RAF announces Puma Replacement plan
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As someone said below, pretty rubbish architecture if there's a single point of failure across the entire cockpit
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I don't believe that is strictly correct - the EC725 (later H225M) is the primary design, for long range CSAR, and the EC225/H225 is the civilian derivative (as has always been the case with the Puma family). I don't know exactly how its hot and high performance ranks, but bear in mind that most of the current operators are in 'hot' countries (Brazil, Malaysia etc), the French have been operating it in Afghanistan, and where are the primary theatres the French military are historically involved in (which would be factored into the design brief)? Chad, Niger, Mali, CAR etc
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225 temperature limits according to the EASA Type Certificate:
-30°C to ISA +40°C, limited to 50°C See RFMS SUPP 2 for lower temperature operation down to -45°C.
I never had a problem with the 332L in Karratha with temperatures up to 40 degrees.
-30°C to ISA +40°C, limited to 50°C See RFMS SUPP 2 for lower temperature operation down to -45°C.
I never had a problem with the 332L in Karratha with temperatures up to 40 degrees.
Thread Starter
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And now the Bell offering. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...-requirement01 APRIL 2021
Bell has described its 525 Relentless has being “an ideal aircraft” for the UK New Medium Helicopter (NMH), telling Janes that it is in constant touch with UK acquisition authorities as the country defines its Puma replacement plans.
The 525 Relentless would be ‘an ideal solution’ for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter requirement, Bell told Janes citing the aircraft’s ‘superior payload and range performance’. (Bell)
Speaking on 1 April a company representative said that Bell’s ‘super-medium’ 525 would be an ideal solution for the United Kingdom with its “superior payload and range performance”, while the company also has in its military portfolio the UH-1Y Venom and the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor it has co-developed with Boeing.
”Our teams are in constant contact with the UK acquisition authority as the United Kingdom continues to define their New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirements. Bell remains committed to providing the right solution based on those requirements and we are certain our aircraft offer the most capable and versatile performance options,” the representative said, adding that the 525 is on track to be issued its certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later this year.
The 525 designation reportedly stands for 5 blades, 2 engines, 500 n miles. Developed as a commercial platform tailored for offshore oil and gas operations, as well as for corporate, VVIP transport, and parapublic roles, the 525 can carry 16 passengers and/or 1,814 kg of payload out to 500 n miles (926 km; 575 miles) at a cruise speed of 162 kt (300 km/h; 186 mph). Other performance specifications include a service ceiling of 20,000 ft, as well as a hover ceiling of 11,200 ft (in-ground effect)/ 8,600 ft (out of ground effect). Bell recently announced that the 525 had completed flight testing, and
Bell touts ‘ideal' 525 for UK New Medium Helicopter requirement
by Gareth JenningsBell has described its 525 Relentless has being “an ideal aircraft” for the UK New Medium Helicopter (NMH), telling Janes that it is in constant touch with UK acquisition authorities as the country defines its Puma replacement plans.

