In general the R44 fleet is a small township patrol craft circling a town the size of Coventry in dizzy circles. Not quite UKP ideas of operations.
Thats quite a big town, namely a city, and if anyone was to care to look at a map, they will see how big this town really is! Point is, here a twin has to be used in that environment.
Anyway, Firearms teams;
What do you expect to carry? Notice carry, as any expenditure of munitions is forbidden. (PAOM Pt 1)
Obviously PAOM part 2 's differ from unit to unit, but I doubt that simply the number of arms allowed to be carried on any one flight are excessive enough to warrant a large aircraft.
How many people do you need to carry? Just yesterday we were flying 6 pob with flight times in excess of 30 mins +25 Cel. Plenty long enough to reach the edge of the force area and back and some.
Looking at todays figures, by taking the Ops console out to fit in the extra seat, I could carry 6 in the back (tot 7 pob),all with stroking seats, and have a flying time of 40 minutes. In addition to carrying normal a/c stores.
Maybe the problems will start when the team requires the other equipment, ladders hydraulic rigs, etc etc. But I'm sure there would be time for a couple of round trips if that was the case!
A bit of flight planning goes a long way. (Then again I accept no planning survives contact with the enemy!)
p.s. It also suggests that Phoenix rejected the 135/145 etc, plus, I didn't realise that units had to buy from their nearest manufacturer.
