| A Safer Landing and Takeoff
with the |
| LIGHT
HELICOPTER LANDING AID |
| Ideal for
any landing spot that can be adversely affected by difficult weather conditions |
| Why a Light Harpoon landing/take-off system? Developed as a landing/take-off aid for sea-borne
helicopters, the Light Harpoon system can secure a helicopter to a ship's deck as soon as
it has touched down...even in adverse sea conditions. |
 |
Who developed the system? The Light Harpoon is based on a military system
originally designed by DCN International, a French shipbuilding/systems company, for Naval
applications.
|
|
| DCN and Kell-Strom Tool Co.
Inc, Wethersfield, CT, USA, have now formed a joint venture to manufacture the Light
Harpoon Landing System for commercial operations. |
| The system is also ideal for other uses, such
as skyscrapers, offshore oil platforms, and/or difficult mountain landings - any spot that
can be adversely affected by difficult weather conditions. |
HOW IT WORKS |
| It consists of two (2) main
assemblies and a control system: |
The harpoon component of system (shown
below,left; retracted as it is in flight) is mounted to underside of the helicopter's
fuselage...
|
...and the landing grid (shown below), which
is fitted to the landing surface. 
|
 |
This special landing grid is
designed to receive the harpoon tip and automatically activate a mechanical trapping
mechanism incorporated into the harpoon head. |
| When landing, the pilot controls the extension
of the harpoon into the receiving grid mounted on the deck, platform or other landing
surface. The pilot also has control over the lock down sequencing. Before taking off, the helicopter is held by the Harpoon. When power and
pitch of the rotor are sufficient, the pilot releases the harpoon and the helicopter can
take off. The pilot alone chooses the best landing or takeoff moment. Lockdown and release
take place almost instantaneously.
The harpoon requires less than 2.5 inches (65mm)
penetration into grid to trap and does not require non-pilot assistance to trap or
release. |
| Can it be retrofitted
to existing helicopters? Yes.
The system can be retrofitted to any existing helicopter without major modifications. |
|
| For further
information, contact: |
|
| In the USA: |
Frank Kelly |
In France: |
Bernard David |
 |
Kell-Strom Tool Co., Inc. |
 |
DCN Ruelle |
| 214 Church Street |
BP30 |
| To
Kell-Strom Home Page |
Wethersfield, CT 06109 USA |
To DCN Home Page |
16660 Ruelle Sur Touvre, France |
| Phone: 860-529-6851 |
Fax: 860-257-9694 |
Phone: 33 5 45 24 3088 |
Fax: 33 5 45 24 3274 |
| E-mail: fkelly@kell-strom.com |
|
|
|
