Comments on: Wheels or skids?

By: Gerald Pearce

Gerald Pearce — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 19:49:55 +0000

Pre-dating the Cobra heli, in the early 70′s, the Army built some special SOTAS versions of the Huey. They had retractable skids to allow a large belly mounted antenna to rotate to detect enemy targets.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:39:56 +0000

I think they left out one major thing about wheels – ground resonance. They are more susceptible than skids. But that 430 sure looks gorgeous with wheels!

By: Mike Borkhuis

Mike Borkhuis — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 01:48:12 +0000

Don’t forget about bearpaws that get added to skids for landing on soft fields and/or snow.

As for running landings on skids, depending on wind, you can have very little run if you do it right.

By: jim hanson

jim hanson — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:35:49 +0000

I’ve owned a Bell 47, Hughes 300, and currently an Enstrom. I flew a McCullogh certified gyroplane a few times, and ever since, have wished for wheels on the helicopter. As previously mentioned, run-on landings are never a problem–or autos, for that matter. Landings couldn’t be easier–a flare like an airplane and a 50′ (or less) fun-on delivers smooth and predictable landings. You always retain the option of a hover landing, but watching wheeled helicopters do hover landings–they usually aren’t as smooth.

I know the Bell 47 originally had a 4-wheel gear. It would also make sense for a multiple-blade rotor system–mitigating the chance of ground resonance.

By: DJ Williams

DJ Williams — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:20:24 +0000

In addition to Float equipped helicopters there are also a small number of models that have amphibious hulls with retractable wheels which can alight on water and also land on land.

By: DJ Williams

DJ Williams — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:15:20 +0000

You omitted FLOAT equiped helicopters. A varient of “skids” on land but with the added availability of alighting on water.
Floats can be fixed for everyday use or emergency deployable.

By: pdxpilot

pdxpilot — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:03:22 +0000

Good things – I think the A109 looks like an Italian sports car with the wheels retracted – but the A119 loses something with skids. But then there are sleek looking skids like on EC120/EC130 – so sleek they can be protected as intellectual property.

By: Jon Stark

Jon Stark — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:47:56 +0000

Running take-off and landing operations (which are helpful when power limited, as from high density altitude) are much more practical and pleasant with wheels rolling than with skids scraping.

By: Ehud Gavron

Ehud Gavron — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:42:20 +0000

> Skid gear is always fixed

The original Bell 209 (Cobra AH-1G) had retractable skids. These were replaced by fixed skids in the production variants.

Googling “cobra retractable skids” finds lots of resources. One such: http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Fea1/001-100/Fea015_Cobra_Snow/00.shtm

Ehud

By: Nick Ahlen

Nick Ahlen — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:26:32 +0000

You left out the third possibility. Wheels that are NOT retractable. I feel they are the best of both worlds. Heavier than skids, lighter than the associated added weight of hydraulics to retract them. Sure more drag, but you can’t forget to put them down! In the H-60 series we have MORE than enough torque to hit 160 Kts in level flight with them down. Many military helicopters use this config and it is a great “compromise”.