Ruiz-Utter (Rutter) Method For Flying Fold-a

Ruiz-Utter (Rutter) Method
For Flying Fold-a-Tanks via Long Line
Joseph Ruiz – Heaps Peak Helitack, Skyforest, CA
Craig Utter- Krassel Helitack, Yellow Pine, ID
Bill Arsenault-Wildland Fire- Rescue, Nampa ID
In an effort to improve the safety and efficiency of flying
“Fold-a-tanks” while on the Wesley Fire, New Meadows Idaho
2012, we conducted experiments in rigging fold-a-tanks in
several different configurations. After several attempts we were
able to configure the fold-a-tank in such a way as to remove
the “wing effect” associated with flying the tank. We were
successful in flying this tank configuration consistently at 60
knots. After removing the “wing effect” we experimented with
different daisy-chain configurations, adjusting the placement of
the tank within the daisy-chain of supplies being shipped with
the tank. The following pictures document our experimentation.
The Standard Fold-a-Tank configuration as received from
the Warehouse. These configurations acts as a wing while
in flight and possess controllability issues’ for the pilot.
Step 1: Open the fold-a-tank and turn the
bladder inside out. This will allow for the frame
to be empty and the bladder to be rolled up.
This will remove the surface area of the original
tank configuration.
Step #2: Fold the bladder of the tank into a tri-angle getting the material to lay flat as possible. This
is achieved by tucking the corners of the bladder back toward the center. After the bladder is laid
out flat, start at the tip of the tri-angle and roll the bladder material back to the frame of the tank.
Tucking the corners of the bladder into the
center
Step #3: Secure rolled up bladder to the fold-a-tank frame using P-cord and fiber tape
Step #4: Rig the Fold-a-tank
*If rigging the tank to at the end of the daisy-chain 2 lead lines will be required. One
line to create a solid connection point for the tank and one to allow the tank to hang
below the lowest net in the chain.
* If flying the tank alone only one line is needed to create the solid connection point
Lead line used for separation of loads
Lead line used for solid connection
point
Rigging the load to be at the top of the daisy-chain
Rigging the fold-a-tank to be at
the top of the daisy-chain will
require 2 lead lines, one to make
the solid connection point for
the tank and one to be “lightly
threaded through the frame of
the tank and connected to the
next load