Nice Toy, better than throwing beer cans at enemies.

Too bad it was designed to kill people, it would have been fun to have just as a toy, without having to actually use it for what it was designed.

Tiger V DAP.
Of course we could have used the DAP in Oz...it was the obvious choice to almost everyone except the project team. Importantly for a country like Oz it offered the following advantages over the Tiger:
1. Range Range and more Range. Not many FARPS in Oz.
2. Carries lots of hate, plus it's own reload. Not many FARPS in Oz.
3. Can pick up downed aircrew. Not many aircraft in Oz.
4. Commonality with existing fleet (though that is now going to change). Not many maintainers in Oz.
5. Wont get shot down as "foriegn" around the Yanks (though no gaurantee). The Yanks are the most likely in-theatre Allies - as opposed to the French.
6. The Yanks can refuel, re-arm, and repair the thing.
7. Most appropriate armament/ordnance mix for Oz environment.

BUT..... the Kiowa guys on the project team would not be seen dead in one!!:E

Oh, AND..... they tied the "Armed" bit to Recce, not utility, so they could get a skinny two seater, thus the DAP was no chance from the start.

Although this compromised on the Aerial Fire Support role, it did lead to the acquisition of a very fine armed recce helicopter - probably the world's best.

As long as the grunts don't need close in support, the colonels don't need battlefield viewpoints, we also acquire a light utility airframe for the command and liason, and there are lots of Yank DAPs about to help us, the Tiger will fully meet the needs of the Australian Army for decades to come.:ok:

Arm Up.

....to BlenderPilot

you are right - the best way is only using for fun .....

http://www.armamentsales.com/downloads/minigun2005.wmv

and for technical information ...

http://www.montysminiguns.com/RealityPage.htm

"Too bad it was designed to kill people, it would have been fun to have just as a toy, without having to actually use it for what it was designed."

Oscar whats with this?? Would you rather use Paint Balls in Combat??

Of course it all depends on who's pulling the trigger...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ7XmZZk1Tc

Thanks NickLappos
 

Hi Nick,

As an old Charlie model driver, I can really appreciate the DAP. I always liked having two extra pairs of eyes in the air, and extra firepower if you ended up on the ground. The DAP would have been nice in Chu Lai.

Cheers,
musket33

musket33,
Is that the Chu Lai Muskets, guardians of the Minutemen? Do you know Dave Young from Broken Arrow, OK?

Chu Lai muskets
 

Hi Nick,

Yes, I was a minuteman and then a musket. I flew a lot with Dave Young. Never heard anything from him after I left sunny southeast asia. Would be glad to get any info on him you might have. I also was a Saber for a few brief months on my extention tour.

Cheers,
musket33

Musket33,
World = Very Small!
Dave is in Broken Arrow, he stopped by at Sikorsky when picking up a Black Hawk (the Heavy Utility Helicopter that the Guard once had the right to fly!) Somewhere I have his phore #, he and I were in flight school together (69-5)
Sabre 74

NickLappos
 

Hi Nick,

Sent you a personel message. Sounds like we both know a different Dave Young.

Cheers,
musket33

Why are the yanks so gun ho? Not to spoil your fun but in sensible terms this sort of thing really is to blame for the shoot first and ask questions later mentality. A serious problem that comes down from the top. Sorry to dampen your enthusiasm for wars which have turned to failures. Get back to helicopter themes and not venture into deadly toys.

If you are in a fair fight, you didn't plan it properly.

Actually, I used to shoot first and never asked any questions....

Head Turner, just dont venture back to the states in a boat loaded with Tea. We do need to win one .......Again.........

Stop being so Anti-American! Just because the Brits used to be the victims in all the friendly-fire incidences... They use Canadians now.

:} ;)
As we have the Cobra Experts here, do you know why the snake on the picture has no landing gear?
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9218/ah102qr1.jpg
and another interesting picture:
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6672/pic106cy8.jpg

Nick; if I may ask, how did you guys go about firing at night? Am I mistaken that NVG's back then were non-existent? Or was it purely for the psychological effect it had seeing something breath fire, so to speak.

I hear those PsyOps stories about the "puff the magic dragon" a DC-3 armed to the teeth supporting the broadcasts that smaller planes below made, this DC-3 was supposedly thought of as a "angry beast" up in the sky that punished those who did not follow.

Well, best guess is that was the factory first (AH-1G/ B209) with retractable skids...... Too much weight and limited the aircraft internal storage.
Also notice which side the Tail Rotor is located..... That changed when the G went into production.

I think the GAU-8 is the backbone of the A-10 Warthog.

Yes, of course you are right. And the GAU-8 is way to big to be mounted on a helicopter. But it is an impressive picture to see the glowing barrels of a minigun.

And as to the Cobra Skidgear?? etc??

I have no idea, that's why I'm asking.