Bell 540
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Don't remember a Chinook doing 190 knots, but, what's Vne amongst friends anyway.
Yes, War Zone D. 334th at Phu Loi I remember. Geronimos of course. Worked in team covering INFANT as the low bird finding stuff six months late '70 - '71 FOB. Nothing like a little night roam-about to lose some weight - little that I had.
The UH1Ms did have the -13 engine and of course the thread subject 540 rotor system. I preferred the four crewmembers, 8 eyes, bungee 60s, and minis and rockets of the UH1C - just felt more secure I guess. Nicer to have four guys on the ground when being forced down too. Breaking over the target was a really big no-no for very obvious reasons. We never did anything the same, ever. Always different tempo, direction, height, angle, lights, etc. Our theory was it kept the little people with big guns on the ground guessing and hesitating. Didn't always work though.
Favorite A/C = XV15 - definitely not a 540 rotor system though. In that interest it would be curious to see a 412/212 fitted with a short 214ST type rotor - might do 150IAS? Getting experimental here.
Yes, War Zone D. 334th at Phu Loi I remember. Geronimos of course. Worked in team covering INFANT as the low bird finding stuff six months late '70 - '71 FOB. Nothing like a little night roam-about to lose some weight - little that I had.
The UH1Ms did have the -13 engine and of course the thread subject 540 rotor system. I preferred the four crewmembers, 8 eyes, bungee 60s, and minis and rockets of the UH1C - just felt more secure I guess. Nicer to have four guys on the ground when being forced down too. Breaking over the target was a really big no-no for very obvious reasons. We never did anything the same, ever. Always different tempo, direction, height, angle, lights, etc. Our theory was it kept the little people with big guns on the ground guessing and hesitating. Didn't always work though.
Favorite A/C = XV15 - definitely not a 540 rotor system though. In that interest it would be curious to see a 412/212 fitted with a short 214ST type rotor - might do 150IAS? Getting experimental here.
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We left Phu Loi in late March or early April 1970 for Soc Trang. It seems to me that 334th moved into our vacated hootches. Been a long time, so my memory might be wrong.
I haven't seen a 214 or an ST around here in some time. We are located across the field from Bell's X-worX and see the 609 a couple of times a week. Looks pretty cool but I understand that they are turning most of the work over to Agusta.
Used to see the XV-15 but it's now in the museum at Dulles Airport in DC.
Next week I get to fly a UH-1H to Oklahoma. Oh Joy!
I haven't seen a 214 or an ST around here in some time. We are located across the field from Bell's X-worX and see the 609 a couple of times a week. Looks pretty cool but I understand that they are turning most of the work over to Agusta.
Used to see the XV-15 but it's now in the museum at Dulles Airport in DC.
Next week I get to fly a UH-1H to Oklahoma. Oh Joy!
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Yes, 334th did move in to your hootches. Flew XV15 with Roy Hopkins on evaluation assignment; think you must have been across the runway. Presently interested in the coaxial advancements. Mil equipment interests are high. Maybe a 540 on an old Mil4? Can't imagine the blade slape of a teetering rotor system with a 68' diameter! Ridiculous to sublime; vice-versa, or something like that.
Ring a bell Whirlwind?
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The 2 digit model numbering was for the original piston stuff. The three digit and the associated model sequencing came with the turbine helicopters. That's why someone had the idea of starting the MAPL line with "3" as the "third generation" (first being the 47 et al, second being the 204, 206 and the derrivatives, ignore 222 and derrivatives as being a generation on its own, and that makes MAPL third.)
Bill Stromberg was the father of the "Global Ranger" name. Mike Redenbaugh wanted a real name for the 429 and not just a number. You had "Jet Ranger" and "Long Ranger" as Bell's named civil models, "Twin Ranger" had already been used by an STC. So given the international participation in the pogram, Bill suggested "Global Ranger."
I don't think that name has really stuck though...
Bill Stromberg was the father of the "Global Ranger" name. Mike Redenbaugh wanted a real name for the 429 and not just a number. You had "Jet Ranger" and "Long Ranger" as Bell's named civil models, "Twin Ranger" had already been used by an STC. So given the international participation in the pogram, Bill suggested "Global Ranger."
I don't think that name has really stuck though...
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I spent a lot of time in Russian helicopters, about 1200 hrs, including the KA-32, and the Mil 14, as well as the Mil-2, 8, 24, 35P. I met Roy Hopkins several years ago, but never got to fly the XV-15.
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Twin Ranger
Ahhh.... I thought the Twin Ranger was a Soloy Conversion STC. I know at one time there was a deal where Bell wanted to productionize the STC rather than engineer its own light Twin, but they had some "issues" with the STC and it never went through. I don't think "Bell" ever built any Twin Rangers themselves.
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I remember seeing the XV-15 land at Fort Rucker when I was a kid. My father was on an Exchange posting from Australia. He grabbed me from home and said, you need to have a look at this thing mate, its going to be the future.
Watched it fly over head at a great rate of knots and then come to a hover and land on one of the ovals. The pilots let us look all over it. One of the most exciteing experiences I've had.
Now that I fly I wonder when it (Bell609) is going to be produced if at all. Gone a bit quiet. Love to have it for SAR.
Watched it fly over head at a great rate of knots and then come to a hover and land on one of the ovals. The pilots let us look all over it. One of the most exciteing experiences I've had.
Now that I fly I wonder when it (Bell609) is going to be produced if at all. Gone a bit quiet. Love to have it for SAR.
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Snapsimo
Tiltrotor is very complicated, to me anyway. I think BA609 will be produced but in limited quantities due to its high cost. Speed and range advancements in conventional helis as well as coax developments are encroaching on its niche.
To me tiltrotor transports not a lot, somewhat quickly, for a pile of cash. A helicopter of comparable purchase price can transport more payload in not much less time.
I see the tiltrotor as filling a unique gap in military ops, SAR as well, but in civil ops I just don't get the cost justification. Coax helicopters may just fill the speed/range, plus more payload?, that the tiltrotor rests its chin on.
To an experienced helicopter pilot, and novice tiltrotor pilot, the XV15 was easy to fly and had definite advantages over conventional helicopters!
WIII
Tiltrotor is very complicated, to me anyway. I think BA609 will be produced but in limited quantities due to its high cost. Speed and range advancements in conventional helis as well as coax developments are encroaching on its niche.
To me tiltrotor transports not a lot, somewhat quickly, for a pile of cash. A helicopter of comparable purchase price can transport more payload in not much less time.
I see the tiltrotor as filling a unique gap in military ops, SAR as well, but in civil ops I just don't get the cost justification. Coax helicopters may just fill the speed/range, plus more payload?, that the tiltrotor rests its chin on.
To an experienced helicopter pilot, and novice tiltrotor pilot, the XV15 was easy to fly and had definite advantages over conventional helicopters!
WIII
