Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitAn S-61V Sikorsky helicopter lifts an old cooling unit off of Bldg. 1600 April 7 to be placed down at a parking lot nearby.
Replacing 20-year-old cooling units on roofs can be a challenge given the large buildings and constant flightline operations at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
That’s why the 412th Civil Engineer Group called in a local helicopter company to help out with replacing the HVAC units on Bldg. 1600 April 7.
Siller Helicopters, Inc. flew in an S-61V Sikorsky to replace 22 evaporative coolers on the 412th Maintenance Group’s headquarters building. Seven of the coolers also had heaters as part of the unit.
Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitSiller Helicopters, Inc. flew in an S-61V Sikorsky to replace 22 evaporative coolers on the 412th Maintenance Group’s headquarters building April 7.
The chopper would dangle cable lines to be attached onto the old coolers, which were lifted off Bldg. 1600 and placed in a parking lot nearby. Workers then attached the cables to the new unit to be lifted onto the building.
“A crane could not reach all the units and would have disrupted operations for weeks since it would be a critical lift,” said Jason Garrett, 412th Civil Engineering Squadron. “The helicopter did it in two-and-a-half hours.”
Base civil engineers teamed up with the 412th Operations Support Squadron and 412th Test Wing Safety Office to ensure the unique flying operation went smoothly and safely.
Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitAn S-61V Sikorsky helicopter prepares to place a 20-year-old cooling unit from Bldg. 1600 down at a parking lot nearby.
Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitWorkers detach cables from an old cooling unit and then would reconnect the cables to a new unit to be lifted onto Bldg. 1600 April 7.
Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitWorkers from Siller Helicopters, Inc., attach cables to a new cooling unit to be lifted onto Bldg. 1600 April 7. The company’s helicopter would dangle cable lines to be attached onto the old coolers, which were lifted off Bldg. 1600 and placed in a parking lot nearby. Workers then attached the cables to the new unit to be lifted onto the building.
Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitA new cooling unit is lifted off a parking lot by a helicopter to be placed on the roof of Bldg. 1600 April 7.
Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitAn S-61V Sikorsky helicopter lifts a new cooling unit to be installed on Bldg. 1600 April 7.
Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitSiller Helicopters, Inc. flew in an S-61V Sikorsky to replace 22 evaporative coolers on the 412th Maintenance Group’s headquarters building. Seven of the coolers also had heaters as part of the unit.
Air Force photograph by Kenji ThuloweitAn S-61V Sikorsky helicopter lifts an old cooling unit off of Bldg. 1600 April 7 to be placed down at a parking lot nearby.
