Flying Truck
This episode explores the engineering secrets of one of the world’s strangest and most powerful helicopters - the KMAX 1200.
It must fight against the elements to complete a gruelling schedule in Switzerland’s high altitude alpine forests. Its two bizarre looking intermeshing main rotors maximise downward thrust, allowing it to lift more than its own body-weight.
Yet this powerful machine still has the agility to support logging operations amongst tightly packed trees, even when the chainsaws are flying. An ingenious trolley system helps the pilot work at high speed and a super-turboshaft engine lets this helicopter carry precious equipment at dizzying altitudes.