Doors Off; re this bit of your post #114, and I will just ignore your insulting remarks:
'Maybe your youthful vigour, passion for RAAF aviation and upcoming minister meeting would be better utilised to ask the questions as to why Australian Soldiers do not have the requisite Helicoter support in theatre - eg ARH, more CH47 and maybe some S70's (by the way the designation is the S70A-9 Blackhawk, Australia's designation not mine) to carry 4 man sticks like the yanks are doing with theirs in AFG? Our current serving members need bastions, zealots and guardians, but ones who are on their side.'
As you should know, the Helicopter Systems Division of DMO is headed by AAvn 2 Star, Tony Fraser, with several other 1 Star assistants, both AAvn and RAN FAA. These are the guys driving the Air9000 helo fleet rationalisation program. No point in asking politicians why the ADF does not have adequate integral helo support in Afghanistan because progressive optimisation of in-service equipments (Kiowa, Iroquois, Blackhawk) was forsaken by AAvn to advance the projects which now have serious shortcomings. Simply; AAvn created their own capability gaps.
Regarding spares provisioning mentioned elsewhere concerning Blackhawk and MRH90. The RAAF Blackhawk project officer sought very comprehensive spares provisioning, but this was denied. If there is already a problem in this regard re MRH90, then that maybe rests with the HSD guys at DMO.
You mention the Americans carrying only 4 troops in their Blackhawks in Afghanistan but not the engine type, operating altitude or ISA criteria. Herewith what the Huey II can do:
In ground effect hover at 12,000 feet at 10,500 pounds max operating weight in ISA+20C.
Out of ground effect hover at 5,400 feet at 10,500 pounds max operating weight in ISA+20C.
You could fit 10 plus troops in Huey II with some available clip-in seating plus a 4 man crew and door-guns so seemingly, quite a big performance and utilisation differential.
Somebody may be able to provide performance specs for up-engined Blackhawk for comparison; also, the MH-60S to see how that works out for ship boarding party operations.
Last edited by Bushranger 71; 19th Jul 2010 at 04:12.