Chinook Lifting Wessex
 

Anyone here carry around a broke Wessex? HS-817 Line book page + TOUCHDOWN 2/98 story:

RAAF Chinook Wessex Lift Bowen Island JB | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
&
WessexDunkHS817linebook | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Off track slightly, but reading back over the thread I saw this one:

State aircraft aren't subject to the Civil Aviation Act, except where particularly specified, so if it's operating as a state aircraft and flown by military crews it can do so if it complies with applicable military orders.

Aussie MRH-90
 

." It seems a no-brainer that a virtually as new enhanced platform (with glass cockpit, contemporary avionics and other niceties) for about $2million and operable for less than $5,000 per hour"

Are you high?

Part of the story B71.

The Army came to the Navy with a request to use the Wessex for a dawn insertion off the carrier onto Beecroft. They were to engage in other naval exercises such as launching kayaks from subs. It was explained to the Army that using the Wessex would require stripping the anti sub gear, and refitting later, so why not use the Huey? We were told that the RAAF had been approached, but declined due to the lack of shipboard clearance. When the RAAF found out that the Navy had committed to the task using Hueys, the RAAF then decided to participate.

Best to end the story there because the rest is not too edifying.

Side order of UH60M?
 

The question has been asked, quite recently, and the decision was to stick with MRH90. This was a decision taken by Army and not just based on politics or financial considerations.

The NH90 has been introduced much quicker in other countries - I have dealt with these other customers, and whilst they all share similar frustrations with this aircraft, others have developed temporary fixes (Finns use plywood floor covers - who would have thought?), and others have a more liberal risk acceptance regime. Australia (read DMO) is so risk averse that they want a 100% solution prior to acceptance - no aircraft in the world, fixed or rotary, could satisfy the ridiculous standard being applied by DMO with regards to the MRH90. Yet DMO are happy to "subcontract" airworthiness oversight on the SH60R program to the USN and accept an exponentially lower safety standard than is being applied to the NH90. Go figure.

Would you care to spell out your airworthiness concerns regarding NAVAIR and the SH-60R? "Exponentially lower" airworthiness? I smell something here, something like digested oats.
Or did I misunderstand you? :confused:

MRH90 helicopter Project of Concern progress 09 May 2013

Defence Ministers » Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel ? MRH90 helicopter Project of Concern progress

"...Included in today’s agreement is the delivery of a 47th aircraft, at no additional cost, to be used as a live training aid for Army and Navy aviation technicians who undergo MRH90 training at the Army’s Aviation Maintenance school at Oakey, Queensland...."

MRH performing?
 

I heard some good rumours about the MRH performance on CATA recently. Appears the fundamental strengths of the platform are finally being realised. Good speed, handling, operational payload and endurance led to the ability to keep trooping whilst the Black Hawks had to refuel.

Any other news from the lads?

Smackhawk,

Yeah, nearly 2 tonne of fuel will do that for you :ok:. Maybe finally someone will realise that this very capable aircraft could work. And before B71 launches off again, I do acknowledge that it was a rather expensive buy, however we have them now and there are a lot of very dedicated people :D trying to get the most out of this for the Aussie taxpayer.

I also heard lots of action with MRH's about to take place at sea as well:)

Oldpinger, well said!

Romeo Seahawk Airworthiness
 

LoneWolf - I am not suggesting it is in any way "un-airworthy". It is simply a case of there being very different standards that the MH60R and the MRH90 are certified to.
The Romeo must meet the "10 to the minus 6" standard inherent in MilSpec (and other standards) whilst the MRH90 is certified under FAR29, where the safety case is at the "10 to the minus 9" standard. MRH90 has exceeded the 10-6 standard in all cases, but was unable to meet the 10-9 case in some specific areas, thereby requiring dispensations, exceptions and some risk acceptance by the ADF Airworthiness Authority. Some of the Introduction Into Service heartache was due to this shortfall - it exceeded the standard by which the Romeo is being judged, but fell sort of FAR29 - a much more stringent standard. It is an interesting observation that there has been much focus on the shortfalls of the MRH90, but little discussion on the very concerning characteristics of the Romeo (e.g. No Floats - Navy helicopter? plus other capability shortcomings).

I'll guess this photo was taken recently? Cantabria here we come....

Click thumbnail for big pic: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...iaSydneyGI.jpg

Ummm last week?

Also 2 on Choules apparently:D:D

CATA - Getting the job done!
 

All Images - FotoWeb 7.0

There are some good shots in the gallery above of CH47, S70 and MRH in a 12 Aircraft form, plus some nice M1A1 in action.

Tapain?
 

Thanks 'Smackhawk' - I guess the argybargy about using the olden revered RAN FAA / RANHFV callsign 'Taipan' has been won and lost - never mind - but this is just silly... One of the photo captions at above URL....

All Images - FotoWeb 7.0

What's a Tapain??:hmm:

Polite greeting: Tapain sanchai hunuhuncha?
 

Polite greeting: Tapain sanchai hunuhuncha? = Are you well?
&
Tapainharulai bhetera khusi lagyo = I am glad to have met you!

Nepali Useful Phrases

I'm glad you cleared that up. I'm all for naming the MRH-90 after a Nepalese word. It fits in with the idea of buying something built by those who use another funny language.:D

Spazsinbad-
Taipan isn't actually the aircraft Callsign it's the ADF name for it.:8 as in the EC655 "Tiger"
Probably because as Eurocopter call the MRH90 the TTH and that isn't a name as such.

723 Sqn of RANHFV fame at Nowra still use the "Taipan" callsign as in "Taipan 19 finals rwy 26" for the Squirrels.

Clear as mud??:ok:

I'm going to use that Nepalise in day to day conversation!