Tweety

Tweety is our helicopter and is often aboard the Esperanza. We use the helicopter for emergency, transport and scouting missions. Tweety is fast and accurate and has seen action over the mountains of Alaska and through the jungles of the Amazon, and over the oceans gathering important information and evidence.

Origin

“Tweety” (Hughes 500 D) was built in 1975 as a civilian version of a successful type of helicopter developed for the military. It was purchased by Greenpeace in 1985 and can accommodate a crew of up to 5 people.

Actions

Tweety has traveled to the Antarctic several times; most recently in the 2006 Southern Ocean whale expedition where she spent many days and nights helping to expose the beauty of whales, and other animal life, whose very existence is being threatened by financial greed.

Tweety has endured the high seas trying to stop pirate shipping vessels. She was also instrumental in supporting Greenpeace’s World Base Antarctica station. 

Tweety works closely with photographers, giving them aerial views of the environment. To give them the best shots possible, we remove Tweety’s doors and let them hang out.

You can read Tweety’s blog >>

Tweety couldn't make it to the Southern Ocean this year for the whaling expedition due to emergency mechanical repairs. Help Tweety fly again >>

Specifications

Type: Hughes 500D – Single Turbine Electronics: GPS, Air and
Marine VHF, HF, Iridium
Registration: New Zealand Required Crew 1
Call Sign: ZK HOQ Passengers 4
Engine Allison 250-C20B – 420 hp Main Rotor Blades 5
Take off Power 375 hp Tail Rotor Blades 2
Max. Continuous Power 370 hp Max Air Speed: 152 kn
Service Ceiling 15,000 ft. Cruise speed (efficiency): 130 kn
Hover Ceiling (In Ground Effect) 8500 ft. Max. Fuel Range: 261 NM
Hover Ceiling (Out of Gr. Effect) 6000 ft. Endurance (no reserves): 2,8 hrs
Maximum Speed 156 knots Fuel burn/hour: 120 ltr
Cruise Speed 130 knots Main Tank: 180 ltr 1,5 hrs/100 knots
Range (normal) 225 Nautical Miles Reserve Tank: 140 ltr 1,2 hrs/100 knots
Range (w/aux. tanks) 300 nautical Miles Range: 120 NM (20 minutes)
Maximum Gross weight 1360 kg. Auxiliary Tank: 200 ltr 1,6 hrs/100 knots
Empty Weight 703 kg. Range: 160 NM
Useful Load 657 kg. Fuel, Personnel & Cargo Total Range: 280 NM
Fuel Load 180 kg. (225 ltrs.) Standard Tank
Fuel Load 253 kg. (319 ltrs.) With Auxilliary Tank
Equipment: Pop out floats
Sling Load Capabilities