A bit off centre I know, but earlier this month I queried of a salesman from Boeing why the CSAR competition was won by the noisiest contender?
The reply suggested that noise footprint was not a part of the customers requirement.
Living in an area regularly overflown by EH101 Merlin's and Chinook's the question I raised was prompted by having noted that the rotor beat of the Chinook can be heard long long before a Merlin operating at the same FL. That added to the recollection of a hostage rescue sojourn into Iran that would require an element of surprise would seem to suggest that 'stealth' should have played no small small part in the CSAR mission.
As such persons clearly played a part in selecting the Presidents craft perhaps we should not assume they have thought through all of the issues in a sensible manner!!
