Future Lynx on track?

[mutleyfour]

The outcome of PR08 still seems a little fuzzy and especially regarding Future Lynx. I often wonder if AW know more than they are letting on about the matter and an event yesterday only confirms my suspicions.

AgustaWestland picks GE for cockpit displays (http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/6ce9d42c31a87242767653c747a3cffd.htm)

Am I being ignorant to the tight timelines here that have forced AW to spend such monies or is this a tactic to ensure the project survives?

Answer on a post.

[Faithless]

Answer on a post.

??

Postage stamp!

Postal order for £5?

Posting away from a lynx Sqn?

:E

[spheroid]

Is it true that ....


a) Future Lynx will be called "WILDCAT"?

b) All WILDCATs (including the AAC) will be based at Yeovilton?

[mitsubishi]

Answer is Yes to both questions, provided the Flynx project survives.

[spheroid]

Has Yeovilton got the infrastructure to cope with the AAC arriving? Probably not but they will realise that when there is about 6 months before the first Squadron arrives and then there will be a mad panic to build houses and schools etc, etc

[Mister-T]

As I am linked to this project, albeit a little remoted, I can tell you that Wildcat is to be the name used by the RN only and the Army is to use something else.

Yeovilton is not the declared site for AAC yet as project Belvedere has not made any final decision and RNAS Y was only one of a number of variables.

[pr00ne]

"Something else"?

What a dull name for a helicopter. Shows a total lack of imagination......

[barnstormer1968]

I thought "something else" was quite good myself.
There have already been several versions of Lynx, and most of them look pretty much the same. This new future lynx still looks much like any other, so at least calling it "something else" might make it stand out!

PLUS, the term something else, is often used in a context to show very poor quality or sloppiness

e.g (referring to a badly cooked fry up) that breakfast is "something else"

Barnstormer1968 ...it's only banter:E

[spheroid]

But Project Belveder stated that the Wildcat would all be based at the same airfield and seeing as the Wildcat (RN) is to be based at Yeovilton then it also means that the Wildcat (AAC) will also be based at Yeovilton.

[VARIABLE_KNIFE]

Yeovilton belongs to FLEET and not LAND so i cannot see that the new 9 Regt would move there, so until BELVEDERE delivers we will have to wait and see.

[Modern Elmo]

AgustaWestland picks GE for cockpit displays
GE Aviation to supply cockpit displays for 100 AgustaWestland helicopters for more than $55M
July 14, 2008: 08:22 AM EST



NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Italy's AgustaWestland has selected a unit of General Electric Co. to supply cockpit display systems for 100 of its helicopters in a contract valued at more than $55 million over 10 years, GE said Monday.

What is new in Zukunft Lynx, aside from the GE dashboards?

Is the cabin to be larger?

[Mister-T]

Spheroid

Wildcat is the Ryal Navy derivitive (Umm spelling bee to check please).

Future Lynx Army is likely to be called Mohawk I believe, which may or may not be based at Yeovilton and as posted it is dependant on the results from Belvedere.

[Gainesy]

so until BELVEDERE delivers we will have to wait and see.

ISTR the Belvedere was famous for its inability to supply anything more than a packet of Biscuits Brown more than 1nm from base. So don't hold your breath. Or maybe its apt...

[Lynxman]

Why is one aircraft type to have two names (allegedly)? This is madness, especially as the airframes are common (sponsons and wheeled undercarriages all round) and a Naval variant could be roled to an Army variant and vice versa, albeit unlikely. All technical information would have to reflect both names or else two sets may be needed.

Where has Mohawk come from? Why might we be calling a UK designed and built helicopter after an American Indian tribe? Wildcat ticks all my boxes - alliterative (Westland Wildcat), follows the cat theme (Lynx, Puma) and links back to the Grumman Wildcat in use with the RN WW2.

What is wrong with calling it a Lynx HMA Mk 10 and AH Mk 11, or even Lynx II? Lets face it, it still looks like a Lynx. Harrier went through the change from GR3 to GR5 and kerpt the name even though it was a different airframe.

More importantly however, what would the IPT be called?

[AHQHI656SQN]

Lynxman, why is it more impotant that we ponder the name of the IPT?

The name of the airframe will not disguise the fact that it is a Lynx, a little bit like when the artist formally known as Prince changed his name, it was always Prince really!;)

[diginagain]

To misquote some bloke who's name escapes me;
If it leaks like a Lynx, and shakes like a Lynx..............

[Sloppy Link]

Two names has been done before......Scout & Wasp

[Squirrel 41]

If only SABR or whatever it used to be called WAS something else.... like a UH-60 or an NH-90...

Have whatever you want as long as it's made in Yeovil: ooh look, smart procurement at work.

S41

[Mister-T]

Isnt the SABR requirement now part of the FMH project?

[Two's in]

What about calling it the "Sidrat" (which is just Tardis in reverse) because it looks quite big on the outside but when you try and get in with all your gear it's like being in a phone box - just more oil.

[Stitchbitch]

Can't it be called 'saviour' as in 'it's the saviour of Army Aviation
don'tcha know?' :E

[spheroid]

Or how about we call it "Dave".

[Jackonicko]

Dave's already in use.

Dave is slightly cool sounding.

For the AAC, why not Rupert, or Nigel.....

Or Dennis?

[diginagain]

For the AAC, why not Rupert, or Nigel.....


Because it is unlikely to be flown by blokes called Rupert or Nigel, more probably Eric, or Bill.

