PPRUNE Exclusive: LUH winner announced
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PPRUNE Exclusive: LUH winner announced
PPRUNE Exclusive: LUH winner announced
Ft Rucker, June 30th 2006: The U.S. Army today announced the long-awaited outcome of its search for a Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) to replace the service’s current fleet of UH-1H Hueys and OH-58A/C Kiowas. In an unusual move, the U.S. Army revealed that it has decided to select a multinational offering built by four OEMs, two systems integrators and 287 major suppliers.
Commenting on the Army’s unusual approach to its selection of the LUH, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore said: “We were originally planning to select a single aircraft most suited to the job, but in the wake of the recent air tanker scandal and concerns over the future of the helicopter industrial base decided that this would be the best outcome for all concerned.”
Asked to comment on how this novel solution was reached, LTC Kilgore revealed: “AATD was asked to perform an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) for us. After several months of intensive study, it was found that, contrary to popular myth, you can actually please all of the people all of the time.”
When asked whether there were any downsides to this multinational effort, LTC Kilgore admitted: “Yes, we will of course have to adhere to four times as many Airworthiness Directives over the life of the program, but we figured that this will be good training for our aircrews as they transition to future civilian roles. Additionally, the aircraft uses a combination of imperial and metric systems, but this is actually seen as a risk reduction benefit, since if one system fails our crews will still have a back-up system to rely on.”
Leading industry commentators were less convinced by the Army’s decision. When shown the blueprints of the selected LUH design, the UH-72 Chimera, Mr. Rhett Flater of the American Helicopter Society said: “My God, what have we created...?!” Noted former helicopter professional Mr. Nick Lappos agreed with this sentiment, adding: “I’m glad I got out of this crazy industry when I did.”
The first UH-72 Chimera will be delivered to Army Aviation units in 2008, and the type is expected to reach full operational capability by 2023.
(Okay, so the Wx here is bad and I’ve had a slow day…)
Ft Rucker, June 30th 2006: The U.S. Army today announced the long-awaited outcome of its search for a Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) to replace the service’s current fleet of UH-1H Hueys and OH-58A/C Kiowas. In an unusual move, the U.S. Army revealed that it has decided to select a multinational offering built by four OEMs, two systems integrators and 287 major suppliers.
Commenting on the Army’s unusual approach to its selection of the LUH, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore said: “We were originally planning to select a single aircraft most suited to the job, but in the wake of the recent air tanker scandal and concerns over the future of the helicopter industrial base decided that this would be the best outcome for all concerned.”
Asked to comment on how this novel solution was reached, LTC Kilgore revealed: “AATD was asked to perform an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) for us. After several months of intensive study, it was found that, contrary to popular myth, you can actually please all of the people all of the time.”
When asked whether there were any downsides to this multinational effort, LTC Kilgore admitted: “Yes, we will of course have to adhere to four times as many Airworthiness Directives over the life of the program, but we figured that this will be good training for our aircrews as they transition to future civilian roles. Additionally, the aircraft uses a combination of imperial and metric systems, but this is actually seen as a risk reduction benefit, since if one system fails our crews will still have a back-up system to rely on.”
Leading industry commentators were less convinced by the Army’s decision. When shown the blueprints of the selected LUH design, the UH-72 Chimera, Mr. Rhett Flater of the American Helicopter Society said: “My God, what have we created...?!” Noted former helicopter professional Mr. Nick Lappos agreed with this sentiment, adding: “I’m glad I got out of this crazy industry when I did.”
The first UH-72 Chimera will be delivered to Army Aviation units in 2008, and the type is expected to reach full operational capability by 2023.
(Okay, so the Wx here is bad and I’ve had a slow day…)
Last edited by Ian Corrigible; 30th Jun 2006 at 21:27.
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Shouldn't it be painted blue and yellow, like the last one?
