RAF announces Puma Replacement plan
Having threatened to pull out of the UK during the Brexit negotiations, I find Airbus’s push to trouser UK taxes a little on the nose, added to which they didn’t cover themselves in glory during the H225 incident in Norway. Leonardo have gone down their traditional route of give us the contract or Yeovil gets it.
A few years ago I did a comparison between the AW189 and the H175 for a major operator and to be honest, I’d vote Blackhawk.
A few years ago I did a comparison between the AW189 and the H175 for a major operator and to be honest, I’d vote Blackhawk.
Having threatened to pull out of the UK during the Brexit negotiations, I find Airbus’s push to trouser UK taxes a little on the nose, added to which they didn’t cover themselves in glory during the H225 incident in Norway. Leonardo have gone down their traditional route of give us the contract or Yeovil gets it.
A few years ago I did a comparison between the AW189 and the H175 for a major operator and to be honest, I’d vote Blackhawk.
A few years ago I did a comparison between the AW189 and the H175 for a major operator and to be honest, I’d vote Blackhawk.
Surely we should be buying a military aircraft!!
Watching that H175 video, I expect the incidence of airsickness among troops will be quite high.

Nothing like a vertical and predictable manoeuvre profile to make it easy to get a lead on the target even with small arms.
Me too, the other offerings are civil helicopters in green paint. Same as the 330 Puma so no change.
It crashed during the programme whilst trying to do a self innated barrel roll.
Thread Starter
Evidence of history repeating itself?
From the EC175 thread and reference to an AAIB report on a contemporary EC175 MGB issue; EC 175
I beg your pardon. The 330 was a pure military development. It was only when it was a success the Sud went for the civil version. Even then they had to get the cooperation of the RAF and the French Army to release aircraft for main gearbox reliability trials in 1974. It was called the Components Advanced Ageing Programme to prove that the gearbox could be TBO'd to 1,500 hrs instead of the military 800hrs. 33Sqn's was XW 203 which was required to fly 100 hrs/month to meet the programme.
It crashed during the programme whilst trying to do a self innated barrel roll.
It crashed during the programme whilst trying to do a self innated barrel roll.
The (EC 175) helicopter was undergoing scheduled maintenance to replace the main gear box (MGB), which had reached its overhaul life of 800 flying hours.
Did we just go back 50 years in time?
Did we just go back 50 years in time?
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PELITA AIR SERVICE / INDONESIA was the first civil operator, commenced operations with c/n 1082 in 1971.followed by another 18 during the early 70's, which were ( in addition to offshore work ) used to to 'move' oil / gas drilling rigs in North Sumatra whereby the average daily utilization was 12 + hours..
It will inevitably be a compromise given the different roles that need to be covered, hopefully some recipients will be happy with what they get.
Avoid imitations
I built the coffee bar in 33 Sqn. at Odiham before it was reformed. I was in the front of XW 204 with Trevor Wood on its first flight from Odiham.
When I die I will go to Hell. My Squadron boss will be a lieutenant commander and the station commander will be a women.
When I die I will go to Hell. My Squadron boss will be a lieutenant commander and the station commander will be a women.
You just hope marinating the aircraft is in the requirements ;-)
the encouraging news with recent publication is that it will be more difficult for Leonardo to wangle / blackmail a single-source contract; which has to be good news for tax payer - UK taxpayers that is, not French or Italian……
Ladies and Gentlemen - The AceHawk ML-70
the encouraging news with recent publication is that it will be more difficult for Leonardo to wangle / blackmail a single-source contract; which has to be good news for tax payer - UK taxpayers that is, not French or Italian……
Ladies and Gentlemen - The AceHawk ML-70
Avoid imitations
EESDL
Mmm lovely, helicopter marinated in its own sauce!
You just hope marinating the aircraft is in the requirements ;-)

Far too many biased and company replies on this thread! The real answer must be in what the RAF` and the combined armed forces require!
Who gets the contract MUST be decided on that! Not political issues. For Christ Sake the question is about what aircraft is the best one for our armed services NOT what is the best Political answer!
TF
Who gets the contract MUST be decided on that! Not political issues. For Christ Sake the question is about what aircraft is the best one for our armed services NOT what is the best Political answer!
TF
I can’t help hoping that FED ended up with none of those things happening to him. RIP Al Tait!
The real answer must be in what the RAF` and the combined armed forces require!
We would have been flying Blackhawks since the 80's if we had been given what we needed.
It started with 800, not TBO at 800.