"rabid_fan" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:43:27 +0000, Square Wheels wrote:

Nice hardware.

But what is the purpose of those sharp spikes on the front
ends of the landing skids? It seems that they could be a
potential danger to any careless member of the ground crew.

RF


If you look closely at the one on the left (farside) landing skid, the
"sharp spike" appears to be a square plate with a hole in the center. My
guess is that it is an attachment point for a towing attachment, or towing
dolly. It seems reasonable, since there are wheels attached to the back of
the skids, that there should be some method of attaching wheels to the front
of the skids to facilitate moving the helicopter on the ground for
maintainance, or what ever else is needed. I really don't think the Army
would ask a pilot to fly the helicopter into the hanger for maintainance.

They could also probably be used to tie the main rotor in a fore and aft
position, when the helicopter is on the ground.

Ken