Originally Posted by
sandiego89
Perhaps because non stealthy round tanks could be jettisoned before reduced cross section was really needed on certain missions? External tanks are rarely jettisoned, but for a a really high profile mission such as Eagle Claw or OBL raid maybe tanks could be jettisoned before reaching the higher threat target area. Maybe even the whole stores pylon could be jettisoned? I do agree with you this has the appearance of a development bird, with incremental bits and bobs being trialed.
Interesting possible link to Felker Field at Ft. Eustis. Usually a pretty sleepy field but always with some interesting relics from various 1960's and 1970's rotor projects dumped about the field and a few preserved on base, such as the high speed compound Huey's and others. It was neat to drive around and see some surprises. The transportation museum there is worth a visit, with great Army aviation pavilion, and a few more aircraft inside, including the crazy single solider VTOL experiments.
This was a kit specifically developed for EH-60A DFE. It was found impractical enough that a lot of the applique was not used in the first gulf war. The forward hemisphere was considered most important so the parts applied to the tailboom were removed first (also noting vibe issues as we discussed previously). Looks like the aircraft had RAM coatings.
I am a member of a different forum that has some contributors that keep track of these sorts of things. This photo was first found on the net over a decade ago, and was also posted in another forum where more details on the project were shared (purported to be from the test manager who organised for this photo to be taken - I think this is Edwards as there is another photo of another aircraft which shows this aircraft in the background.) and that there were similar projects for other types of helo, the OH-58 kit being the most well known, but there were aspirations for a similar type of kit for Apache).
I implied Ft Eustis / FTD (or whatever they're called now) in my previous post regarding discrete facilities, but apparently this was all done between Edwards and Sikorsky.
This is what they were doing in the 80s.
There's a comment in a book about Neptune Spear saying something along the lines of: "I turned a corner and laughed, said to the guys, it's alright, we'll be fine, the air force has given us decepticons to fly in"