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Not quite the full story seeing as the brand new just off the production line USAF MC-130J has a three person cockit crew including two pilots and a CSO (USAF equivalent to RCAF ACSO). Of course it has a slightly different mission than our 130Js.

In the US DoD procurement system, Operational Test Teams, for the last 30 years or so, are always involved with weapons design and development from a very early stage. The JSF is not following a new model. For the most part, until the start of  Initial OT&E, they conduct operational assessments...

Not according to the Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation aka the guy in charge of all US OT&E. http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/FY2011/    (under DOD programs F-35 Joint Strike Fighter) The annual JSF report is another excellent document if anyone is interested in an...

Probably the best and only accurate review, publicly available,  of the F-35 prgoram available is the yearly US GAO report. I would recommend if anyone wishes to intelligently discuss the program they read it.  The link below is for the lastest dated March 30, 2012...

Probably not all inclusive but here are some of the top of my head. The FBW is the biggest change as it is total change in the Flight Controls, Flight Modes, Flight Director etc. The aircraft subsequently have different handling and flight envelopes that requires a significant amount of...

The claim that the S-92 or the CH148 are simply evolutions of the UH-60 are mainly for marketing purposes.  The only thing the S-92 or CH148 shares with the UH-60 are the same engines. The S-92 and CH148 are significantly different enough that they have separate production lines. Sikorsky does...

The naval NH-90 (NFH-90) is not in service with any country yet and many countries (ie Germany, Sweden and Australia) are having troubles introducing the simpler TTH-90 (Army Helo) and are expressing dissatisfaction with it. Sweden ended up buying Blackhawks to overcome the delays with their...

Looks like Japan is planning to lift its ban on arms exports before the end of the year. Maybe the P-1 could be considered for the CMA project. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204552304577119194270959370.html Merry Xmas

The most accurate statement on the F-35 O&M and support costs would be TBD. But according to a Finanical Times article in June 2011: "For years Lockheed insisted that the running costs of the aircraft would be less than equivalents such as the F-16. But those numbers have fallen by the...

Both of these articles are ~5 months old but they are surprisingly well written. Kudos to the PA folk. http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/12w-12e/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?id=11760 http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/12w-12e/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?id=11759

While many different countries (USN, RAN, JMSDF, etc)  use a Helicopter Hauldown Rapid Securing Device (HHRSD) "aka beartrap" each one is designed and rated for its own airframes. The probe and trap for the Sea King is different than the probe and trap on the Cyclone. They handle different...

The full registration is CH148806 on the the Cyclone. The Twin Otter is CC138806 so their is no duplication. CF aircraft paint schemes only have the last three digits of registration on the aircraft in large lettering, which can lead to "duplication".  This link does a pretty good job...

Cool. Was there any other insight into the P-1?

True but their is a significant movement in Japan to change the arms export ban. http://newpacificinstitute.org/jsw/?p=3592 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-14/bae-eads-to-seek-easing-of-japan-s-three-ps-limits-on-weapons-exports.html...

An aircraft that I am sure has been overlooked for the CMA is the Japanese P-1. This is the first purpose built MPA in a long time. Japan operates over a 100 P-3s. I am guessing they are the second largest P-3 operator and probably the second largest MPA/LRPA operator in the world. The...

Ok.

"Seemingly endless testing" is not accurate. Compare the first flight of the CH148 to other similar aircraft. (Nov 2008) The first flight of the EH-101 was 1987 and it was not operational till the early 2000s. The first flight of the NH-90 was in 1995 and no NFH-90 (naval variant) are in...

The S-92 and CH148 are significantly different aircraft.

The German Navy and the VXX (US presidential) bids are I think Sikorsky's immediate goals. However, if you consider they are still selling H-60s ~30 years after its introduction Sikorsky is also probably considering the long term run of the H-92.  It will be a lot easier to sell the aircraft...

Dimsum, Welcome to the community. I grew up in Vancouver but spent the last few years in Shearwater. Decent dimsum... that depends... nothing compared to Richmond but there a few places that serve dimsum and are passable. Are you coming post 407 tour or pre-OTU?