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On a more serious note, selection now confirmed as the EC145:
DoD contracts
DoD June 30th
EADS North American Defense of Arlington, Va., was awarded June 30, 2006, a $43.1 million firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-level-of-effort, cost-reimbursable contract for the Light Utility Helicopter with MEDVAC B and hoist B kits along with pilot transition and maintainer training. Work will be peformed in Columbus, Miss., and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2016. The Light Utility Helicopter is designed to conduct light-general support, civil search and rescue, personnel recovery, air ambulance medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, limited civil command and control operations in the conduct of homeland security, and counter-drug operations. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Bids were solicited July 26, 2005, and five bids were received. The Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
I/C
DoD contracts
DoD June 30th
EADS North American Defense of Arlington, Va., was awarded June 30, 2006, a $43.1 million firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-level-of-effort, cost-reimbursable contract for the Light Utility Helicopter with MEDVAC B and hoist B kits along with pilot transition and maintainer training. Work will be peformed in Columbus, Miss., and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2016. The Light Utility Helicopter is designed to conduct light-general support, civil search and rescue, personnel recovery, air ambulance medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, limited civil command and control operations in the conduct of homeland security, and counter-drug operations. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Bids were solicited July 26, 2005, and five bids were received. The Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
I/C
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The Aviation Today web site had the breaking news first! For all up-to-the-minute aviation news, go to www.AviationToday.com for the latest
information and analysis. If you regularly consult Aviation Today, you would have read this story, hot off the presses:
Drumroll, please: the news on LUH is finally in. Waiting until after the U.S. stock market closed in the afternoon, the U.S. Army announced today
that is has awarded a $43.09 million contract to EADS North American Defense of Arlington, Va. for the production and contractor logistics support of
the Light Utility Helicopter. The Army intends to procure and field a total of 322 Light Utility Helicopters beginning in Fiscal Year 2007. "The Light
Utility Helicopter contract action we signed today will have far reaching effects," said Col. Cory Mahanna, Utility Helicopters Project Manager. "This
fleet of U.S. Army aircraft will benefit America in crisis situations, like those associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Hugo, and the aftermath of
the Mount St. Helens' explosion. The LUH will be our Army's 'first responder' during future disaster scenarios. This new aircraft will give our
soldiers an important new tool for use in the defense and security of our homeland." The LUH is a commercial/non-developmental item aircraft to
conduct light general support, civil search and rescue, personnel recovery, air ambulance medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, limited civil
command and control operations in the conduct of homeland security, and counter-drug operations. The LUH is intended to perform these functions only
in permissive, non-combat operational environments. The primary users for the LUH are the active Army units and the Army National Guard.
Access Intelligence, LLC * 4 Choke Cherry Road, 2nd Floor * Rockville, MD * 20850 * USA
information and analysis. If you regularly consult Aviation Today, you would have read this story, hot off the presses:
Drumroll, please: the news on LUH is finally in. Waiting until after the U.S. stock market closed in the afternoon, the U.S. Army announced today
that is has awarded a $43.09 million contract to EADS North American Defense of Arlington, Va. for the production and contractor logistics support of
the Light Utility Helicopter. The Army intends to procure and field a total of 322 Light Utility Helicopters beginning in Fiscal Year 2007. "The Light
Utility Helicopter contract action we signed today will have far reaching effects," said Col. Cory Mahanna, Utility Helicopters Project Manager. "This
fleet of U.S. Army aircraft will benefit America in crisis situations, like those associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Hugo, and the aftermath of
the Mount St. Helens' explosion. The LUH will be our Army's 'first responder' during future disaster scenarios. This new aircraft will give our
soldiers an important new tool for use in the defense and security of our homeland." The LUH is a commercial/non-developmental item aircraft to
conduct light general support, civil search and rescue, personnel recovery, air ambulance medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, limited civil
command and control operations in the conduct of homeland security, and counter-drug operations. The LUH is intended to perform these functions only
in permissive, non-combat operational environments. The primary users for the LUH are the active Army units and the Army National Guard.
