Latest NMH contender, refurbed and upgraded ML 60
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Latest NMH contender, refurbed and upgraded ML 60
AceHawk Aerospace - look to be plannning on basing themselves in the Teesside airport Freeport.
Ace Aerospace is upgrading Black Hawks for Austria with Ace Deck cockpit. Initial aircraft for the UK would be upgraded at Ace Aeronautics’ site in Alabama, but within 18 months production would switch to Teesside
Despite their similar names and proposed commercial relationship, there are no other links between the two businesses. AceHawk Aerospace was established in late 2021, with Fionnan Collins, Damian Roberts and Darren Wade appointed as directors. .
Anyone else feeling a bit twitchy that a company only 6 months old is punting for a rather large contract refurbing secondhand cabs, with a website that looks like something I did for A Level IT in the early 2000s?
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Ideally suited then.
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Anyone else feeling a bit twitchy that a company only 6 months old is punting for a rather large contract refurbing secondhand cabs, with a website that looks like something I did for A Level IT in the early 2000s?
Just hope Puma can carry the flag for 212 and 412 as well it's own commitments long enough to see the new type in!
It replaces an aircraft that was distinctly average - not carrier friendly, blows over in a high wind and poor hot n high.
Phased Maintenance Inspections combined with integrated HUMS make ML-70 free of life limits unlike peer composite airframes
Not sure there is anything about the Black Hawk that the folk at Ace Aeronautics don’t know?
I imagine article was referring to the composite elements of 60M not reaching their 8000-hr life limit?
I can’t imagine that they were mis-quoted by the press :-)
I imagine article was referring to the composite elements of 60M not reaching their 8000-hr life limit?
I can’t imagine that they were mis-quoted by the press :-)
My quote was from their website, not the press. HUMS looks at dynamic components, and (amongst other things) detects early deterioration and anomalies. Phased maintenance breaks up large tasks into smaller ones, that can be done in shorter periods, so rather than being offline for a few weeks in one go, an airframe can be down for a day or so at a time more frequently. Neither have any bearing on ultimate component life.
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Added the transcript of the original post so you can read it.
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicop...147964.article
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicop...147964.article
A surprise contender for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement has broken cover, pitching pre-owned Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks that would be extensively upgraded at a new facility in the northeast of England.
Teesside airport-based AceHawk Aerospace argues that its ML-70 helicopter will offer the UK armed forces the capability of the Black Hawk without the steep price for brand-new aircraft, while also providing highly skilled jobs for domestic workers.
Source: US Army
Donor airframes would be acquired from the US Army and other sources
It describes the ML-70 as “an evolved and renewed combat-proven H-60 helicopter”, which gains new dynamic components and an updated Garmin G5000 glass cockpit as part of US firm Ace Aeronautics’ Ace Deck VL-60 upgrade.
“We genuinely believe that choosing another route would jeopardise the capability, timeline, value-for-money, sustainability and social requirements of the NMH programme,” AceHawk states.
Although the Black Hawk is the “accepted aircraft of choice for multi-mission operations with over 15 million flight hours”, including 2 million combat hours, “it comes with a premium price” for new aircraft – and a “lengthy waiting list due to demand”. There would also be “little UK value” if Sikorsky produces aircraft for the country at its plant in Mielec, Poland, AceHawk argues.
Donor UH-60 airframes would be sourced from the US Army, which divests older aircraft under its Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Team initiative, and from other international operators.
Modification and delivery of the pre-owned Black Hawks to the ML-70 standard would largely take place at AceHawk’s facility at Teesside International airport in the northeast of England.
This, it says, would address the government’s levelling up agenda, bringing jobs to an area of relatively high unemployment.
Source: Peter Lechner/Bundesheer
Ace Aerospace is upgrading Black Hawks for Austria with Ace Deck cockpit
Initial aircraft for the UK would be upgraded at Ace Aeronautics’ site in Alabama, but within 18 months production would switch to Teesside. An aircraft and engine MRO facility would be established at the same location.
AceHawk also hopes to target the export market through its relationship with Ace Aeronautics.
Randy Nolin, chief technical officer at Ace Aeronautics, describes the UK business as its European “partner”, which helps to make up for its lack of “an international business development team”.
“We won’t give them everything in Europe but if they come to us with a prospect it’s theirs,” he says.
“Everybody frowns upon used aircraft – they’ll tell you it’s been beat up or thrown around – but unlike aircraft with a throw-away time it offers unlimited airframe life. To me it’s all about the robustness and the proven combat history of the Black Hawk.”
Ace Aeronautics is updating nine UH-60s, plus is sourcing an additional three airframes, for the VL-60 modification programme for Austria.
Despite their similar names and proposed commercial relationship, there are no other links between the two businesses. AceHawk Aerospace was established in April 2021, with Fionnan Collins, Damian Roberts and Darren Wade appointed as directors. The company’s shares are split equally between the three.
