In the world of helicopters, that happens frequently. He and his colleagues are empowered to use what they know to create new designs for new challenges. With a Timken career spanning 26 years - 20 of that working with helicopter customers - Carl said he still gets excited about his work because of the unique applications. It’s also the most flexible chopper in the industry because of its in-flight reconfigurations to accommodate search and rescue, hoist rescues and medical transport. It can carry up to 11 wildland firefighters, their gear and 1,000 gallons of water. Timken also provides bearings for an all-in-one, multiple-mission helicopter built specifically for aerial firefighting. Others have retrofitted tankers with a 1,000-gallon capacity and snorkel systems for filling up from any water source at any time as well as special electronic systems to collect intelligence, evaluate drop effectiveness and identify targets. Computers and night vision help pilots accurately drop water or flame retardant. Some are the world’s largest, able to suck up 3,000 gallons of water from a source in 90 seconds. Often firefighting rotorcraft are decommissioned defense choppers retrofitted for aerial firefighting. Nighttime is when fires are at their weakest due to higher humidity and less wind.
Ground firefighters and traditional firefighting helicopters are no longer enough.Ĭrews are turning to larger, more sophisticated helicopters that can work at night to precisely drop larger quantities of fire retardant. On board the world’s largest, most sophisticated firefighting rotorcraftĬlimate change has increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires, with 2021 seeing record-breaking fires in diverse regions like Siberia, Greece and the U.S.
Timken Application Engineering Specialist That says a lot about our expertise and how much our work matters.” “Timken is the bearing source for many helicopters because there’s nobody else qualified in many of the positions. “These helicopters don’t fly without Timken,” Carl said. Timken ® bearings are used in critical applications such as main, intermediate and tail rotor gearboxes. It’s the kind of critical work that has real-world impact for communities worldwide - and adds another layer of job satisfaction for those who contribute to the endeavor.Ĭarl works with helicopter builders on platforms used in defense and civil aviation, including firefighting helicopters. Aerial firefighters rely on Timken solutions to help save lives, protect property and preserve the environment. Matt Carl, a Timken application engineering specialist, understands the important role of Timken technology in battling massive wildfires.
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