Image:H161.jpg
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H161.jpg (800 × 542 pixel, file size: 98 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)
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[edit] Summary
| Description |
Helsinki H161 aerial platform |
|---|---|
| Source |
Picture by Mikko Oinonen, text by Pöllö |
| Date |
Picture taken by Mikko Oinonen 29th of August, 2005 in front of Helsinki Rescue Station 1 |
| Author |
Picture: Mikko Oinonen, text: Pöllö |
| Permission |
Picture used with kind permission of Mikko Oinonen |
   |
This file is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License. In short: you are free to share and make derivative works of the file under the conditions that you appropriately attribute it, and that you distribute it only under a license identical to this one. |
This delightful, small aerial platform has a working height of 20 meters (approx. 65 feet) when the telescopic boom extended. The maximum lateral spatial extent is approx. 9 meters (approx. 30 feet). Scalable ladders are fixed to the extendable hydraulic boom. The rapidly fixable platform is located on the bed.
The unit number H161 means: H = town (Helsinki), the first 1 = station number (first - or central - station), 6 = type of the unit (6 = aerial/ladder/telescopic platform unit), and the second 1 = second unit of the type at the station. Whether the station has several aerial units, the first aerial could have code H161, the second H162, etc. However, the compact telescope unit called "skidi" (the kid) has an operational code H161, and is big brother (with a telescopic boom of 53 meters or 178 feet) has the code H16.
This telescopic platform unit is specially designed to reach the inner courtyards in the older town blocks. Typically the gateways into inner parts of old quarters are very narrow and low, and therefore a very compact aerial unit is needed in Helsinki. Even the roof of the driver's cab can be removed to save some vertical space...! Due to its small size and enjoyable figure H161 is called "Skidi" ("the Kid"). However, the unit is able to reach the height of a building with five or six floors, and is able to reach a speed of over 80 km/h (approx. 50 miles per hour).
There are other types of ladder units designed for “old towns”, however, some of them are mounted turntable ladders, which have to be transported on a truck and unload at the scene. While the ladder can be built on a crawler, it was comprehended that this kind of solution can be too slow to use. “Skidi” is closer to a normal telescopic aerial platform unit, and carries some basic fire-fighting equipment. However, it is manned by the driver only (basically 24 hours per day), and in most operations “Skidi” operates with other fire-fighting units, and even with other telescopic platform units. “Skidi” is nowadays used in any building or place where its small size gives an advantage: industrial or residential buildings or areas with narrow alleys etc. Due to its smaller weight it sometimes can reach areas where heavier units cannot be used.
This picture of H161 is taken in front of Helsinki Rescue Station 1. Behind "Skidi" stones of Kallio church can be seen. The church was under renovation and therefore covered.
