AH-64 Apache
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Harwich
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Wonderful - Apache sweeps in to its forward base, lands between two pairs of grunts, one leaps forward and spears it with the refuelling nozzle, the others clip more rockets on, and 6.8 seconds later it's on its way back to the front line.
Most of the time.
Occasionally, the refueller pulls out the probe, big splash because it's gone wrong, wumph! and a dozen others rush over with fire extinguishers. Location of forward base no longer a secret as there's a 200ft column of black smoke pointing to it. Or, 6.8 seconds are up, off goes the heli with a crew of three - yep, the refueller didn't manage to get the probe out. How much is Bernie Ecclestone paying them to take this?
Most of the time.
Occasionally, the refueller pulls out the probe, big splash because it's gone wrong, wumph! and a dozen others rush over with fire extinguishers. Location of forward base no longer a secret as there's a 200ft column of black smoke pointing to it. Or, 6.8 seconds are up, off goes the heli with a crew of three - yep, the refueller didn't manage to get the probe out. How much is Bernie Ecclestone paying them to take this?
Just beating the air into submission!
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: UK
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Nice red suits though. Perhaps they could help out in Santas Grotto whilst waiting for an Apache to turn up. Lets face it they will be waiting an awfully long time.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
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Are the Army top brass still baffled by the lack of pilots?
In my day, when they had aspirations to take over RAF SH, they assumed that all the RAF Wessex, Chinook and Puma crews would rush to transfer to a brown uniform.
So what happened then chaps?
In my day, when they had aspirations to take over RAF SH, they assumed that all the RAF Wessex, Chinook and Puma crews would rush to transfer to a brown uniform.
So what happened then chaps?
Join Date: Apr 2002
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There's another lesson for the UK Apaches to learn from F1:
Always ensure a ready supply of drivers by maintaining a stable system of training and development. Have you ever heard an F1 team say "Can't race - got no drivers!"
Always ensure a ready supply of drivers by maintaining a stable system of training and development. Have you ever heard an F1 team say "Can't race - got no drivers!"
Iconoclast
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Put the homeless to work.
If the Navy And Air Force pilots don’t want to transfer what about the existing pool of Army pilots. If that doesn’t work do what the US Army does. Recruit the future pilots off the street, train them as basic helicopter pilots and stream them into the Apache flight programs. In any case make sure the pilots are capable of using the helmet mounted sight. The US Army trained a lot of Apache pilots only to find out they could not adapt to the helmet mounted sights.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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JHC?
Join Hoon's Club?
Off you go chaps. If Mr Hoon says it's alright, then it must be alright.
Get those Khakis on.
Join Hoon's Club?
Off you go chaps. If Mr Hoon says it's alright, then it must be alright.
Get those Khakis on.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Australia
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Apache Tail rotor setup
ANYONE,
im curious as to the setup of the apache tail rotor, from limited photos ive seen it seems though they have a set inboard and another set on the outboard side of the shaft. how does the pitch control work for both blade setups, is it a similair sytem to the 500 4 bladed tail rotor they produced?
Im sure someone can enlighten me as ive always been curious and no one can seem to tell me.
chhers guys
im curious as to the setup of the apache tail rotor, from limited photos ive seen it seems though they have a set inboard and another set on the outboard side of the shaft. how does the pitch control work for both blade setups, is it a similair sytem to the 500 4 bladed tail rotor they produced?
Im sure someone can enlighten me as ive always been curious and no one can seem to tell me.
chhers guys
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: AZ
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I think Rich Lee told me they seperated the blades in order to produce a lower noise signature. Thats all I think I know.
Jim
Sorry Rich if you were not the source and it is wrong...
Jim
Sorry Rich if you were not the source and it is wrong...
It's nothing to do with acoustics!
People often state that the Aphace's seperated twin teeter 4-bladed tail rotor was so designed for a reduction in acoustic signature.
WRONG.
It was staggered along the axis to allow room for the mechanical elements of the design. This was made very clear by Ray Prouty at a recent discussion at the Boeing factory in Az.
Hope this clarifies matters
CRAN
WRONG.
It was staggered along the axis to allow room for the mechanical elements of the design. This was made very clear by Ray Prouty at a recent discussion at the Boeing factory in Az.
Hope this clarifies matters
CRAN
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Bai, mi go long hap na kisim sampla samting.
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Are these tail rotors of conventinal teetering design, or are they of the delta three type of teetering hinge?
I heard it was for survivability - separate the four blades into two pairs, one set gets hit, it's possible you'll end up with a working pair.
And I was also told that there's enough power with just two blades to give reasonable yaw control. However, any AH/WAH-64 pilots care to comment ?
And I was also told that there's enough power with just two blades to give reasonable yaw control. However, any AH/WAH-64 pilots care to comment ?
Iconoclast
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Scissors tail rotor.
The scissors tail rotor design was created to minimize the acoustic signature. The design concept was proven on an OH-6 that was modified to the acoustic requirements of a DARPA contract. The design concept included mounting the OH-6 airframe on a waterbrake dynamometer in order to isolate the different generators of noise. In the end the helicopter included a five-blade rotor that turned at a lower speed, the scissors tail rotor, a muffler on the engine exhaust and every part of the airframe was insulated to minimize the broadcasting of noise. The rotor systems were eventually incorporated on later models of the H-500.
When this helicopter flew over at 500 feet all you could hear was a “whoosh”. I think it ended up in Vietnam.
When this helicopter flew over at 500 feet all you could hear was a “whoosh”. I think it ended up in Vietnam.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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The modulated blade spacing (MBS) concept is also used on the latest generation of Eurocopter fenestron tail rotors. There are several papers on the mechanics of the concept available on-line, including one here
I/C
I/C
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I was told ground transportation vertical clearance was a driving issue too. I was also told the lower noise signature was an unforseen bonus - fact or fiction?? Maybe someone from Mesa could comment?
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Thanks guys you have enlightened me a bit, the noise signature makes sense but an interesting comment by NR Fairy about survivorbility which is a valid comment, interesting.
any apache drivers on this forum??
any apache drivers on this forum??
Iconoclast
Join Date: Sep 2000
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A picture is worth 995 words (inflation)
For a closer look try here.
http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages...head/1077.html
To: Boathouse
If the Apache had a conventional four blade tail rotor vertical clearance would be compromized not for ground transportation but for transportation on the C-141. However the design was frozen prior to having air transport.
http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages...head/1077.html
To: Boathouse
If the Apache had a conventional four blade tail rotor vertical clearance would be compromized not for ground transportation but for transportation on the C-141. However the design was frozen prior to having air transport.
