Originally Posted by
SASless
Finals......I see there is the 139M....and the different Type 149....so two different versions.
The question raised by John Dixson is whether the US Army Design Spec's are met by the 149 is one that would bear answering as otherwise comparing the UH-60M to the 149 might be an Apples and Oranges comparison were that not the case.
The followup question would be which standard used....that by AW or the US Army is the superior set of critieria for a helicopter being built for use in combat.
Also....the final problem the RAF is going to have to confront is the lack of money considering the financial straits the UK Government thus the MoD finds itself confronting currently and for the foreseeable future.
I don’t know the answer off hand, but the 149 came first as a military aircraft and then the civil market as the 189. So, one would assume it certainly meets some military design requirements, for somebody!
Whereas, the 139M came after the 139 as a militarised version of the civilian aircraft. Whether there is much practical difference between these different sequences I couldn’t say.