Access Intelligence, LLC * 4 Choke Cherry Road, 2nd Floor * Rockville, MD * 20850 * USA
The real announcement:
http://www.uh-145.com/
My bet was the new era blackhawk, the US139, too good...
I hope they don't have problems in mountains with th 145 like the french http://pistehors.com/comments/627_0_1_0_C/
http://www.uh-145.com/
EADS North America Selected to Provide U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter
30 June 2006
Arlington, Virginia– EADS North America today announced that the UH-145 military helicopter has been selected by the U.S. Army as its next-generation
Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The LUH requirement is for up to 352 aircraft with a potential total program life-cycle value of $3 billion.
The LUH award is a continuation of EADS’ 20-year heritage as a helicopter supplier to U.S. national and homeland security agencies including the Department of Homeland
Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, DEA and the FBI. The decision, announced today by the U.S. Army, marks EADS North America’s first major
system win as a prime contractor for the U.S. military.
“We’re pleased that the UH-145 was chosen by the U.S. Army for this important mission and gratified that this selection demonstrates the service’s confidence in our ability to meet the fast-paced delivery schedule and support requirements of these critical Army aircraft,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America’s Chairman and CEO. “We look forward to a long association with the U.S. Army.”
EADS North America leads a UH-145 team of companies that includes four primary partners: its American Eurocopter business unit, which will handle the helicopter’s
production, assembly and delivery; Sikorsky Aircraft, responsible for contractor logistics support (CLS); WestWind Technologies, for systems integration and engineering support; and CAE, the supplier of UH-145 cockpit procedural trainers.
UH-145 program management will be located in Huntsville, Alabama and led by the EADS North America Defense business unit of EADS North America. A network of leading U.S. subcontractors has been created for the Light Utility Helicopter, bringing together companies such as Aerolite, Armor Holdings, the NORDAM Group, Keith Products, Thales USA, Turbomeca USA and Wulfsberg Electronics.
“When EADS North America was created four years ago, we committed to in-source U.S. jobs of high value, bring the best technology to America, and contribute to homeland security,” Crosby said. “The UH-145 will enable us to deliver once again on all three promises, while providing the Army with an optimum solution from a team of
leading U.S. suppliers.”
The UH-145’s industrial activity will be centered at American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Mississippi facility, which is to undergo a major expansion to accommodate the Light Utility Helicopter program. The Production line of the UH-145 – a version of Eurocopter’s EC145 multi-mission helicopter, currently built in Germany – will be
duplicated in Columbus through a series of steps that begins with partial assembly, followed by full assembly and the subsequent U.S. manufacture of major subsystems.
American Eurocopter President Marc Paganini said, “The UH-145 contract marks another significant growth of our U.S. government business and recognizes the excellence of our products. This also signifies a major new evolution of the Columbus plant – which has grown steadily since its startup in 2004.”
“EADS North America has won an important U.S. Army contract that will support military missions both at home and abroad,” said Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi. ”The
Light Utility Helicopter program award indicates that Mississippi continues to enhance its reputation as a state with advanced technology development capabilities and is firmly committed to meeting the needs of the men and women who are fighting to protect our nation.”
“The announcement of the EADS North America U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter selection is great news for the state of Mississippi and the Golden Triangle region,” said
Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi. “With this success, EADS and American Eurocopter will help further develop the state of Mississippi as a worldwide center of excellence in
helicopter manufacturing and aerospace technology.”
"The addition of this important new manufacturing program to American Eurocopter's existing Columbus operation is a great complement to our burgeoning defense industry,
and we welcome production of the Army's new Light Utility Helicopter in Mississippi,” said Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi. “Our state's partnerships with outstanding
companies such as EADS North America and American Eurocopter to provide high-tech, high-quality military systems to our men and women in uniform continue to strengthen, and that's a testament to our highly-skilled workforce."
“EADS North America and American Eurocopter’s U.S. Army contract win means bigger and better things are going to happen in the Golden Triangle,” stated Congressman
Roger Wicker, representing the First Congressional District of Mississippi. “EADS and American Eurocopter are delivering on their promise of bringing high value jobs and
technology to the region and we are ready to support them.”
