw the recip ones had a 600 hp p&w r-1340 the other was a wright cyclone 7 700 hp r-1300. that be lot of work to make the ex turbine one to a reciprocating one. sikorsky made a bigger version called the S-58 chocataw a taildragger the engine is a wright cyclone 9 r-1820 which later were turbine powered. as some did see service in vietnam. if thats another future aquisation for Weeks and Fantisy of flight. as i believe that winnebago made flying motorhomes out of the s-55 and s-58 for some time or if some exist today with the winnebago conversion.
Thank the Lord for people like Kermit Weeks, who have the money & inclination to keep all these wonderful aircraft flying. Thanks Kermit. Long may it continue. Richard, Worthing, Sussex, England.
The question is on the fuel tanks on the ex turbine airframe if they still have residual jet fuel in them? as they will have to be cleaned out for the P&W R-1340. as that will require 100 octane low lead aviation gasoline in them. i was seeing in videos some of these units have the Wright r-1300 being the carburetor is on top of the engine rear case and the acessory shield is different from your two s-55s that have the P&W R-1340 the carburetor on the bottom and rounded acessory shield that protects the mags and acessories from the heat as when the clamshell doors are closed the air is exhausted out the bottom. the p&w r-1340 should be adquate for your ride operations. not drying off cherry trees other people do with their s-55s.
Good luck with the transmissions. I worked for a company that had a turbine conversion S55 and we couldn't find a shop that could overhaul the box and certify it for the FAA. Think the bird ended up in Canada.
The guy that they aquierd the chopper from had bought up the whole inventory of spare parts from Sikorsky years ago. Said he had parts to keep these choppers flying for years and years to come. Had two hangars filled to the brim with pallets of nos parts.
Great to see these historic helicopters arrive at Fantasy of Flight,to see one in the air again will be just great,sturdy workhorses with real character.
If memory serves me correctly, I believe I saw a couple S-55's operational at Willow Run Airport in Ypsylanti, Mi. (home of the Yankee Air Museum), about five or six years ago. I don't know if they would be available or if they are still even there.
i just saw the Ex turbine one was designated as the S-55Q as it had a 5 blade rotor head and blade and a exhaust silencer made originally for Whisper Jet Inc and by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. as i believe N17756 and N111VA Kermit plans to use them as ride helicopters as both machines have P&W R-1340 radial engines in them as the one from the blue one is being transferred to the ex turbine powered one.
Oscar Mayer the blue one is for parts one video he said the blue one may be for static display. unless he finds the clam shell doors for the ex turbine machine. as the pratt and whitney r-1340, rotor gear boxes, and msc parts are going on the rainbow machine. some parts may go on his other s-55 he already has as he may fly both to do ride operations. the s-55 or h-19 chickasaw these are the navy version has a more powerful wright r-1300-3 as the P&W r-1340 is underpowered. mainly these were in the korean war and the opening stages of the vietnam war till it was supplanted by the s-58 h-34 Choctaw as its more wider and the tail boom close to the ground as its powered by a 9 cylinder wright r-1820 radial engine with three exhaust pipes coming out the left or port side clamshell door. as the s-58 is sikorsky's last reciprocating or piston engine helicopter made it saw service in vietnam and civilian use for passengers. as kemeit weeks collects only the piston engine aircraft and and helicopters up to the 50s.
HEY,... KERMIT What's up ? So what's going on with this Helicopter have you Mead any progress In putting that Sikorsky S-55 together ,? Since this video video was Mead ? Way back in 2017 ? Ok let me know was up
As a forklift driver my butt was clinching watching the weight come off the back tires of your lift. What do those birds weigh and what's your machine rated for? My guess is you guys were pretty close to capacity.
They're light, I've seen a forklift like this pick up much heavier stuff, like an entire container...and then get stuck in the power lines...no injuries. LOL
From what I can find those helos weigh well under 6K lbs, that forklift looks to be at least a 15k rated truck, granted the weight is quite far out from the mast.
Well that has to Suck. You have 2 holes punched into the side of the blue one. Those two holes were not there in the 1st video. Hope you got a discount.
14:25 inline with the big hole. just in front of the seam for the nose door, or look at door hinge and go down to the next panel in the nose door and you can see the hole/dent.
Hey KW et al. I was just watching another video and saw a flash of another one of these helicopters : ruclips.net/video/eVTd0Q43YQY/видео.html go to about the last ten seconds.
