Many thanks for the indo, especially all the great little detaios, like the yellow tape. Could you explain what is meant by a “water landing?” Do you mean that this copter is designed to land on the water and float? Do the engines stop? What is the advantage of a water landing, as oposed to hovering a few feet above the surface? Thanks
Yes, look at the front of the bird. You don't stop the engines. Landing and water taxi are easier than hovering a few feet above, but it all depends on the conditions. Now that the AC is so old that the seals are worn, they use the tape. The water landing is part of the training syllabus.
The post above this one basically covers it. I’m not actually sure what circumstances would indicate a water landing. From what I understand they keep the engines running and some lift applied, as the Sea King (like pretty much all choppers) is very top heavy and could easily tip over if the pilot depended on just the hull and pontoons to keep it upright.
I remember reading in a Canadian Forces magazine when I worked there of a pilot who was having trouble with one of the engines, put the chopper down on the water, keeping the rotor turning and producing some lift to keep it from tipping over, while they worked on solving the issues with the one engine. They got the problem resolved and were able to lift off again.
They were using the yellow tape when I worked there in ‘95, and I’m pretty sure the seals haven’t gotten any better since then. Also, those training choppers make a LOT of water landings, so a little help for the seals is probably a good idea. The ones they carry on the Navy’s ships don’t have that tape on them. Actually, the Sea Kings used at the training squadron are some of the oldest, most tired ones in the fleet.