“The Golden Triangle region continues to grow as a national competitor for technology and defense sector development,” said Congressman Chip Pickering, of Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. “American Eurocopter is a company dedicated to the people of this region and they will continue to bring worldwide aerospace technology to benefit Mississippi’s economy and create high-paying jobs.”
EADS North America has made a significant commitment to the UH-145 program, with the first helicopter already in assembly for delivery to the Army this November. In
addition, components already have been allocated for the manufacture of seven more UH-145s.
American Eurocopter’s expansion of the 92,200 sq.-ft. Columbus facility will begin almost immediately, with its size increasing to approximately 276,000 square feet to
accommodate the UH-145 program activity.
About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)
EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and
homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $8.5 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 174,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. With 11 operating companies located in 30 cities and 15 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.
30 June 2006
Arlington, Virginia– EADS North America today announced that the UH-145 military helicopter has been selected by the U.S. Army as its next-generation
Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The LUH requirement is for up to 352 aircraft with a potential total program life-cycle value of $3 billion.
The LUH award is a continuation of EADS’ 20-year heritage as a helicopter supplier to U.S. national and homeland security agencies including the Department of Homeland
Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, DEA and the FBI. The decision, announced today by the U.S. Army, marks EADS North America’s first major
system win as a prime contractor for the U.S. military.
“We’re pleased that the UH-145 was chosen by the U.S. Army for this important mission and gratified that this selection demonstrates the service’s confidence in our ability to meet the fast-paced delivery schedule and support requirements of these critical Army aircraft,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America’s Chairman and CEO. “We look forward to a long association with the U.S. Army.”
EADS North America leads a UH-145 team of companies that includes four primary partners: its American Eurocopter business unit, which will handle the helicopter’s
production, assembly and delivery; Sikorsky Aircraft, responsible for contractor logistics support (CLS); WestWind Technologies, for systems integration and engineering support; and CAE, the supplier of UH-145 cockpit procedural trainers.
UH-145 program management will be located in Huntsville, Alabama and led by the EADS North America Defense business unit of EADS North America. A network of leading U.S. subcontractors has been created for the Light Utility Helicopter, bringing together companies such as Aerolite, Armor Holdings, the NORDAM Group, Keith Products, Thales USA, Turbomeca USA and Wulfsberg Electronics.
“When EADS North America was created four years ago, we committed to in-source U.S. jobs of high value, bring the best technology to America, and contribute to homeland security,” Crosby said. “The UH-145 will enable us to deliver once again on all three promises, while providing the Army with an optimum solution from a team of
leading U.S. suppliers.”
The UH-145’s industrial activity will be centered at American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Mississippi facility, which is to undergo a major expansion to accommodate the Light Utility Helicopter program. The Production line of the UH-145 – a version of Eurocopter’s EC145 multi-mission helicopter, currently built in Germany – will be
duplicated in Columbus through a series of steps that begins with partial assembly, followed by full assembly and the subsequent U.S. manufacture of major subsystems.
American Eurocopter President Marc Paganini said, “The UH-145 contract marks another significant growth of our U.S. government business and recognizes the excellence of our products. This also signifies a major new evolution of the Columbus plant – which has grown steadily since its startup in 2004.”
“EADS North America has won an important U.S. Army contract that will support military missions both at home and abroad,” said Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi. ”The
Light Utility Helicopter program award indicates that Mississippi continues to enhance its reputation as a state with advanced technology development capabilities and is firmly committed to meeting the needs of the men and women who are fighting to protect our nation.”
“The announcement of the EADS North America U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter selection is great news for the state of Mississippi and the Golden Triangle region,” said
Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi. “With this success, EADS and American Eurocopter will help further develop the state of Mississippi as a worldwide center of excellence in
helicopter manufacturing and aerospace technology.”
