Austrian AW169M LUH delivered
Thread Starter
Austrian AW169M LUH delivered
First of 18 x Leonardo AW169M LUH for the Austrian Bundesheer was delivered today. a lot ohr program is done in conjunction with the Italian Ministry of Defence Armaments Procurement.
f
cheers
f
cheers
Skids are for kids
Seeing skids on the AW169 will take a while to get used to.
Also, interesting mod on the horizontal stabilizers. Anyone know if that has to do with the lack of the wheel type landing gear?
https://www.austrianwings.info/2022/...rst-brumwoski/
Also, interesting mod on the horizontal stabilizers. Anyone know if that has to do with the lack of the wheel type landing gear?
https://www.austrianwings.info/2022/...rst-brumwoski/
Last edited by verticalspin; 23rd Dec 2022 at 04:12. Reason: Added URL
Phase 7 upgrade brings a new horizontal stabiliser, nothing to do with the skids but a way smoother ride. Retractable and fixed wheeled landing gear can also have it, optional in either case.
I know the Austrian military uses the Bell 212 or AB212, the Sikorsky UH-60, and now theyve ordered about 30-plus of the AW169. I dont get it, all of these three models are in the same size class; the Bell 212 and UH-60 are designed for military applications - the Bell has a large sliding door with room for a gunner (I know it's an older copter and is being supplanted by the UH60 and AW169) and the UH-60 has a dedicated part of the cabin for a gunner. The AW169 is basically a civilian helicopter shuttling people around, like for EMS for oil & gas and executive duties. The 169 has a somewhat shorter door than the 212 or 60, and can carry 8-10 troops, with a gunner that would occupy lots of door space.
Why did Austria go with the AW169, and not the AW149 (with a door gunner window/area) or just buy more UH60s? Is the AW169 going to fill non-combat military duties?
Why did Austria go with the AW169, and not the AW149 (with a door gunner window/area) or just buy more UH60s? Is the AW169 going to fill non-combat military duties?
The 169 is a replacement for the alouette. Also for the 212 the 169 will be a logical “silent” replacement, after a recent avionics “upgrade” fail. It’s a LUH, but more than the 212 in every aspect.
A door gunner is not mandatory in Europe I guess, so not every helicopter is worked around it. By the looks of the US LUH (145) neither is there, with a tiny sliding door.
A door gunner is not mandatory in Europe I guess, so not every helicopter is worked around it. By the looks of the US LUH (145) neither is there, with a tiny sliding door.
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Thread Starter
I know the Austrian military uses the Bell 212 or AB212, the Sikorsky UH-60, and now theyve ordered about 30-plus of the AW169. I dont get it, all of these three models are in the same size class; the Bell 212 and UH-60 are designed for military applications - the Bell has a large sliding door with room for a gunner (I know it's an older copter and is being supplanted by the UH60 and AW169) and the UH-60 has a dedicated part of the cabin for a gunner. The AW169 is basically a civilian helicopter shuttling people around, like for EMS for oil & gas and executive duties. The 169 has a somewhat shorter door than the 212 or 60, and can carry 8-10 troops, with a gunner that would occupy lots of door space.
Why did Austria go with the AW169, and not the AW149 (with a door gunner window/area) or just buy more UH60s? Is the AW169 going to fill non-combat military duties?
Why did Austria go with the AW169, and not the AW149 (with a door gunner window/area) or just buy more UH60s? Is the AW169 going to fill non-combat military duties?
they also operate the Bell OH-58C Kiowa and my photos from AirPower
And that used for training as well as light observation / gunship role.
cheers
Thread Starter
The 169 is a replacement for the alouette. Also for the 212 the 169 will be a logical “silent” replacement, after a recent avionics “upgrade” fail. It’s a LUH, but more than the 212 in every aspect.
A door gunner is not mandatory in Europe I guess, so not every helicopter is worked around it. By the looks of the US LUH (145) neither is there, with a tiny sliding door.
A door gunner is not mandatory in Europe I guess, so not every helicopter is worked around it. By the looks of the US LUH (145) neither is there, with a tiny sliding door.
cheers
Wait to see what the serviceability is like. If U.K. vip and hems airframes are anything to go by…. 
I can’t see the culture in Austria accepting sub standard rates. But then maybe that’s why instead of open competition it was a gov to gov deal otherwise would anyone have bought it outside of the home nation? Some small but also big shoes to fill.
How long before the Bundesheer decide more Blackhawks would have better replaced the 212’s. They’ve had such success with them and even upgraded them.
it’s akin to someone taking our lovely 175’s up north and selling to a military force somewhere. Just ask why the French have introduced almost all Airbus types into their military and para public fleets, but not the 175.
I can’t see the culture in Austria accepting sub standard rates. But then maybe that’s why instead of open competition it was a gov to gov deal otherwise would anyone have bought it outside of the home nation? Some small but also big shoes to fill.
How long before the Bundesheer decide more Blackhawks would have better replaced the 212’s. They’ve had such success with them and even upgraded them.
it’s akin to someone taking our lovely 175’s up north and selling to a military force somewhere. Just ask why the French have introduced almost all Airbus types into their military and para public fleets, but not the 175.
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Thread Starter
The 169 is a replacement for the alouette. Also for the 212 the 169 will be a logical “silent” replacement, after a recent avionics “upgrade” fail. It’s a LUH, but more than the 212 in every aspect.
A door gunner is not mandatory in Europe I guess, so not every helicopter is worked around it. By the looks of the US LUH (145) neither is there, with a tiny sliding door.
A door gunner is not mandatory in Europe I guess, so not every helicopter is worked around it. By the looks of the US LUH (145) neither is there, with a tiny sliding door.
Btw said Ab-212 pilot was coming to RAF Linton-on-Ouse for the EDA Helicopter Tactics Course week after the show finished...
cheers
Wait to see what the serviceability is like. If U.K. vip and hems airframes are anything to go by….
I can’t see the culture in Austria accepting sub standard rates. But then maybe that’s why instead of open competition it was a gov to gov deal otherwise would anyone have bought it outside of the home nation? Some small but also big shoes to fill.
How long before the Bundesheer decide more Blackhawks would have better replaced the 212’s. They’ve had such success with them and even upgraded them.
it’s akin to someone taking our lovely 175’s up north and selling to a military force somewhere. Just ask why the French have introduced almost all Airbus types into their military and para public fleets, but not the 175.
I can’t see the culture in Austria accepting sub standard rates. But then maybe that’s why instead of open competition it was a gov to gov deal otherwise would anyone have bought it outside of the home nation? Some small but also big shoes to fill.
How long before the Bundesheer decide more Blackhawks would have better replaced the 212’s. They’ve had such success with them and even upgraded them.
it’s akin to someone taking our lovely 175’s up north and selling to a military force somewhere. Just ask why the French have introduced almost all Airbus types into their military and para public fleets, but not the 175.
The spanky new ones coming out are doing really well, very little down time in comparison. Like any type, there’s nothing better than maturing.
Damper links still go all the time but a lateral wiggle between the blades during the preflight will easily pick up a link about to go. If you can feel it then the link probably has 5-10hrs left on it and engineers are so used to changing them now it can be done in less than an hour.
A basic RW trainer? A complex, four-axis AP, multi-engine full FADEC, 5 ton... basic trainer?
I know the modern youth will need to be trained in AP from the start, but that's pushing it a bit?
I know the modern youth will need to be trained in AP from the start, but that's pushing it a bit?