The NMH is designed to replace the Royal Air Force’s 23-strong fleet of Puma HC2 transport helicopters, plus smaller fleets of Bell 212s and 412s, and Airbus Helicopters Dauphins. Service entry for the NMH is pegged for 2025.
This article has been edited to clarify the attribution of a quote in the 11th paragraph and the date when AceHawk was established.
Teesside airport-based AceHawk Aerospace argues that its ML-70 helicopter will offer the UK armed forces the capability of the Black Hawk without the steep price for brand-new aircraft, while also providing highly skilled jobs for domestic workers.
Source: US Army
Donor airframes would be acquired from the US Army and other sources
It describes the ML-70 as “an evolved and renewed combat-proven H-60 helicopter”, which gains new dynamic components and an updated Garmin G5000 glass cockpit as part of US firm Ace Aeronautics’ Ace Deck VL-60 upgrade.
“We genuinely believe that choosing another route would jeopardise the capability, timeline, value-for-money, sustainability and social requirements of the NMH programme,” AceHawk states.
Although the Black Hawk is the “accepted aircraft of choice for multi-mission operations with over 15 million flight hours”, including 2 million combat hours, “it comes with a premium price” for new aircraft – and a “lengthy waiting list due to demand”. There would also be “little UK value” if Sikorsky produces aircraft for the country at its plant in Mielec, Poland, AceHawk argues.
Donor UH-60 airframes would be sourced from the US Army, which divests older aircraft under its Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Team initiative, and from other international operators.
Modification and delivery of the pre-owned Black Hawks to the ML-70 standard would largely take place at AceHawk’s facility at Teesside International airport in the northeast of England.
This, it says, would address the government’s levelling up agenda, bringing jobs to an area of relatively high unemployment.
Source: Peter Lechner/Bundesheer
Ace Aerospace is upgrading Black Hawks for Austria with Ace Deck cockpit
Initial aircraft for the UK would be upgraded at Ace Aeronautics’ site in Alabama, but within 18 months production would switch to Teesside. An aircraft and engine MRO facility would be established at the same location.
AceHawk also hopes to target the export market through its relationship with Ace Aeronautics.
Randy Nolin, chief technical officer at Ace Aeronautics, describes the UK business as its European “partner”, which helps to make up for its lack of “an international business development team”.
“We won’t give them everything in Europe but if they come to us with a prospect it’s theirs,” he says.
“Everybody frowns upon used aircraft – they’ll tell you it’s been beat up or thrown around – but unlike aircraft with a throw-away time it offers unlimited airframe life. To me it’s all about the robustness and the proven combat history of the Black Hawk.”
Ace Aeronautics is updating nine UH-60s, plus is sourcing an additional three airframes, for the VL-60 modification programme for Austria.
Despite their similar names and proposed commercial relationship, there are no other links between the two businesses. AceHawk Aerospace was established in April 2021, with Fionnan Collins, Damian Roberts and Darren Wade appointed as directors. The company’s shares are split equally between the three.
The NMH is designed to replace the Royal Air Force’s 23-strong fleet of Puma HC2 transport helicopters, plus smaller fleets of Bell 212s and 412s, and Airbus Helicopters Dauphins. Service entry for the NMH is pegged for 2025.
This article has been edited to clarify the attribution of a quote in the 11th paragraph and the date when AceHawk was established.
Widely experienced in aviation; from global military transport, short-notice European VIP and corporate aircraft leasing requirements through to Offshore Oil & Gas Captain. Over 8000 flying hours on all sorts since it all started in 1983. Incident-free flying record whilst operating anywhere from Africa to Ascot - helped by a pro-active attitude and by paying attention to the detail. 'Prevention' is more often easier to implement and far less painful than having to apply a 'cure'...... More of a 'do-er' than a 'procrastinator'...... You produce better results by taking time out to keep your axe sharp - rather than to continue chopping with a blunt edge ;-)
Great idea ! Decent amount of costs will get back into UK economy. Fit them with engines from messrs Rolls Royce and a suite of Smiths instruments and we're cookin on gas.
which is probably the exact reason they are not doing that
-701D (same as AH64E and EH101 upgrade) and Garmin 5000H so says the website. Far too logical!
Had to laugh at the quip from someone earlier......a 'start-up' established specifically to ensure that UK finally gets the 'Black Hawk' as NMH forming around the time the NMH idea became more than just a dream - go figure!
You don't do yourself any favours :-)
-701D (same as AH64E and EH101 upgrade) and Garmin 5000H so says the website. Far too logical!
Had to laugh at the quip from someone earlier......a 'start-up' established specifically to ensure that UK finally gets the 'Black Hawk' as NMH forming around the time the NMH idea became more than just a dream - go figure!
You don't do yourself any favours :-)