"The addition of this important new manufacturing program to American Eurocopter's existing Columbus operation is a great complement to our burgeoning defense industry,
and we welcome production of the Army's new Light Utility Helicopter in Mississippi,” said Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi. “Our state's partnerships with outstanding
companies such as EADS North America and American Eurocopter to provide high-tech, high-quality military systems to our men and women in uniform continue to strengthen, and that's a testament to our highly-skilled workforce."
“EADS North America and American Eurocopter’s U.S. Army contract win means bigger and better things are going to happen in the Golden Triangle,” stated Congressman
Roger Wicker, representing the First Congressional District of Mississippi. “EADS and American Eurocopter are delivering on their promise of bringing high value jobs and
technology to the region and we are ready to support them.”
“The Golden Triangle region continues to grow as a national competitor for technology and defense sector development,” said Congressman Chip Pickering, of Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. “American Eurocopter is a company dedicated to the people of this region and they will continue to bring worldwide aerospace technology to benefit Mississippi’s economy and create high-paying jobs.”
EADS North America has made a significant commitment to the UH-145 program, with the first helicopter already in assembly for delivery to the Army this November. In
addition, components already have been allocated for the manufacture of seven more UH-145s.
American Eurocopter’s expansion of the 92,200 sq.-ft. Columbus facility will begin almost immediately, with its size increasing to approximately 276,000 square feet to
accommodate the UH-145 program activity.
About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)
EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and
homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $8.5 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 174,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. With 11 operating companies located in 30 cities and 15 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.
My bet was the new era blackhawk, the US139, too good...
I hope they don't have problems in mountains with th 145 like the french http://pistehors.com/comments/627_0_1_0_C/
Last edited by Aser; 1st Jul 2006 at 09:42.
Keep your eye on the news in the future.....there will be an account of the "politics" behind this acquistion. Eurocopter set aside a wad of money for the construction of the manufacturing facility and heliport for this project at least a year ago. Seems odd they would begin work before they were awarded the contract.
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was this the winning video that sold them?
Interesting.
HF
www.luh-explorer.com
download the demo video
Interesting.
HF
www.luh-explorer.com
download the demo video
Additionally, the aircraft uses a combination of imperial and metric systems, but this is actually seen as a risk reduction benefit, since if one system fails our crews will still have a back-up system to rely on.”
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phom1, MightGem & HELOFAN - sorry for the confusion, the original story was a pi$$-take ahead of the formal announcement (hence 'Chimera'...).
Here's the UH-145 in all her glory:
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Here's the UH-145 in all her glory:
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Originally Posted by MightyGem
Anyone like to try and explain this statement?
Approximately 350 airframes to be bought for non-combat missions. Anyone care to argue that is a proper waste of money for a military organization? These are not "trainers" but rather "utility" aircraft. Any doubt our National Guard aviation units are an integral part of the combat aviation force of the Army?
Who would prefer to go to "war" in a 145 vice a UH-60?
I am starting a pool....100 USD to the person that correctly identifies the correct date a UH-145 gets shot down....anyone care to make a wager?
Who would prefer to go to "war" in a 145 vice a UH-60?
I am starting a pool....100 USD to the person that correctly identifies the correct date a UH-145 gets shot down....anyone care to make a wager?
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The REAL story of the LUH is one that must make Bell marketers stay up late, staring at the walls as the nice program they built was stolen by EC. It all began in Columbia a few years ago....
The Columbian government wanted a good mountain helo to carry teams into the war on drugs. The US Army said, "Buy the Black Hawk, it works real fine up there, and bullets don't bring it down!" So the Columbians put their order in for 60 Hawks, courtesy of the US Gov, which was chartered to help them with cash to fight the drug war (since the Columbian drugs end up on Main Street, of course.)
Bell sniffed the multi-million dollar order, and wanted a piece of that action, so they invented the "new" Huey, the 210. It was like dressing up a 60 year old and making her look like Jessica Alba. They argued that the Hawk was too big and too powerful for Columbian mountains. They argued that the simple Huey was a wonder-helo, the best ever made ( You remember the Huey? Every hill in Vietnam has 4 of them marking each point of the compass. No, you don't remember? Oh, that's right, that was 35 years ago!!)
