France eyes up Boeing CH-47 purchase
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France eyes up Boeing CH-47 purchase
The French are feasting their eyes on possible purchase of the Chinook, partly heavy lift and more so in support fo their Special Forces.
cheers
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...sition-459660/
cheers
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...sition-459660/
About time - I guess it'll be the Russians next...................
Queen of the Skies! Hooks will be flying when we are all gone!
The Franco/German pooled fleet idea mentioned in the flightblobal article is interesting. CH-47 seems to be a good choice for many.
I am kind of surprised that a European solution for a true heavy helo came to nothing. Seems like it could have been a big winner for all involved- but then again it could have gone down the NH-90 route......
I am kind of surprised that a European solution for a true heavy helo came to nothing. Seems like it could have been a big winner for all involved- but then again it could have gone down the NH-90 route......
Chinook is like the C_130 IMO. It's one of those designs that is just really good, useful, and stands the test of time (with the occasional updgrade here and there).
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I supposed it will req RAF C-17's to transport them as well.
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One can only imagine that a Euro Heavy Lift helo would have resulted in the usual Euro narrative of ‘excellence through collaboration’ with the equally usual Euro performance, time and cost indicators to the contrary.
I guess most European countries have a limited use for heavy lift - there is a full road network everywhere and most of Europe can be driven across cross-country- its only when you go expeditionary or cross beaches you really need a lot of cargo heft.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Unless some one drops the bridges.
The abortive Euro Heavy Lift enabled the French and German governments to pump millions of Euros into Airbus to get the answer everyone knew from the start; the rest of Europe was already flying -47s, the -53K wasn’t far away, and a 3rd NATO heavy lift aircraft would therefore struggle to find a market outside the two originating nations and, ergo, be horrendously expensive to buy and operate (likely even more so than the -53K). Nice way of funnelling some money to Airbus though........
I thought all it was needed to bring traffic to grinding halt was to declare a Bank Holiday!
helicopters can be used to move a small amount of critical equipment - how many would it take to support a full armored division without any surface transport for example?
You need some - but for a lot of European countries that number is small
You need some - but for a lot of European countries that number is small
Presumably their experience with the secondedRAF ones over the last few months have shown them the neccessity of the CH47. On that basis, can UKPLC get a introduction commission from Boeing for the sale? :-)
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What was their last heavyish lift, the Frelon?
Probably their recent adventures in Africa have shown the need for longer range heavier lift for special forces etc