I cant help but smile knowing that these birds get to fly again. Thank you Mr.Weeks!
Kermit! The very 1st Revel Model Aircraft I built was around 1960 and was of this Helicopter. Been in Love with this Bird ever since! Can't wait to hear and see this beautiful work of art!
FWIW: When my parents first took me to Disney World in 1973 - I was 12 years old - we stayed in a hotel off the Disney World site. There was a farm field across the road from this hotel, and what I think was an S-55 helicopter was being used for crop dusting.
N17756 Used to be a Papillon Grand Canyon Tours Helicopter, I know cause i used to be a fueler for Papillon when i was a young pup ages ago, my goodness i haven't seen the S55 in so so long, glad to see it in good hands !
Kermit, don't forget the rotor brake, I watched one windmill in Vegas during a microburst, the main rotor blades struck the tailboom many times before a courageous pilot climbed in and set the brake as the aircrafts left main wheel came off the ground.
Have a type on a CV440 and DC3, both as a mech and pilot. 2800 is one of the best engines ever built. Thanks for the highlight.
Wow, new toys in the playpen. Thanks for sharing Kermit and Co.
I love the look of those old Sikorskys
Fits it perfectly then says, "That's near enough." Love it.
I worked for Papillion, biggest problem they had was torque issues with the 5 blade rotor and turbine engine, cracks developed in the tail boom (made of magnesium) and the main rotor gearbox. Also not enough power on hot days. But the ride was nice and the glass floor was a great view. Was a neat idea, But the grand Canyon and Las Vegas heat were tough.
Many years ago I stopped at a small local field originally built by a crop duster. I was asking about flight training. The airport owner saw my sports car so invited me into his private hanger to see his very nice sports car collection. In the back was a flyable S-55 which he said was the very first production S-55.
My instructor was the certification pilot on this machine. Told me the front windshield busted out on him at high speed testing. That’s why it is a reinforced windshield..
Thanks for the wonderful video gentlemen!! I truly hope to be part of the Fantasy of Flight crew someday. Keep up the great work. Much respect and support from Oklahoma.
Forklifts have got to be the most useful tool around the shop. They do everything.
Even when nobody's around, Can't remember the countless times I got called in to work to repair damage by the "unknown forklift operator," even a trip to Madrid Spain.
As I recall the blue one is for parts.. And restoring the white one.. Look forward to seeing this project get started.. Cool beans..
the blue one he said in the aquisition videos said he wants to get the blue one on static display as he has a former Aris Helicopters S-55 in his Golden Hill facility same P&W R-1340 as the blue one. but the video on aris helicopters the guy flying it leaned the mixture out and it quit as they did a autorotation and landed in a schoolyard and took the rotor blade caps off. as he plans to fly that with the Ex turbine one the S-55QT. was a former whisper jet helicopter used in the grand canyon
Those trucks are amazing. They have a compartment on the back which I assume is the storage unit for all the moving equipment plus a crew rest area. I've seen sleeper cabs before but nothing like that. Awesome idea!
That is a sleeper or living quarters. lots of new trucks are getting what is more like an RV unit behind the cab than what people think of as a sleeper. Rules for trucks have changed and length restrictions are not the same. That is why you see hardly Zero cabovers and more Trucks with the living box in the back. See Hours of Service Regulations and electronic logging devices (ELDs) is Similar to a GPS, the small device connects to a vehicle’s engine and tracks how long a truck is in motion. If it says your time is up your time is up the truck will have to pull over and stop and wait. No matter the location. So having the little RV Box out back makes your mandatory time off a little more enjoyable. In places like CA when the truck is off duty it can not be left idling. So you have to run you A/C unit off a separate APU or plug in.
Aviation guys usually have the best trucks,that company is International Machine Transport. I met the guy in the link when he was picking up a core from a Citation in the hanger next to me. ruclips.net/video/WPm9njRY8Fs/видео.html He was a really cool guy,he let my daughter look around/play in the drivers seat etc and she still talks about it 2 years later lol. All he does is haul jet engines for the most part around.
Re: truck idling in CA. I assume you mean California and not Canada. If that is the case, maybe it applies to Los Angeles County only. (LA County only gets more stupid with their laws about emissions.) Even into 2018, I've seen trucks idling wherever throughout the state.
It has been that way from around 2008 and is the entire state. In parts of CO you can be sent to jail for up to a year for idling your Truck. FLORIDA Statewide - Repealed effective 2/16/2012 - In some states you can not let your car idle too. So all the parents sitting out side the school with the A/C or Heater running. That is illegal in several states. No idling next to a school.
great video!!! you guys have the ultimate dream jobs !!! and Paul Reno is in Nevada not California !!!
