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Old 2nd Feb 2020, 20:52
  #17 (permalink)  
PANews
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
Age: 77
Posts: 1,174
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There is no real comparison with types.

The SH-09 is a modern single that might reasonably be comparable in market to a modern version of the AS350/H125. lf the mutterings of the late owners are anything to go by, later it might add more features that might be comparable to the AS355 twin......

The AS350 is a very successful but dated design that hides behind 'grandfather rights' whilst offering worse flight safety features than the Bell 206. The 206 and OH-6A designs 'accidentally' got flight safety right at a time when such things were unheard of. In the end the AS350 was a great deal more flexible. As we know the type was upgraded with more safety features - the stroking seats - that effectively allowed the occupants to survive an accident only to perish in the resultant fire. A matter now being resolved with better fuel tanks. The fact remains it is a 1970s design and not what you might class as a 'crashworthy' design.

The PZL Swidnik SW4 is not readily comparable with either type in terms of available space or capability. It does however have history in that it is a 1960s design and, although I am no expert on the type, may well have all or many of the safety flaws that have emerged in the AS350/AS355/AW109/AW119/BK117 and a host of other designs of the same era.

The SH-09 is a fresh design and has therefore to meet the stringent requirements of JAR/FAR 27. They tend to include measures that save lives, if nothing else.

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