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Old 9th Feb 2008, 11:44
  #52 (permalink)  
Evalu8ter
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Zummerset
Posts: 1,042
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Andyy,
Nice idea to buy DAP style Blackhawks but a few problems. One is money. Not just to buy the airframes (they are relatively cheap though) but also the cost of recruiting, training and retaining the aircrew...unless you scrap all thought of Flynx, retire the asthmatic AH7/9 Lynx early and re-equip the AAC with it. In addition, another type in the inventory is always an added Training and Logisitic burden. The Canadians are thinking of going down this route with their CH-146s in the stle of the USMC UH-1N escort / CAS role. However, the 412 style airframe is not particularly sprightly once you weigh it down with wpns/sensors/DAS/armour so they might struggle in AFG.

Maple 01, I think that PN was referring to the almost endless stream of fighter procurement in the 1930s as Fury gave way to Gauntlet to Gladiator to Hurricane via some hiccups, ie Defiant. Clearly the crash monopalne fighter / Home Chain programmes were incredibly prescient (perhaps like we are talking about a long, dirty COIN / CAS war?) but there is no denying that the quality of Parachute aircraft (eg Whitley) and glider tug (Stirlings were still in production in 1944!!) was as a result of possible over-emphasis on fighter type aircraft during the inter-war years. Even the "bombers" ie Blenheim / Hampden were "fighter like" leaving the Wellington and Whitley as the only genuine bombers at the outbreak of war. Mind you, the Stirling turned like a fighter as the spec demanded it fit in 100ft wide hangar doors...
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