SW1 wrote: ↑18 Jan 2023, 22:09
mrclark303 wrote: ↑18 Jan 2023, 19:35
SW1 wrote: ↑18 Jan 2023, 12:24
mrclark303 wrote: ↑18 Jan 2023, 09:21
SD67 wrote: ↑02 Oct 2022, 11:39
That sounds super conservative to my inexpert ears. How many combat platforms are not going to be made out of composites in say 20 years time? Honest question. I read somewhere AH64E is going to be getting a composite tail boom. How many times have bits been shot off a Puma and it actually has been patched up in the field? Is this an Afghan-specific thing or a genuine all round requirement?
Here's something I found re composite repair
file:///C:/Users/simon/Downloads/MP-AVT-266-05.pdf
The issue of composite construction came sharply into focus in Afghanistan, when shot up Blackhawks and Chinooks were patched up and rapidly sent back into the fight. Merlin on the other hand was grounded requiring specialist repairs.
With regards to Puma replacement, then we need a robust, tested and proven platform, i.e the Blackhawk.
Where was the damage on Merlin that kept it grounded?
All the ground fire that Merlin took required specialist inspection and repair, Chinook and Blackhawk could have skin patches applied and back into the fight, as long as no systems were damaged.
Medivac Blackhawks were literally patched and back in the fight inside hours of getting shot up on occasion!
Something impossible on a modern, overly complex composite helicopter.
Manufacturers seem to forget that their products might just have to land right in the middle of a firefight, in a really hot LZ and do it over and over again.....
Blackhawk, keep it simple stupid!
So we’ve gone from grounded to needing an inspection. I guarantee you the other helicopters would have had an inspection and repair applied too.
Composite structure is not “overly complex” and can be patched with metallics if required.
Merlin is a complex helicopter but that is not the result of composites.
Manufactures or the engineers that design them are well aware of where there helicopters will be used.
It's a simple fact that Merlin was found to require considerable additional repair and downtime in comparison to Blackhawk and Chinook...
You can guarantee the Lenardo and Airbus offerings will bring three things to the table.
A: far more fragile and needlessly complex than Blackhawk.
B: Double the unit price, at the very least.
C: Be at least 5 years late after UK specific 'modifications'.
The basics, the RAF and Army need a medium support helicopter, UH60M is available right now, utterly reliable, combat proven, affordable and able to do exactly what's needed.
We could order 50 and start receiving UH60's within two years, we could also order the Spec Ops version too to back up our Spec Ops Chinook fleet.
Alas, keeping an Italian owned factory, assembling Italian Helicopters open is more important politically, so the smart money goes on the 'wastelands' factory product.
The unit cost will end up being so high the Mod will be lucky to order 25.
Anyone care to place a wager?