These are purportedly photographs (click to enlarge) of the worlds largest helicopter, sighted on the tarmac in Dease Lake, B.C., a couple weeks ago. It was apparently being used to move mining equipment and cargo to Galore Creek, a new mine in that area. Called the Utsky and owned by a Russian company, the behemoth chopper couldn’t land at the unpaved air strip at Bob Quinn Lake (its rotor wash blows 12-inch rocks around like leaves!) so it had to land at Dease Lake until the landing site north of Bob Quinn could be inspected. It’s probably bigger than anything ever seen at the Dease Lake Airport, including the terminal building!
Stats (unverified):
- Russian crew of 6 (2 pilots, 1 navigator, 2 engineers (mechanics), 1 cargo person)
- Carries 75 troops
- Consumes 2000 litres of fuel per hour
- Range: 580 km
- Rental rate: $30,000/hr
- Length: 40 metres
- Rotor: 8 blades, each about 2 feet wide
Thanks Davey!