The Army tried to stop them, and so did the Columbians, but the marketers knew how to press Congressional buttons, so they managed to make a Congressional compromise that allowed 30 Hueys to be sold, and the Hawk order dropped to 30 aircraft. Everybody won but the Columbians who watched those clunkers land and sit, unable to fly in the mountains.
Meanwhile, the heady feeling the Bell salesmen felt made them start on the US Army to sell out the Guard and have them take a Stateside-only mini-copter. The "proven" Huey was the choice, one that had no place in US Army operations, but could be used for Guard duty (this was back when the Guard went to college and played Monopoly on weekends, kiddies.) The Army crapped, Army engineering in Huntsville practically had a collective heart attack, but Congress kept on coming.
The Iraq war then started (all by itself) and the bills mounted, so even the Army decided that Rummy was right, a cheap stateside helo was OK. The Bell 210 was a shoo-in, but THEN someone decided to make it a competition. Uh-Oh. Now the Huey would have to run against some REAL helicopters. Bell tried to stop the insanity, but it was too late. The clunker had no chance against helos designed 45 years later (sort of like OJ trying to run the 100 yard dash today!)
Is the 145 a good light helo? You bet! Is it a good combat helo? In a pigs eye. There isn't a single system that can take the punishment that a Hawk or an Apache can take, and the Army crews will pay the price for it, when the time comes and everybody forgets that the Guard was supposed to stay home and play Katrina with the new LUH.
The Columbian government wanted a good mountain helo to carry teams into the war on drugs. The US Army said, "Buy the Black Hawk, it works real fine up there, and bullets don't bring it down!" So the Columbians put their order in for 60 Hawks, courtesy of the US Gov, which was chartered to help them with cash to fight the drug war (since the Columbian drugs end up on Main Street, of course.)
Bell sniffed the multi-million dollar order, and wanted a piece of that action, so they invented the "new" Huey, the 210. It was like dressing up a 60 year old and making her look like Jessica Alba. They argued that the Hawk was too big and too powerful for Columbian mountains. They argued that the simple Huey was a wonder-helo, the best ever made ( You remember the Huey? Every hill in Vietnam has 4 of them marking each point of the compass. No, you don't remember? Oh, that's right, that was 35 years ago!!)
The Army tried to stop them, and so did the Columbians, but the marketers knew how to press Congressional buttons, so they managed to make a Congressional compromise that allowed 30 Hueys to be sold, and the Hawk order dropped to 30 aircraft. Everybody won but the Columbians who watched those clunkers land and sit, unable to fly in the mountains.
Meanwhile, the heady feeling the Bell salesmen felt made them start on the US Army to sell out the Guard and have them take a Stateside-only mini-copter. The "proven" Huey was the choice, one that had no place in US Army operations, but could be used for Guard duty (this was back when the Guard went to college and played Monopoly on weekends, kiddies.) The Army crapped, Army engineering in Huntsville practically had a collective heart attack, but Congress kept on coming.
The Iraq war then started (all by itself) and the bills mounted, so even the Army decided that Rummy was right, a cheap stateside helo was OK. The Bell 210 was a shoo-in, but THEN someone decided to make it a competition. Uh-Oh. Now the Huey would have to run against some REAL helicopters. Bell tried to stop the insanity, but it was too late. The clunker had no chance against helos designed 45 years later (sort of like OJ trying to run the 100 yard dash today!)
Is the 145 a good light helo? You bet! Is it a good combat helo? In a pigs eye. There isn't a single system that can take the punishment that a Hawk or an Apache can take, and the Army crews will pay the price for it, when the time comes and everybody forgets that the Guard was supposed to stay home and play Katrina with the new LUH.
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Another European Flip-Flop
Boy, I wonder who got bribed this time to pull this contract ashore. Go to war with this bird, hmmm...does them 145 meet the crashworthiness design standards of lets say the UH-60airframe. I doubt it.