Originally Posted by
Tickle
Quite a tough and agile machine. What other type do we think might make a good modern basis to be modified to replace it?
Can you improve on perfection? I think they got it right first time. If you want no doors and guys sat outside on benches you aren't going to go much faster than 80 kts
It seems to me the 500 platform is unbeatable for getting into alleyways etc - once it gets there. They just need something that can 'keep up' with the bigger faster helos while getting to
where the oil is where the bad guys are.
How about a smaller 109/119 type - single engine with retracts. A 109 cruises at the 500s Vne. You can keep the guys with beards and shades inside until you need them on the outside. When you get closer to
the oil where the bad guys are - you open the doors, deploy spring loaded benches and they climb out, ready to 'operate' some freedom into whichever bad guys have
the oil been naughty.