How about calling it 'Dave's Ugly Half-brother'?

[Gainesy]

Take off the twirly bits, stick four wheels on and call it a Land Rover.

[Yamagata ken]

YouTube - Dave's Not Home (http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=w7gWB7IzxtU)

[blue monday]

As has already been quoted on this thread i have to say theyshould just call it Lynx as it looks like a lynx. Just as the RAF called the Harrier II harrier.

[hulahoop7]

What about Amy?

Undeniably talented but small, fragile, liable to self harm, and will be killed prematurely.

[NURSE]

am shocked a British Defence Project on track. am i going to need to sit down when someone says its on budget as well?:eek:

[I'm Off!]

"am i going to need to sit down when someone says its on budget as well"

Not a cat in hells chance of anyone claiming this was on budget, and expecting anyone to believe them!

[the funky munky]

Oh my! So they finally did it great!!, my name or rather the name I came up with in lights, yes I am that sad!. I came up with that name at a Partnering meeting yonks ago about 3 years ago if i recall.

I presented 3 arguments:

1. It followed the Westland tradition of previous years of using an alliteritive naming system think Wasp, Widgeon, Whirlwind and Wessex, ie the Westland Wildcat. Though thinking about it now it should have been the Finnmeccanica Feline:ok:

2. As the European "Big cat" is the Eurasian Lynx I put forward that the British "Big cat" is the Wildcat.

3. As it was also a recce aircraft I stated that cats also had good vision.

Even then the Navy loved it. The Army kind of sniffed haughtily and said oik!

[The Helpful Stacker]

Take off the twirly bits, stick four wheels on and call it a Land Rover.

Take off the twirly bits and whack four wheels on and its a Westland Wheelie Bin, though thats already been used for the Lynx AH9.;)

Oh and the Future Lynx might be a reverse Tardis but as long as those sterling chaps in smurf blue berets can still fit a Lt Col and a couple of pizzas in the back they'll still be in business.:ok:

[R 21]

Oh and the Future Lynx might be a reverse Tardis but as long as those sterling chaps in smurf blue berets can still fit a Lt Col and a couple of pizzas in the back they'll still be in business.http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

Pizzas you'll be lucky more like a single popadom no mango chutny!!

[Dave Gibbings]

I like that idea, I was one of 17 people who suggested the name 'Lynx' in the naming competition.
Later I was the Flight Test Engineer on board with Ron Gellatly and Roy Moxam on the first flight of the prototype, (March 21st 1971),
I am now retired and I'm of an age that suggests that me and the Lynx will go out of service together.

Yeah, call it Dave

[minigundiplomat]

How about 'Ocelot'?

[ARINC661]

Funky Munky, the reason that the Navy loved it was that the FAA operated Wildcats during WWII F4F Wildcat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F4F_Wildcat) , they have even suggested resurrecting a squadron that operated Wildcat/Martlet.

[taxydual]

Or Waster? The Westland Waster!!

It's got a ring to it!




Hmm OK, I know the drill. Coat, oh bugger it's raining, best I take my hat too. Mumble mumble mumble......

[contactin]

Future Lynx Wildcat

(Stand fast the army here)

How about total waste of space and money. Why bother with a crappy little underpowered toy that will be sent to ships that are capable of carrying Merlin.

Money better spent in the Merlin upgrade programme to provide EO/IR, DAS ,Missiles and 2 crews per flight.

Oh me forgets most of the aviators at fleet are closet fisheads/ ex Lynx.

Standing by for Flack

[RotaryWingB2]

When a certain MP with concerns in these matters came to visit us in one of the sandy places, I asked him why the f**k we were buying 'Future Lynx' when there were other better, cheaper, proven options available off the shelf.

He replied that 'In the interests of maintaining British production lines, future employment for Brits, a long standing relationship with Westland and the ensured long term availibility of spares (haha, this is Westland we are talking about right?:ugh:)" were the main reasons.

"Explain Apache then?" I asked. "How is that any different from us buying Blackhawks (upgraded with RTM's)"

"Er...."

Moving swiftly on, mail getting through, boots fit?:oh:

[RotaryWingB2]

Double Post..

[the funky munky]

Geordie I agree with every word you say but if AW built home designed Attack Helicopters or a Heavy Lift aircraft, you could bet your mortgage that we would not be buying Apaches or Chinooks.

Like it or loathe it AW is the UK Helicopter manufacturer and with the Defence Industrial Strategy and Partnering they are the MoDs 1st port of call for rotary wing.

Its the MoD responsibility to make sure AW stop gouging the taxpayer and give us kit that is fir for purpose. It's gonna take a long time but they will change.

Personnally I think the MoD SHOULD/MUST compete all work just to prove we get the best kit possible and get VFM.

Still like Wildcat and (donning anorak out) didnt the FAA call their F4s Martlets?

[barnstormer1968]

If it seems that we must purchase a new helicopter and and it must be a "Lynx"of some sort, why can Westlands not produce Blackhawks and call them lynxhawk or something. As far as I am aware they have already made one or two (there is a westland company model of one, with a selection of stub wings holding various weapons, in the helicopter museum at Weston). If this were to happen, then British jobs would still be safe. After all it's hardly a new idea is it! Whirlwind, Wessex, Sea King and Apache come to mind, amongst others.

Barnstormer1968

PS There is also a model of a Westland designed attack helicopter based on Lynx, that never went into production