![](http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/208874C0-C8AE-4FF5-A172-4A4D31577278/HDTCJ7.jpg)
Coulson Seaking S61N Helicopter at Qualm Airport on Vancouver Island British Columbia, Canada. SCO 11,264.
On 7 August 1962, the S-61N made its first flight. Otherwise identical to the S-61L, this version is optimized for overwater operations, particularly oil rig support, by retaining the SH-3's floats. Both the S-61L and S-61N were subsequently updated to Mk II standard with improvements including more powerful CT58-110 engines giving better hot and high performance, vibration damping and other detail refinements. The Payloader, a stripped down version optimised for aerial crane work, was the third civil model of the S-61. The Payloader features the fixed undercarriage of the S-61L, but with an empty weight almost 2,000 lb (910 kg) less than the standard S-61N. Carson Helicopters was the first company to shorten a commercial S-61. The fuselage is shortened by 50 in ( m) to increase single engine performance and external payload. A unique version is the S-61 Shortsky conversion of S-61Ls and S-61Ns by Helipro International. VIH Logging was the launch customer for the HeliPro Shortsky conversion which first flew in February 1996. One modification for the S-61 is the Carson Composite Main Rotor blade. These blades replace the original Sikorsky metal blades which are prone to fatigue. The Carson Composite Main Rotor blades permit a modified aircraft to carry an additional 2,000 lb (907 kg) load, fly 15 kn (28 km/h) faster and increases range 61 nmi (113 km). The latest version is the modernized S-61T helicopter. The US State Department has signed a purchase agreement for up to 110 modernized S-61T aircraft for passenger and cargo transport missions in support of its worldwide operations. The first two modernized S-61 aircraft will support missions for the Embassy in Afghanistan.
Size: 6060px × 4045px
Location: Port Alberni, Sproat Lake. Mars Bombers. Base Vancouver Island. BC. Canada.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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