Wow, round engines, grease oil and smoke all combined with AIRPLANES. I cut my teeth on radials and am proud to say I have never lit a turbine. Wish I could work in the states. Would be knocking on your door. Not only fix them, but little piece of paper says I can fly them to. Love the vids.
Nice to see these arrive. I'm retired - can I come and help?
Overall, very nice looking fuselages, and good teamwork, positive attitudes! I remember these as a kid in Europe, Sabena had a shuttle flight from Maastricht, a heliport built especially for them with a nice restaurant. Loved to watch them take off, the engine made a tremendous noise.
you are awesome...thank you Mr.Weeks..... São Paulo - Capital - Brasil
the s-55 or the h-19 is referred to the chickasaw the recip ones had a 600 hp p&w r-1340 the other was a wright cyclone 7 700 hp r-1300. that be lot of work to make the ex turbine one to a reciprocating one. sikorsky made a bigger version called the S-58 chocataw a taildragger the engine is a wright cyclone 9 r-1820 which later were turbine powered. as some did see service in vietnam. if thats another future aquisation for Weeks and Fantisy of flight. as i believe that winnebago made flying motorhomes out of the s-55 and s-58 for some time or if some exist today with the winnebago conversion.
I figured out the catch of Mr. Week's "buy one, get one free" statement. His crew now has twice the work!
I love this channel. Thank you for sharing Kermit. :)
Thank the Lord for people like Kermit Weeks, who have the money & inclination to keep all these wonderful aircraft flying. Thanks Kermit. Long may it continue. Richard, Worthing, Sussex, England.
The question is on the fuel tanks on the ex turbine airframe if they still have residual jet fuel in them? as they will have to be cleaned out for the P&W R-1340. as that will require 100 octane low lead aviation gasoline in them. i was seeing in videos some of these units have the Wright r-1300 being the carburetor is on top of the engine rear case and the acessory shield is different from your two s-55s that have the P&W R-1340 the carburetor on the bottom and rounded acessory shield that protects the mags and acessories from the heat as when the clamshell doors are closed the air is exhausted out the bottom. the p&w r-1340 should be adquate for your ride operations. not drying off cherry trees other people do with their s-55s.
Awesome, awesome ...thanks for the ride along.
Great video as usual.. but I’d love to see Paul’s face when Kermit says he’s got some more projects coming! :)
I live in the panhandle but one day i will make a trip to FOF and hopefully get to meet mr weeks
Good luck with the transmissions. I worked for a company that had a turbine conversion S55 and we couldn't find a shop that could overhaul the box and certify it for the FAA. Think the bird ended up in Canada.
The guy that they aquierd the chopper from had bought up the whole inventory of spare parts from Sikorsky years ago.
Said he had parts to keep these choppers flying for years and years to come. Had two hangars filled to the brim with pallets of nos parts.
Ready to see em fly eventually.
Great to see these historic helicopters arrive at Fantasy of Flight,to see one in the air again will be just great,sturdy workhorses with real character.
I flew the CH-19 in the US Army. 4 wheels, 3 blades==Ground resonance was a problem, but with training it could be avoided..
If memory serves me correctly, I believe I saw a couple S-55's operational at Willow Run Airport in Ypsylanti, Mi. (home of the Yankee Air Museum), about five or six years ago. I don't know if they would be available or if they are still even there.
The forklift, just stealth flexing.
"yeah I lift helos."
Did you buy all the parts bins too? All 400 of them? That'd take the entire state of Rhode Island to store!
Curious to know if your going to go military on the paint.
I really like that rainbow paint.
In Part 2 of this series (Acquisition Visit?) I told how I got a windscreen full of that rainbow color. I'm nearly 100% certain it was this bird.
i just saw the Ex turbine one was designated as the S-55Q as it had a 5 blade rotor head and blade and a exhaust silencer made originally for Whisper Jet Inc and by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. as i believe N17756 and N111VA Kermit plans to use them as ride helicopters as both machines have P&W R-1340 radial engines in them as the one from the blue one is being transferred to the ex turbine powered one.
