Global Eagle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Global Eagle is a modified UH-1 Iroquois helicopter with a new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67D engine, modified tail rotor, and other minor changes.

The design and engineering for the Global Eagle modifications work was performed by Global Helicopters, Inc, under a contract to Pratt and Whitney of Canada. After the design and integration were completed, PWC hired the aviation upgrades division of DynCorp to produce conversion kits and perform modification work for customers. ^[1]

Contents 1 Modifications 2 Performance 3 Customers 4 References

[edit] Modifications

• Engine replaced with PT6c-67D
• Tail rotor modified to tractor configuration from pusher, moved to right side of tailboom
• Strake added to tail boom to increase side lift from main rotor downwash

[edit] Performance

According to DynCorp ^[2] and Aviation Today, the tail rotor gains 40% greater control authority from the repositioning and the tail boom strake, improving control authority significantly.

Fuel consumption is reduced from a theoretical 620 lb/h to 525 lb/h. ^[3] The Georgia Forestry service reported a more dramatic improvement in their work, from 650 lb/h down to 500 lb/h. ^[4]

DynCorp quotes 50% lower engine maintenance costs per flight hour for the PT6C compared to the basic UH-1H L-53 turbine engine.

The lower fuel consumption increases flight endurance from 2.0 to 2.5 hours, and range from 200 miles to 244 miles (one way) or from 100 miles to 122 miles (operating radius) with a 30 minute flight reserve.

[edit] Customers

Identified Global Eagle customers to date include the US Border Patrol and Georgia Forestry Service.

[edit] References

1. ^ Eagle Power (article in Aviation Today and Aviation Today website), by Douglas W. Nelms, Nov 1, 2005, Accessed June 7, 2006.
2. ^ UH-1 Upgrade webpage at DynCorp UH-1 conversions website, accessed June 7, 2006.
3. ^ Comparisons page at DynCorp UH-1 conversions website, accessed June 7, 2006.
4. ^ Op cit. Aviation Today