Future Helicopters

[KevinB]

Separated by….ummm…a brain?

Well I question the brain aspect, based on some of his other comments

Also…


59??? laughs in B-52ese…
View attachment 93304

You are much more knowledgeable on the Hook airframe life - but I would have thought that 59 years is a long time for one of them to still be flying - it sound like they are trying to divest the older ones for newer airframe off the line.

Seeing some of the "upgrades" to the BUFF fleet over the years, it seems that a lot of those airframe have been almost totally rebuilt.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Separated by….ummm…a brain?

Also…


59??? laughs in B-52ese…
View attachment 93304

The difference is that the Buff wants to fly, helicopters have to be forced into the air and are way to eager to return to the ground, any way they can.

 

[Good2Golf]

The difference is that the Buff wants to fly, helicopters have to be forced into the air and are way to eager to return to the ground, any way they can.

Pretty sure that helicopters are so ugly that they are repelled by the Earth…

 

[dapaterson]

Pretty sure that helicopters are so ugly that they are repelled by the Earth…

If not helicopters, then their pilots

 

[Good2Golf]

Equally true.

 

[armrdsoul77]

Canadian Chinooks acquired in the '70's,sold to the Dutch in the '90's are continuing to fly as aerial firefighters in the states.

 

[KevinB]

And sigh…

New US Army helo engine lifts off, but may be headed for cancellation

After roughly $1.5 billion spent over two decades, the future of the U.S. Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program is in question.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Good2Golf]

And sigh…

New US Army helo engine lifts off, but may be headed for cancellation

After roughly $1.5 billion spent over two decades, the future of the U.S. Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program is in question.

www.defensenews.com

Not surprising. With FARA cancelled, the investment to re-engine the remaining 64s and 60s to their end of lives is not a very compelling business case.

I wouldn’t send the development engines to the wreckers (a la Avro Arrow of Nimrod Mk4 style), but I wouldn’t put any more money into the program for a bit. See how the no-FARA thing settles out…

 

[calculus]

I'd like to see some of that new defence industrial development money go to these guys:

Horizon Boosted by Transition Flight with Cavorite X7 VTOL Demonstrator | AIN

Canadian start-up is now beginning to assemble full-scale hybrid-electric prototype

www.ainonline.com

 

[KevinB]

I'd like to see some of that new defence industrial development money go to these guys:

Horizon Boosted by Transition Flight with Cavorite X7 VTOL Demonstrator | AIN

Canadian start-up is now beginning to assemble full-scale hybrid-electric prototype

www.ainonline.com

I’m not sure the design model would be a fit for defense related activities.

Batteries don’t react well to ground fire - so they would require a significant amount of armor to be added that would then hamper the payload.

But it’s an interesting concept regardless.

 

[OldSolduer]

Pretty sure that helicopters are so ugly that they are repelled by the Earth…

Hey the Chinook is the Kate Beckinsale of the chopper world.

 

[KevinB]

I’m not sure the design model would be a fit for defense related activities.

Batteries don’t react well to ground fire - so they would require a significant amount of armor to be added that would then hamper the payload.

But it’s an interesting concept regardless.

Though @calculus 's article just spun up an interesting idea - I am very curious about one of those as a OWUAS, as the batteries can make a hell of a secondary incendiary on top of the payload.