Huey II in Afghanistan
Post #339 by Felix re Italian NH90 deployment to Afghanistan is very interesting.
"In addition to the five-member crew, the standard payload for RC West area operations in summer season is based on six fully equipped soldiers of 130kg each, or around 800kg," says Annigliato. "During winter season we can carry seven soldiers, while a maximum useful load of eight troops or 1,000kg of internal cargo is imposed by the cabin layout, operational conditions permitting," he adds. "The latter also required new operational procedures to rapidly exit and board using the helicopter rear ramp, as the forward cabin area is dominated by the two pintle-mounted gun systems."
During RAAF UH-1H Iroquois operations in Vietnam with 4 crew, doorgun armaments and full fuel, 7 combat-equipped troops were routinely carried. The floor plans of Huey II (an enhanced UH-1H) and the UH-1Y Super Huey operated by the USMC (which has a 533mm fuselage stretch), do not have gunner stations and armaments encroaching on cabin volume capacity, as for some other helo types.
According to Bell performance information, the single-engined Huey II operated in forementioned configuration can hover IGE at about 12,000feet AMSL in ISA+20 conditions. Increased maximum internal operating AUW allows about 600Kg for niceties like lightweight armoured flooring, FLIR, defensive suites or whatever. The following image shows a Huey II being operated in Afghanistan on behalf of the US State Department and may have been chosen for its role due to better hot and high performance than the much heavier twin-engined Super Huey or Blackhawk. Note the device attached near the end of the tailboom:
The Italian deployment reveals that there was no justifiable operational reason for acquisition of the MRH90 for the ADF and especially shedding of the Iroquois that were very cheaply upgradeable (there are presently still some in storage in Brisbane awaiting disposal).
There is much hype generated among the defence commentariat, including some politicians and military leaders, regarding the usability of new platforms being acquired for humanitarian purposes (including sluggish aircraft carriers). During 26 years of Air Force Iroquois operations, and a shorter period of Chinook employment, national commitment tasking and aid to civil powers became very frequent, but was largely viewed by those involved as a routine tertiary role - we were then mainly very actively involved in Army support. The ability to swiftly deploy Iroquois by C-130 to scenes of action in the SW Pacific region was an important capability for both the RAAF and RNZAF. Apparently, it takes about 2 hours to prepare an NH90 (MRH90) for C-17 embarkation and reconfiguration and the big airlifter cannot access many rudimentary airfields accessible by C-130. Both Australian and New Zealand ability to react to regional contingencies has been/will be substantially impacted and the operating costs of doing so enormously increased.
Last edited by Bushranger 71; 2nd Feb 2013 at 06:56.
Reason: Addendum