Comments on: Prez Helo First Flight

By: ant

ant — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:12:57 +0000

Re the danish returned a/c: I think that the RAF and joint helo command are screaming for airframes and the danes new build eh101s are the best that we can get. The danes were having some difficulty coordinating their roll out, and spare and training were running about 2 years behind delivery for the utility variant, so they’ve very kindly indicated that they’ll take delivery of another batch sometime around 2009 and let us play with the new toys now. Note that they are holding on to their SAR birds though– the danes like the eh101, they’re just being very helpful to a slightly overstretched RAF tactical airlift community.
One argument I have heard against the eh101 is that its higher disk loading means it puts down a phenomenal down draft. Some claim this puts it at greater risk of brown out and makes it less suitable for FIBUA support. However, this is hardly a problem limited to this a/c– pace the stats for brown out incidents for chinnies in the ‘ghan.

By: Marcase

Marcase — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:19:54 +0000

D K Simpson, it concerns us ;)
Cheers.

By: Marcase

Marcase — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:15:24 +0000

George,
I remembered the Canadian (political) choice regarding the S-92 / EH-101, but didn’t want to bring it all up. Thanks anyway for your clarification mate.
(Off topic — we Dutchies are mighty glad the past Canadian government decided to sell your Chinooks to us, they provide sterling service in Afghanistan — bugger that we now are forced to sell our Leopards to you)
Interesting point brought up: IS the EH-101 being reconsidered for the CSAR role? The bid has been reopened hasn’t it?

By: Wren

Wren — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:08:14 +0000

Many readers seem to be arguing the point about the helicopter being British rather than American in origin without looking at the bigger picture, the aircraft performance and capabilities, the ability to keep the crew and passengers safe etc. Surely there the biggest considerations? After all the relevant organisations looked at everything on the market and decided on the best helicopter to do the job.
Look at the facts, the British have been flying Merlin successfully now for a few years with little problem, the helicopter has performed well and is presently the most advanced aircraft of its type, bar none.
Every argument on here seems to have been about the choice of the Merlin over the S-92, so let

By: Wren

Wren — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:07:00 +0000

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:53:19 +0000

Is this platform being considered at all for CSAR?
It looks like it would be a good size fit.

By: D K Simpson

D K Simpson — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:14:40 +0000

To whom it might concern. I flew in the test EH-101 in Patuxent River Maryland and dealt with the S-92 Helicopter. I have flown over 6000 hours as a helicopter crewman in the Navy in several platforms (SH-3/VH-3/HH-60/MH-60). In my 23 years of flying I HAVE NEVER flown in an overall better built aircraft then the EH-101. No, repeat no U. S. made aircraft comes close to the EH-101 for it flight handling or proformance. To this day I wish the U. S. Navy had bought the maritime version instead of the MH-60R.

By: Alistair

Alistair — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:25:43 +0000

Why do Americans think that somthing buildt in the UK is not worthly to consider for there troops or President. Sometimes I wonder why they can not look outside the USA and think that, maybe once in a while the best bit of equipment might be buildt somwhere else. I noticed similar talk when the tankers for the airforce contracts were being started.
Please America stop being so insular, it looks terrible to read some comments thats been written. In case you think this is somone who hates America you would be so wrong.

By: nick

nick — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:39:01 +0000

Once again, the Bushes and Saudi’s show who really rules the USA.

By: ajay

ajay — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:37:02 +0000

It’s a shame when the most modern, technologically advanced and safest helicopter in the world today, the S-92, was not chosen for the most critical mission out there.
Jim, VIP transport is very, very far from the most critical mission out there.
If a VIP helo can’t do its job, the president has to travel by limousine convoy instead, and might be a few minutes late getting to the airport.
If a SAR bird (for example) can’t do its job, people die.