Bobbsy Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Okay. I'm mad about joyriding in helicopters--it started back in the early 1970s when I found myself hanging out the door of a Bell 47 with a 16mm camera and since then I've taken every opportunity I could to hitch rides in "whirlybirds". Anyway, through a series of coincidences, I've been put in touch with the guy who runs THIS COMPANY giving helicopter tours around Brisbane. Weather permitting, I'm going for a ride next week. Anyway, he seems as crazy as me and has the idea of installing an "Apocalypse Now" style sound system to play things like "Ride of the Valkyries" and the theme from MASH on some of his flights. I'll be talking to him next week about minor details like available power, mounting systems and weight restrictions (!) but this is a bit outside my normal area. Does anyone know what's out there in terms of loud but light DC powered amps/speakers? Several free helicopter joy rides for me may depend on your answers! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossmck Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Not a helpful answer I know but personally I'd never want to be fitting anything to an aircraft... and I think there's a fair few rules governing such things (here anyway, the laws in Australia will be different I'm sure) Whenever I think of "aftermarket entertainment" on aircraft I'm always reminded of Swissair Flight 111 which shows what happens when you start adding systems not designed for aviation use to things that fly... There's probably specialist companies out there that can advise and, more importantly, will have the necessary approvals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Good point...and one I'll punt straight back at the helicopter owner. So far, all I've been informally asked about is if there are DC powered sound systems available (which, even if just the car stereo market, there clearly are). I certainly wouldn't want to get involved in the public liability aspect of mounting something on an aircraft that flies a thousand feed over a major city! That said, I'm rapidly realising that the attitude to aviation is a bit different down here. This is a country where an awful lot of ranchers own planes and helicopters as tools of their trade--and treat them almost as casually as we do vans and cars. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Try your Police Air Wing as they have the same sort of PA systems as UK forces which use something called a Skyshout system. These appear to be a 700W to 850W system though I cannot find anything from a manufacturer so assume it to be a generic term. The problems with airborne and in particular helicopter systems will be with noise complaints from the ground. There have been more complaints, in the UK, about choppers hovering over illegal raves and shouting at the ravers than from the music itself. Nice pics of a US system: http://www.powersonix.com/helicopter.php mailto:ian@wintech-int.net Mobile: +61-435-431-209 Ian Winkworth is their Australian contact based in Chapel Hill, Qld. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shez Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Perhaps some clarification needed here - is the music for passengers in the helicopter or the people on the ground? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Thanks for that link, Kerry. That system looks ideal. Shez, the message I got is that it's for people outside when he does fly-bys. However, I've also thought about the noise pollution issue and I also have some ideas about plumbing some playback into the existing headset system with relay speakers for the audience on the ground. Anyway, I should be meeting the guy next week and will ply him with questions then. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Planes (and I assume whirleybirds are variations of "planes") usually have 28VDC electrics, and often an inverter to produce 120V 400Hz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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