Oscar Mayer the blue one is for parts one video he said the blue one may be for static display. unless he finds the clam shell doors for the ex turbine machine. as the pratt and whitney r-1340, rotor gear boxes, and msc parts are going on the rainbow machine. some parts may go on his other s-55 he already has as he may fly both to do ride operations. the s-55 or h-19 chickasaw these are the navy version has a more powerful wright r-1300-3 as the P&W r-1340 is underpowered. mainly these were in the korean war and the opening stages of the vietnam war till it was supplanted by the s-58 h-34 Choctaw as its more wider and the tail boom close to the ground as its powered by a 9 cylinder wright r-1820 radial engine with three exhaust pipes coming out the left or port side clamshell door. as the s-58 is sikorsky's last reciprocating or piston engine helicopter made it saw service in vietnam and civilian use for passengers. as kemeit weeks collects only the piston engine aircraft and and helicopters up to the 50s.
When installing landing gears it's handy to have a big, burly guy around.
YOUR TO MUCH KERMIT. GOOD LUCK.
DOUG WARDS CUB WILL BE FLYING APRIL 2020. TOTAL OVER HAUL AT BOYCEVILL WI.
VERY GOOD , BRASIL OK.
Well, it's a start!
I never know how to refer to these S-55 or UH-19.
Glad you didn't smash a window at 3:35 !!!
I owned and sprayed with 17755 in the 70-80’s
4:13 LMFAO the people doing the "ignorant airhorn" as i call it friggen hilarious i mean it made me type up a comment...........
" So you intend on giving site- seeing rides. I can't wait, I'll be one of your first passengers!"
"So, now that they're unloaded, who's up for a trip to the gym to hit the weights?" "Not me." "Nope." "Me neither." All for fun...
how cool it would be if they where painted in US Army Colors!
Will both helicopters be restored to flyable condition?
HEY,... KERMIT What's up ? So what's going on with this Helicopter have you Mead any progress In putting that Sikorsky S-55 together ,? Since this video video was Mead ? Way back in 2017 ?
Ok let me know was up
In storage at Golden Hill waiting for its turn at restoration.
HEY,.. KERMIT Well That's so awesome Just To Know that It will Someday soon be
In the air flying again
Just love the old Sikorsky Helicopter
As a forklift driver my butt was clinching watching the weight come off the back tires of your lift. What do those birds weigh and what's your machine rated for? My guess is you guys were pretty close to capacity.
They're light, I've seen a forklift like this pick up much heavier stuff, like an entire container...and then get stuck in the power lines...no injuries. LOL
From what I can find those helos weigh well under 6K lbs, that forklift looks to be at least a 15k rated truck, granted the weight is quite far out from the mast.
At 13:12 in the video --> That looks like two small dentists working on a very big mouth...😊
Can we get a follow up on these ?
was the turboshaft engine mounted up front or moved to the top on the turbine one?
Rainbow one should have went to San Fran for tours.
That’s cool 🤓
Well that has to Suck. You have 2 holes punched into the side of the blue one. Those two holes were not there in the 1st video. Hope you got a discount.
ruclips.net/video/MjiaTyaNIhs/видео.htmlm6s vs ruclips.net/video/b3sH7HAaV7E/видео.htmlm23s
I saw the one by the door but didnt see the second.
I posted the time code in a link for RUclips. Kermit must of deleted that part of the post.
14:25 inline with the big hole. just in front of the seam for the nose door, or look at door hinge and go down to the next panel in the nose door and you can see the hole/dent.
The blue one was going to be just a static display anyway, as it has a lot of corrosion.
The other one will be the fully restored flyable Heli.
Thumbs up to the Wrenchers!
Forklift and Ladder safety out the window. :) Look forward to more S-55 videos.
i have the book you created.
Don't you dare paint the rainbow machine :D
All that truck for a what...4000 lb airframe? I could have hauled that with a pick up..overkill. glad I'm not paying the bill.
You sure your ute is big enough to take an airframe that size?
Must be a Texas pick up, things are bigger in Texas.
Hey KW et al. I was just watching another video and saw a flash of another one of these helicopters : ruclips.net/video/eVTd0Q43YQY/видео.html
go to about the last ten seconds.
Why anyone would replace an air-cooled radial with a turbine in a helicopter is beyond belief.
Easy as, Alan. Operating costs.
Power to weight ratio and maintenance on the turbine is far superior.
🤲🌠
@besttugs
bom
Harold
"Burrs" on a landing gear fitting???
From paint maybe if it was repainted without the landing gear legs removed?
Burr (noun): a rough edge or ridge left on an object (especially of metal) by the action of a tool or machine.