Large -3T load

[cloudrunner]

We've got 6000 lbs of undercarriage, mainly drive chains for a D5 to move water to water in a Walter -3T.

Just wondering if anyone has any past experience, advice/tips. Something I haven't thought of.

It will be on 3-4 skids in a couple of loads. Have a boat launch in town and a zoomboom available. Have a mud/rock shore and a zoomboom available at the lodge.

Cheers

[Meatservo]

Well I can think of a couple of issues, first is a skid with 1-2 thousand ponds on it is going to be pretty hard to move around inside the otter. Is there any way you can break the loads down into smaller units? Also, it's none of my business but if you're taking it any great distance 3000lb is a lot for a single Otter on floats. I mean, she'll do it... I don't know what the Walter ones weigh empty though.

The mud/rock shore would be a bit tricky...I suppose I would try to use ropes to turn the aircraft sideways so the zoom boom could drive up to it reasonably close? If you can get the plane turned broadside to shore it'll still be sitting in at least 30 inches of water, if you can drive the zoomboom into the water that far on your particular shore. I guess you could make timber ramps to put from the aircraft's door into shallower water and slide the skids partially down the ramps to where the zoomboom can reach them. It's hard to advise without seeing the particular shore in question.

I had to unload some very heavy equipment one time from an otter so first we flew in a floating dock, then used it as a barge to tie alongside the plane, and run the equipment down ramps onto the floating dock, then floated it to shore.

[Heliian]

The best thing to do is wait until winter and go on ski's, it also makes loading and unloading easier.

[cloudrunner]

I don't know what the Walter ones weigh empty though

4723 lbs on 7170's. stretched +extra floatation.

[cloudrunner]

The best thing to do is wait until winter and go on ski's, it also makes loading and unloading easier.

not if you need to build an airstrip now...

[cloudrunner]

Here's how we went about it for anyone interested.

We boomed the piece onto a pallet from a Cat loader with forks at the boat launch. We had to curl the "tail of the Scorpion" looking piece in through the door as we pulled it forward since it was too wide all coiled up.




The chain and 8 rollers were on an upside down pallet, on top of 6 sections of steel pipe, on top of 2x6's. We used a small come-along and leap-frogged the pipes forward as we went.




Here's what the load looked like before we chained and roped it in place. We did two loads like this and then the rest of the bits and pieces later. Turned out to be more like 5000lbs total.

[StudentPilot]

Are there any rules of thumb for how much plywood or diamond plated steel increase the "permissible" floor loading by?
And out of curiosity, what is the maximum floor loading for Beavers and Otters?

[PointyEngine]

Impressive loading fellas! Makes a drill shack in a twin otter look like kids play. Glad the hardest part for me was clicking the mouse!!

[Level@3000]

Well done men!!

[2R]

Be careful when using any chain hook that close to the end as it can come loose and hurt something or someone.
The hook tips can shear off under load or unexpected load shift shock loading.

Not all Chicks dig scars