Speaking on 1 April a company representative said that Bell’s ‘super-medium’ 525 would be an ideal solution for the United Kingdom with its “superior payload and range performance”, while the company also has in its military portfolio the UH-1Y Venom and the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor it has co-developed with Boeing.
”Our teams are in constant contact with the UK acquisition authority as the United Kingdom continues to define their New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirements. Bell remains committed to providing the right solution based on those requirements and we are certain our aircraft offer the most capable and versatile performance options,” the representative said, adding that the 525 is on track to be issued its certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later this year.
The 525 designation reportedly stands for 5 blades, 2 engines, 500 n miles. Developed as a commercial platform tailored for offshore oil and gas operations, as well as for corporate, VVIP transport, and parapublic roles, the 525 can carry 16 passengers and/or 1,814 kg of payload out to 500 n miles (926 km; 575 miles) at a cruise speed of 162 kt (300 km/h; 186 mph). Other performance specifications include a service ceiling of 20,000 ft, as well as a hover ceiling of 11,200 ft (in-ground effect)/ 8,600 ft (out of ground effect). Bell recently announced that the 525 had completed flight testing, and
Avoid imitations
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As someone said below, pretty rubbish architecture if there's a single point of failure across the entire cockpit . However, I'd be more disappointed about the loss of ballistic protection given by all those steam gauges in front of you - I've yet to see an MFD marketed as bullet proof!
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And now the Bell offering. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...-requirement01 APRIL 2021
Bell has described its 525 Relentless has being “an ideal aircraft” for the UK New Medium Helicopter (NMH), telling Janes that it is in constant touch with UK acquisition authorities as the country defines its Puma replacement plans.
The 525 Relentless would be ‘an ideal solution’ for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter requirement, Bell told Janes citing the aircraft’s ‘superior payload and range performance’. (Bell)
Speaking on 1 April a company representative said that Bell’s ‘super-medium’ 525 would be an ideal solution for the United Kingdom with its “superior payload and range performance”, while the company also has in its military portfolio the UH-1Y Venom and the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor it has co-developed with Boeing.
”Our teams are in constant contact with the UK acquisition authority as the United Kingdom continues to define their New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirements. Bell remains committed to providing the right solution based on those requirements and we are certain our aircraft offer the most capable and versatile performance options,” the representative said, adding that the 525 is on track to be issued its certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later this year.
The 525 designation reportedly stands for 5 blades, 2 engines, 500 n miles. Developed as a commercial platform tailored for offshore oil and gas operations, as well as for corporate, VVIP transport, and parapublic roles, the 525 can carry 16 passengers and/or 1,814 kg of payload out to 500 n miles (926 km; 575 miles) at a cruise speed of 162 kt (300 km/h; 186 mph). Other performance specifications include a service ceiling of 20,000 ft, as well as a hover ceiling of 11,200 ft (in-ground effect)/ 8,600 ft (out of ground effect). Bell recently announced that the 525 had completed flight testing, and
Bell touts ‘ideal' 525 for UK New Medium Helicopter requirement
by Gareth JenningsBell has described its 525 Relentless has being “an ideal aircraft” for the UK New Medium Helicopter (NMH), telling Janes that it is in constant touch with UK acquisition authorities as the country defines its Puma replacement plans.

Speaking on 1 April a company representative said that Bell’s ‘super-medium’ 525 would be an ideal solution for the United Kingdom with its “superior payload and range performance”, while the company also has in its military portfolio the UH-1Y Venom and the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor it has co-developed with Boeing.
”Our teams are in constant contact with the UK acquisition authority as the United Kingdom continues to define their New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirements. Bell remains committed to providing the right solution based on those requirements and we are certain our aircraft offer the most capable and versatile performance options,” the representative said, adding that the 525 is on track to be issued its certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later this year.
The 525 designation reportedly stands for 5 blades, 2 engines, 500 n miles. Developed as a commercial platform tailored for offshore oil and gas operations, as well as for corporate, VVIP transport, and parapublic roles, the 525 can carry 16 passengers and/or 1,814 kg of payload out to 500 n miles (926 km; 575 miles) at a cruise speed of 162 kt (300 km/h; 186 mph). Other performance specifications include a service ceiling of 20,000 ft, as well as a hover ceiling of 11,200 ft (in-ground effect)/ 8,600 ft (out of ground effect). Bell recently announced that the 525 had completed flight testing, and



Join Date: Feb 2006
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Join Date: Jul 2006
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One point which hasn't been mentioned yet on this thread is that the NMH is meant to replace three other niche military fleets as well as the Puma. The other three types are all much smaller, so the 225 looks rather big as a solution. As one example, having 225s in Cyprus would bring to mind the old adage about sledgehammers and nuts. For this reason as well as others, I suspect a smaller type will be selected.
Join Date: May 2009
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All the machines touted so far in the aviation press will come in very pricey for what will be a 'stop gap' machine - all be it a long gap if traditional new project intros are anything to go by......Not sure we'd get value for money opting for an unsuccessful Leonardo design or an over-egged AH one.......As for the 525, behave yourself
Join Date: Dec 2004
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All the machines touted so far in the aviation press will come in very pricey for what will be a 'stop gap' machine - all be it a long gap if traditional new project intros are anything to go by......Not sure we'd get value for money opting for an unsuccessful Leonardo design or an over-egged AH one.......As for the 525, behave yourself
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In a (Eurotrash?) H215M or H225M you can easily get two sections in CEMO plus a monster pile of ammunition.
Bit of a hot n high issue with the H225M perhaps.

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You might see something similar with UK SAR now that the UK is not bound by EU procurement rules with overall value to the UK judged rather than just price and technical.
Last edited by nowherespecial; 14th Apr 2021 at 09:39. Reason: grammar
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MOD seem to be coping without influence of lobbyist/politicians with Apache using US FMS and new order for Chinooks. We can use Leonlardo for SELEX and for painting O&G aircraft warry colours if required for decoys ;-)