Last edited by DeV; 16th May 2018 at 14:29.
Incorrect
The Gazelle, Alouette and Dauphin were all to be replaced to a single type (Squirrel was indicated due to commonality to GASU at the time).
Then 4 medium lift helicopters were to be purchased
The single type contract was never progressed and they decided to go for the medium lift first.... and we know the result.
They then decided that medium lift was off the table (no mentions after the S92).
At this stage, the complete heli fleet needed replacement so they went for 2 types.
In effect, the AW139 is a combination of the single type and medium lift - not that I agree with it.
Last edited by DeV; 16th May 2018 at 14:35.
Fair point.We are in agreement that we currently don't have a vehicle that will fit.Who knows what the future will bring though especially since the SRV's are in service since 2004 and have been flogged to death since then.Up to the point where you introduced the concept of the 295 carrying a vehicle I'm in full agreement, but we don't have anything suitable to be carried other than motor bikes or quads....
A newer smaller vehicle may be purchased to fit, specific to role.
Maybe![]()
Infantry Corps - An Lámh Comhrac
"Let us be clear about three facts:First of all.All battles and all wars are won in the end by the Infantryman.Secondly the Infantryman bears the brunt of the fighting,his casualties are heavier and he suffers greater extremes of fatigue and discomfort than the other arms.Thirdly,the art of the Infantryman is less stereotyped and harder to acquire than that of any other arm".
-- Field Marshall Earl Wavell.1948
The USCG has HC-130J’s and HC-130H’s (which are being replaced and at least some sold to the US Forestry Service
They also have HC-27J’s (plan is to upgrade them to give them a surface search radar and EO turret).
Apart from the CASA 235 and 295, I can’t think of anything else (cargo aircraft with ramp and in service martitme patrol fit)
Genuinely mate, the only sized vehicle that could do a 'drive off' from a C295 is a Fiat 500 convertible.
If you can come up with something useful that fits within that footprint then fine, crack on and buy two dozen for the long haired mob - but from what I can see such a vehicle would be so compromised in how much and what it could carry that it wouldn't be worth the budget that the vehicle and the C-295 would suck out of the DF.
they will buy what fits in the hanger
Realistically if we want an aircraft capable of carrying a vehicle we need a C27 / C130
@Anzac.
I would love to see 3-4 aircraft purchased and agree that provided they had techies to maintain them, pilots to fly them and ATC to launch them, they could find the business for them.
Historically (the last 30 years) the AC have done nothing but downsize.
I honestly, genuinely, cannot see them purchasing more than 3 aircraft.
Despite the recent social and security changes in the western world the fact remains that the DF wont ever be taken seriously.
Talk of a KC-390/C-130 is utter fantasy. Unfortunately.
Has to be currently in production or so says the spec. C27 is no longer in production. Finished in 2016.
I did say that in an earlier post last .....Apart from the CASA 235 and 295, I can’t think of anything else (cargo aircraft with ramp and in service martitme patrol fit
That Polish 'yoke' in your earlier picture?.......A newer smaller vehicle may be purchased to fit, specific to role
I would have said 'consolidated' rather than down size......30 years ago we had too many types at trying to do different things with a mixed bag of aircraft. we could do with more of what we have as opposed to more types.Historically (the last 30 years) the AC have done nothing but downsize
Maybe next time.....Talk of a KC-390/C-130 is utter fantasy. Unfortunately.
https://www.quora.com/How-does-Embra...Hercules-C-130
Time for another break I think......
Historically, the Don bit itself on the ass with the Dauphin and has done something of the same with the 139s; the Army hates the RG-32M it inflicted on itself so there is an incentive right there not to repeat history and get an inadequate/costly aircraft or get stuck with a shitty contract for servicing. It looks like the 295 is the only game in town. The 235s, having been banged around at low level for much of their total flight hours, might only be viable to keep on or sell for decent money if the DoD is prepared to give them a thorough overhaul, so they may not generate much return/offset of the cost of a trio of 295s. I wouldn't have much faith in the DoD doing that.
Last edited by Herald; 16th May 2018 at 23:24.
This discussion has happened in the past:
- Why not keep the Marchetti as a primary trainer, before letting novice pilots loose on the PC-9?
- Why not keep the Dauphin, or Allouettes, instead of replacing them completely with the AW139/EC135?
I strongly believe, whatever the merits of the above, or keeping the CN235s as dedicated transports - whatever - the people holding the purse strings would simply say: look either these aircraft require replacement or they don't, so keeping them is a non starter. So the aircraft get sold on for nothing and live a new life elsewhere - I fully expect the same to happen with the CN235s.
I think the only small chance for it to happen would be if EADs actually offered a rock bottom price for zero-houring them as part of a deal for two new C295s, as an alternative to 3x295s.
As an aside - I'm disappointed that yet again ropebag has violated opsec on this site and revealed the existence of the ARWs tactical Fiat 500s.
Last edited by pym; 16th May 2018 at 23:01.
For the Naysayers.Just a sample of what is out there.
https://www.wired.com/2014/04/navy-phantom-badger/
Infantry Corps - An Lámh Comhrac
"Let us be clear about three facts:First of all.All battles and all wars are won in the end by the Infantryman.Secondly the Infantryman bears the brunt of the fighting,his casualties are heavier and he suffers greater extremes of fatigue and discomfort than the other arms.Thirdly,the art of the Infantryman is less stereotyped and harder to acquire than that of any other arm".
-- Field Marshall Earl Wavell.1948
All that banging around at low level over the sea means that the 235s are essentially worth no more than their engines and avionics by the time the Don rolls out the replacements and the world is full of old turboprops, so I wouldn't be surprised if they ended their days after the Air Corps as Coke cans. You might see an actual miracle and the DoD buy a 295 as a genuine utility aircraft, alongside the MARPAT airframes, because I have no faith in the notion that it would become practise to keep stripping out palletised mission kit. A lot of operators found that the constant stripping out and refitting of palletised systems only increased wear and tear on the kit and the parent hull and the manufacturer's boasts of an hour or two to do same needs always to be taken with a pinch of salt. There seems to be some mental block in the DoD that the AC might have an actual use for a pure cargo/utility aircraft.
I do love the fact that they had to go off and build a new vehicle just so something could fit inside the Osprey. I mean I know it had development hell but did nobody stop and think about that when they were writing the spec, I mean it's not like they could have it on a sling while in aircraft mode...
I’d say like the PC12s - 3 aircraft (all with radar and FLIR etc) and 2 palletised suites.
The intend being when the transport a/c goes U/S (say for overhaul) you have a replacement.
The palletised system also means for ambulance, if there isn’t one already, develop an air ambulance pallet with the stretcher etc permanently on it. That way with the suite fitted you just change the last pallet
As we will never get the C130 it seems the best of a small lot
Last edited by apc; 17th May 2018 at 11:32.
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