Quote:
Originally posted by Daradon@Aug 13 2004, 01:30 PM
And besides, it costs a ton of money. It has no back rotor, that's supposedly what keps it more silent, so it has jet engines. You knoe how much jet fuel costs right? You know where that money is coming from right? Those stupid ticket quotas (only major city in Canada left having them, it's right on a officer's webpage, he wants to get rid of them) and the Multinova tax.
No Cow, Edmonton doesn't have a helicopter. I'm not sure Van even has one, though I would think they would have too. All I remember is that when we got our first they said the only other Canadian city to have one was Toronto.
|
The lack of tail rotor doesn't significantly increase fuel consumption. HAWCS has a gas turbine engine (like most large helicopters) and doesn't simply shoot exhaust out the end of the tail to counter the torque of the main rotor...it uses aerodynamic wings combined with exhaust and the downdraft from the main rotor. According to manufacturer's website, the average fuel cost is $58US/hour. I'd rather have that thing up there burning $80CAD/hour than 5 cop cars parked at Tim Horton's burning $20/hour. More expensive? Yes... Worthwhile? I think so.
How expensive is jet fuel anyhow? For airlines, US DoT seems to have it hovering around $1US / gallon...significantly cheaper than the retail price for gasoline.
According to the police website (google search "hawcs helicopter"), ours was actually the first in Canada. If I remember, the hype about it back then was that "even Toronto doesn't have one!"
Da manufacturer!