Recent content by Baz

Ok, for posterities sake, and maybe as a different reference for the ones out there… The Helicopter Hauldown Rapid Securing Device (HHRSD), aka “Beartrap” or Recovery Assist, Secure and Traverse (RAST) does not actually “haul down,” “winch down,” or “reel in” the aircraft. Curtis Wright Indal...

My experience, also dated, was that was the case until: something bad happened, like an aircraft incident we were really busy doing something important to the ship we got the Christmas mail there was a reason for them to see it wasn’t easy (like being down to one TACCO and still flying 9 hour...

That is true, however... As I've said, I've been doing quite a bit of primary source research on the Sea King. The problems started well before the contracts for the EH-101 were let. In particular, there was a lot of hubris around the thought that the Canadian MH "can do" attitude could mean we...

Not directly part of the Sea King story, but... What if the RCN had a plan for HMCS Bonaventure? As far as I can tell, when the Banshee was retired in 1962 there were never any serious attempts to find a replacement, notwithstanding the abortive looks at the A-4.. As well, there seems to have...

I tried to press Lock Mart at DEFSEC as to what was happening, but I got no bites. I did say that at some point soembody is going to have to write the factual (ie non-political and not the "stories") account of what has happened, an it would be better that everything didn't have to be ATI'd...

My concern, as stated before, is the US military’s primary strength isn’t fit young men; it’s the best stuff, at the right place and right time. Those skills are also perishable. There have already been cases of tech, intel, admin, and logistic experts being forced out for “reasons.”...

Some versions of the Harpoon (missile) can be refered to as Slamer (Stand-off Land Attack Missile - Extended Range)... I'm sure someone smarter than me (or at least wittier) can make an appropriate connection!

That Tom Clancy passage makes me glad I didn’t fly with them. I’m certain there was no way I could haul in the HIFR hose using a messenger line instead of the hoist, which is conveniently mounted right above the fuel point.

The historical penchant for the RCN to do all practice shots against targets held on the firing ships radar is concerning… to my knowledge the Sea King never targeted for a validated shot.

I want to say something, but I can’t remember which book each thing I want to say comes from, so… I was talking about sub signatures as it applies to the museums passive processor last week at DEFSEC. How do you ensure that random numbers you pick out of your @&& have no basis in reality...

The Canadian weapon stock is being upgraded to the Mk-54 standard, which is mostly a guidance package upgrade.

The Cyclone contract has availability statements. The “power by the hour” concept has been hard to manage…

OK. But the concern SKT raised was internal storage and heaing for the weapon. So, the question is, how badly is the range affected if you carry the weapon externally and fly at a lower altitude?

So… (full disclaimer, I’ve not heard anybody say this): Over in the F-35 thread there is speculation about a Lock-Mart / GOC announcement on 22 Sep. Given LM owns Sik, anybody want to create Cyclone rumours?

What’s the range hit if they stay at a low enough altitude?