Would this be an abnormal load?

[dipper_dave]

One thing I’ve just noticed is if it’s loaded back to front on a semi lowloader, these things have what’s called a swan neck where the front of the trailer is higher than the back. Measuring the height from ground level to rear rotor would be good to ensure it doesn’t touch the deck first.
Looking at it it could be close so some railway sleepers to sit it on would solve this.

This would increase the travelling height as well though so worth considering.

Also as its 8foot wide that’s the same as the trailer width so it might use the extendable side bars to get a good footing on the trailer. Should still be below the 9’ 6" width limit before the load becomes classed as abnormal.
Course this depends on the trailer chosen but the firm might send a rep or driver out to reccy the job first anyway.

This helps avoid Mr Cockup showing up on the day which is not what you want with a delicate chopper.

For this move a nooteboom semi low loader like I used to have or similar could be used, not my old truck but similar trailer to this.

Notice the swan neck bit I mentioned earlier at the front.

Also due to the delicate nature of the chopper and vibration in transit it might be worth considering if support is needed for the rear rotor.

OMG I’ve over thought this.

[franglais]

Id have said (assuming ht is under 2.5m) a flat would do it. Flat with a side rave ideal, if not dunnage nailed onto the bed on the inside edge of the skids, and straps pulling skids crosswise. At only 900 kgs it wont be moving far. The air frame should be strong and rigid enough to survive a road trip; putting supports under the tail boom are likely to do more harm than good Id say? Also Id suggest that the design is good for air flow passing from front to rear but may not be good for air passing from rear to front? I saw an off road competition car loaded arse forward on a trailer; on the m-way the air got under the rear canopy/bonnet and lifted it off. Probably not secured well, but also only designed for fast forward not fast reverse!

[harry_monk]

Make sure the haulier’s goods in transit insurance covers the full value of it, and not just the £1300 per tonne RHA level.

[chris1207]

Surprised nobodys mentioned this… can’t you just refit the rotor blades and fly it onto a trailer?

[mikey_d]

I did a job exactly like this a month ago ., it was a training helicopter , had a heavy landing and needed moving a few miles up the road to the helicopter ‘garage’ to be repaired .
The rotor blades were craned off using our hiab with a special clamp which fitted the blades , then a D link fitted supplied by the engineers and the copter craned onto my flatbed trailer .
4 straps each looped around the legs where they attach to the skids and jobs a goodun
Oh the blades were put in a special purpose made crate and carried on the hiab truck .

Straightforward enough job but not sure about the insurance requirements copters are mega money I expect even damaged ones

[dieseldog999]

id say this was more likely to be classed as abnormal…definately a chain and dwang job for pickfords,or heanor…

[chris1207]

dieseldog999:
id say this was more likely to be classed as abnormal…definately a chain and dwang job for pickfords,or heanor…

Couldn’t viridor/biffa lift that with one of their front-loaders?

[dipper_dave]

Looks like she is wearing a front loader, or lift and shift as the wife calls em.

[chrisglobe]

Thanks everyone for their helpful comments - and well done to Dipper_Dave for not one, not two, but three innuendos in his posts!

To answer some of the questions and comments…

Yes, it’ll be outside with plenty of room to lift it by crane, but in the event there isn’t enough room, there’s a plan b (see above about wheeling it around!)

Trouble, you can find me at chris@centreline.aero

Franglais, correct that there’s no engine but the lifting points are supposedly designed so that it doesn’t matter. Nonetheless, we’ll have a system in place to keep the boom and tail safe. Also, officially they’re meant to be transported boom first (to save anything going through the cockpit glazing!) but this was the prototype, so may or may not be the case here. Thanks again for the heads up on this.

Dipper_Dave, thanks for the comments especially around the trailer, not something I’d thought of so will certainly look in to that in more detail!

Harry Monk, we’ll be checking with both the owners and the current custodians to ensure that we have a suitable level of cover, and we’ll check with the haulier too, didn’t realise they insured it also!

Chris1207, if you got a working engine, possibly - rather you than me though, it’s not flown for nearly 30 years!

So, again, thanks to everyone for the help, really appreciated! I’ll be in touch with a few of the companies mentioned, and if anyone has anything else that I might need to be aware of or suggestions for anyone that might be able to help transport it, please do let me know

Thanks,
Chris

[harry_monk]

ChrisGlobe:
Harry Monk, we’ll be checking with both the owners and the current custodians to ensure that we have a suitable level of cover, and we’ll check with the haulier too, didn’t realise they insured it also!

All hauliers have goods in transit insurance, but the normal amount insured is £1,300 per tonne, which is fine if a pallet of baked beans falls off of the trailer, but not maybe a helicopter. This is definitely a movement where I wouldn’t simply go for the cheapest quote.

EDIT- A B Tuckey’s might be worth contacting about this, they are more normally associated with moving narrowboats, but will be fully set up for high value movements and have an excellent reputation in the narrowboating community. mjtcranes.co.uk/transport/tuckeys/

[trouble]

ChrisGlobe:
Trouble, you can find me at chris@centreline.aero

Cheers, will drop you an email tomorrow, we may be able to help.

[ears_bleeding]

Phone Middle Wallop ask for the MT explain the situation
There is a pamphlet on how to road move a Gazelle can’t remember the number of it
It’s their bread and butter and should be able to help
Bum then up a bit they might even do it for you

[mrcloggy]

I did these a couple of times when I was on kings, regarding lifting the rotor head is stripped and a special jig fitted to the rotor which you use to lift directly on the hook reducing the lift

Best answers already given but it should be a simple move if planned.
A semi low loader with unit mounted crane should ■■■■ it.

Supply them with all dimensions especially height and all round photos.
If no dedicated lifting eye is available a set of long chains with webbing straps should do the job easy enough, chains can always shortened one end to get a level lift.

I would have it back to front on the trailer secured with either straps over the feet bars and or using any dedicated lashing points.

Most drivers I’ve met can handle a medium sized chopper. Trust you dipper

Ensure lots of headroom is available for the lift.

Also lots of room to load as although weight for the crane won’t be an issue it will need a good reach as the chains will be long, ideally there will be enough space for the unit to uncouple from the trailer and lift the chopper from a side position.

Sure king lifting did a load like this on their telly program, but their chopper had a wider girth and needed a special frame to sit it on.
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