Perth’s Resources Technology Showcase 2019: Giant of the skies to make a big impression at free exhibition

It’s a beast of the sky and from tomorrow you can see it up close in the heart of the city.

This Sikorsky S-92 helicopter is usually kept busy transporting people and equipment to INPEX’s Ichthys offshore energy platform.

But for the next two days it is grounded at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of the public exhibition linked to the Resources Technology Showcase 2019.

The Sikorsky, which inched its way through Perth yesterday, is one of more than a dozen astonishing sights at the exhibition which everyday West Australians can interact with. The massive twin-engine chopper, with an overall length of 20.88m and height of 5.47m, can carry up to 19 passengers and two crew.

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Its giant main rotor has a diameter of 17.17m. It is the same type of helicopter used around the world for search and rescue, military and head of state missions. Each week it flies workers to the Ichthys platform, 475km north-east of Broome.

It takes more than two hours to reach the offshore platforms and then another two hours to return to Broome.

INPEX’s Bill Townsend said bringing the helicopter to Perth was one way to get young people curious about science, engineering and maths.

“We wanted to give school kids attending RTS the opportunity to see the helicopter up close,” Mr Townsend said.

“It’s a way to get them interested in science and technology and get them thinking about opportunities in our industry.

“Our facilities have a 40-year lifespan and we’re going to need smart, young people to operate them into the future.”

The helicopter flew from Broome on Saturday. It then spent a few days being disassembled, cleaned and polished, before being transported from Perth Airport to the convention centre by road yesterday and reassembled for display.

The helicopter is operated by aviation company PHI International.“PHI is proud to bring one of our Sikorsky S92 helicopters to RTS2019,” PHI general manager Australia Andy Pearce said.

“It is a great opportunity for youngsters aspiring to be a pilot or an aircraft engineer to come along and see the workhorse of the PHI fleet.”