What type of helicopters can fly in hurricanes?

Question

What types of helicopters are able to fly in extremely windy conditions and what are their limits?

How do they actually do it? is it totally automated hover?

Are there any video clips of real-life rescues using these aircraft?

Answer 1

No helicopters can fly in hurricanes.

Only a few weather aircraft can fly into a hurricane (like the P-3).

Answer 2

Not a great idea to fly a helo into a hurricane, but...

The 106th Air Sea Rescue Squadron of the New York Air National Guard did fly the HH-60 helo into the teeth of the "Perfect Storm". If you saw the movie, you saw a pretty good depiction of what actually happened.

Although the winds in this storm were a bit less than hurricane force (75+ MPH), the rain and turbulence was probably about equal to that inside the hurricane wall.

Very brave group, indeed.

As depicted in the movie, the helo had flown beyond its fuel range in its rescue attempt. Severe turbulence prevented a successful air re-fueling hook up with the C-130 tanker, and the pilot was forced to ditch the helo in the stormy sea. One crewmember was lost, but the rest were later rescued by a Coast Guard ship.

Answer 3

I am not aware of any helicopters the purposly flt into hurricanes, like the C-130 Hunters do.

I have heard of many stories of Coast Guard Helicopters flying into Hurricane force winds.

Take a look at the Dolphin (HH-65A).  It may be what you are looking for.

http://sunnyfortuna.com/festivals/disast...

For the C-130 Hurricane Hunters...

http://www.hurricanehunters.com/

Answer 4

none which i no of

Answer 5

None that would be suicide. and if you tried the only ones would be a HH-65 Dauphin and a black hawk. it is usually a last resort situation.

Answer 6

there is no point in flying into the hurricane. most of the disaster relief is performed AFTER the hurricane goes away the rest is done BEFOR the hurricane arrives.

no helicopter is able to fly safely in such hazardeous conditions, not even the Jayhawk and other H-60 variants.

Though most larger helicopters, preferably the military-originated are able to fly in stormy conditions, depending on their respective design limitations.