RAF announces Puma Replacement plan
Significant difference with the types shown ? - the stuff you see strapped to the Black Hawk - they're not for 'show' - they have already gone through extensive trials and approvals and in current use with fellow operators on the battlefield. The other guys? - If they ever get near a battlefield - they'll be on their own.....and late.
Might have mentioned this previously, but with the new blades I inquired as to whether the 23mm ballistic tests were repeated and they were.Same test requirement since the A model. Also for instance had to build a drop test structure for the main fuel tank. Had to have all the structure surrounding the tank. Fill up the tank. Get a crane and lift the whole thing to 65 ft and drop it. No leaks allowed.
These design features are just two of a long list.
These design features are just two of a long list.
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Is that not a Direct Vision ( DV) window, not an air vent?, in case the windscreens get obscured for any reason, birdstrikes, oil, shattered screen, smoke etc, to aid in getting it down onto the ground, low enough not to cover the pilots face in say oil or whatever is obscuring his vision, while still allowing him to visually look out.
I would also say it has folded inwards, the reflection is over the seal area, if it had folded out the seal would not have a reflection across it.
Good to see they are still following in the tradition of putting the bloody flag on the wrong way round!
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I would also say it has folded inwards, the reflection is over the seal area, if it had folded out the seal would not have a reflection across it.
Good to see they are still following in the tradition of putting the bloody flag on the wrong way round!
..
Last edited by NutLoose; 28th Jul 2022 at 14:43.
For another stat, Airbus have not yet delivered 50 H175s, Leonardo have delivered more 120 AW149/189s and Sikorsky over 5000 Blackhawks
That is also because Airbus never have offered the 175M up till now. The 5000 blackhawks tells you it is a good but very old military helicopter…😉
Perhaps more qualified door gunners could comment on the effect on aiming when your whole body is out of the side door at 120 kts? Never mind windchill, rain, snow, etc. Most of our current types site the gunner inboard. What arc of fire forward would the gunner have?
Perhaps more qualified door gunners could comment on the effect on aiming when your whole body is out of the side door at 120 kts? Never mind windchill, rain, snow, etc. Most of our current types site the gunner inboard. What arc of fire forward would the gunner have?
Nobody will know until the government have rammed it down the crews necks and the back or neck injury claims start coming in. The only 139's out there with similarly positioned weapons restrict crew to inside but I would view window size the same.
Interesting point re a 50 year old type in the Blackhawk. Surely that is not an issue given sales backlog in USA, and comparing F15, C130 and CH47 all selling whilst being as old or older. Is it a bad thing?
Perhaps more qualified door gunners could comment on the effect on aiming when your whole body is out of the side door at 120 kts? Never mind windchill, rain, snow, etc. Most of our current types site the gunner inboard. What arc of fire forward would the gunner have?
Thanks for that, not laughed so much in ages 🤗
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Have Leonardos actually got the people to design and build the AW149? I’m told that the technical team at Yeovil have been loosing a lot of staff due to other companies in the south west offering higher salaries and the lack of career development of engineers. If this is true then this must be a major risk to them achieving the IOC, etc?
Perhaps more qualified door gunners could comment on the effect on aiming when your whole body is out of the side door at 120 kts
Nobody will know until the government have rammed it down the crews necks and the back or neck injury claims start coming in. The only 139's out there with similarly positioned weapons restrict crew to inside but I would view window size the same.
Interesting point re a 50 year old type in the Blackhawk. Surely that is not an issue given sales backlog in USA, and comparing F15, C130 and CH47 all selling whilst being as old or older. Is it a bad thing?
Interesting point re a 50 year old type in the Blackhawk. Surely that is not an issue given sales backlog in USA, and comparing F15, C130 and CH47 all selling whilst being as old or older. Is it a bad thing?
Generally age is not an issue with a chopper unless you have some 'lifed' carbon composite components in the airframe.
As the Black Hawk and Chinook are proving on a daily basis - a purpose-built, proven military design, with updated avionics, DAS etc has so much more to offer the operator - including benefits of 'economies of scale' and supportability with similar types in the field.