Rumour regarding Medium Lift

[Ex-Dragoon]

Would not getting more Cyclones be a better option? That way we could get more medium lift platforms instead of fewer?

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

Hmmm...  I know very little about the Cyclone, but if we are to embark "army" (yes, I use that term loosely  ) helicopters it would make sense; a ship-borne variant and a lift/ground support variant.  As was pointed out earlier in this thread, that's what the Brits have done with their Sea Kings.  Worth considering.

 

[Good2Golf]

Cyclone (or equiv) may or may not work...folks will be evaluating its suitability to provide the required capability.

One must be mindful of the compromises that might have to be made if Cyclone were used to provide a medium lift capability.  As I have mentioned before, many folks appear to be getting focused on the "marinization" factor when the SCTF is being transported on the ship(s).  Let's not forget that these aircraft will also have a job to do, and a not insignificant one at that, once they make landfall and must support deployed troops in some challenging environmental conditions. 

Anyone know off hand how much an M777 155mm LWFH, limber, and gun crew weighs?


Cheers,
Duey

 

[Sam69]

Anyone know off hand how much an M777 155mm LWFH, limber, and gun crew weighs?

The gun itself (complete minus crew) is 3,745 KGs. 

Incidentally, the max external load for the H-92 Superhawk is 4,535 KGs; so it clearly has the capacity to lift this load plus crew. Is this the pacing requirement for TALC?


Sam

 

[Cloud Cover]

Rounds and something to pull it with might be useful as well.

 

[Sam69]

(In reference to the CH-149

We cant seem to get the ones we own flying on a regular baisis due to some manufacturing deficts. And the maintenece for them is all civillian.
Besides
Thats all we need is something we bought for SAR used as a combat helo and having the tail rotor fall of.

It is not at all uncommon for new aircraft to have teething pains. We should be careful not to blindly judge the utility of the EH-101/CH-149 by its early problems. Let's not forget what happened to our first Chinook as it was being delivered.... (crashed on its delivery flight resulting in 5 deaths).

It may seem from my comments in this thread that I have a preference of aircraft for the Medium Lift Helo project (TALC). I don't. I just don't like seeing a whole bunch of interesting options dismissed out of hand based on a bunch of half-truths, anecdotal evidence, and personal opinions when the capability requirement for the new helo has not even been drafted yet.

And if you really want heavy lift in an already marinized package, why not consider:

Carries up to 55 troops, and just about anything else that a helo could possibly carry:

Can even refuel while carrying tons of stuff:

Already used in Afghanistan:

Comes fully booted and spurred:

So, let's just keep our minds open... ok?


Sam

 

[Sf2]

we all know they're situating the estimate around the Chinook......

Wait for it.....G models all around.......

 

[Good2Golf]

Don't get me wrong, folks... I'd fly the 53E as well, it has a boom and 35,000lbs on the hook is absolutely amazing!

Having worked with in the past and recently chatted with -53 drivers from 16 SOS in Hurlburt, though...I want to see some beefing of the tailrotor assy/capability since the 'Stallion weak chink in its armour is its susceptibility to moderate LTE at high DA's.

Sam, I had heard there was very slim picking on any excess/avail 53's...Conneticut isn't quite pumping beasties out of their plant like the boys over in Philly.  Mind you, I'm open to any (truly) BHH...none of this poofter S92 or EH101 fluff.  Sam, you could make a Sikorsky guy out of me yet, brother!  ;D

Cheers,
Duey

 

[ArmyAviator]

Floor armour in a Griffon.......colour it gone.  It is 600 lbs (somebody correct the weight for me: it has been a few years since I've flown with it) of useless weight.  Not that I am not concerned about the FE's and soldiers in the back, but it isn't going to do jacks^&* to protect you.  Take a look and the pictures of the helicopter shot up by small arms in Iraq.  There are a f*(&$ of a lot of holes through the sides and very few in the bottom.  From personal experience in Kosovo I can say that, while we never actually got hit, all the shots taken at us would have come in the front or sides. 

Anyways, that's my 2 cents worth of rant.

 

[Good2Golf]

Floor armour in a Griffon.......colour it gone.   It is 600 lbs (somebody correct the weight for me: it has been a few years since I've flown with it) of useless weight.   Not that I am not concerned about the FE's and soldiers in the back, but it isn't going to do jacks^&* to protect you.   Take a look and the pictures of the helicopter shot up by small arms in Iraq.   There are a f*(&$ of a lot of holes through the sides and very few in the bottom.   From personal experience in Kosovo I can say that, while we never actually got hit, all the shots taken at us would have come in the front or sides.  

Anyways, that's my 2 cents worth of rant.

AA, yup, last thing I tried to get before moving on from the A7 Reqr/Eqpt slot was some ballistic lbanketing for the cabin and forward doors, from floor level up to the bottom of the windows...unfortunately the folks who made the stuff in Isreal weren't quite as tolerant of governmental time crunching and PWGSC inertia and moved on to other customers willing to provide cash in addition to all the nice talk and questions...    Perhaps we can keep looking at it...

Cheers,
Duey