Article

2022-12-06 Economy

Army chooses Bell's tilt-rotor aircraft over Sikorsky's helicopter for $1.3 billion Black Hawk replacement contract

Connecticut-based Sikorsky lost out on a $1.3 billion contract to produce an aircraft that the Army envisions would replace its fleet of Black Hawk helicopters, failing to win over Pentagon brass with its Defiant-X prototype in partnership with Boeing. The contract was instead awarded to Texas-based Bell, which aims to produce its own V-280 Valor tilt-rotor aircraft.
The Marines think they are safe, right?
Good enuf for Secret Service and Presidential baggage. The Principal, his family, aides and staffers travel via other means.

Posted by DarthVader 2022-12-06 10:33|| || Front Page|| [17 views ] Top

#1 The never ending pentagon attraction to shiny new things with amazing retirement opportunities? By all means lets embrace the wisdom of a bifurcated aviation operations system, with differing maintenace, parts, training and sustainment needs, since the helicopter fleet will remain operational for decades to come. Brilliant!

Posted by NoMoreBS 2022-12-06 11:40|| 2022-12-06 11:40|| Front Page Top

#2 What's wrong with the Blackhawk? This will just be another Osprey.

Posted by Chris 2022-12-06 11:43|| 2022-12-06 11:43|| Front Page Top

#3 Sadly their attitude seems to echo Sen Blutarsky,'...it don't cost nuthin'.

Posted by Cesare 2022-12-06 12:39|| 2022-12-06 12:39|| Front Page Top

#4 "all I want to know is how many commies can I throw out of it per flight..."
Augusto Pinochet

Posted by bman911 2022-12-06 12:55|| 2022-12-06 12:55|| Front Page Top

#5 Have we learned nothing from USMC Aviation ?

Posted by Besoeker 2022-12-06 13:02|| 2022-12-06 13:02|| Front Page Top

#6 What's wrong with the Blackhawk?

It's not complicated enough.

Posted by Matt 2022-12-06 13:39|| 2022-12-06 13:39|| Front Page Top

#7 What's wrong with the Blackhawk?

They are old and like the Huey in the 90s, are underpowered compared to the new things they can produce now. I rather liked the Sikorsky and thought it was a fantastic replacement. The tilt-rotor will no be able to fit in the tight spaces the Blackhawk could. We set down in clearings that were slightly smaller than the diameter of the rotor and it took off smaller branches easily.

I feel the Army is losing some capability with the tilt-rotor. May be faster and more fuel efficient enabling greater range though.

Posted by DarthVader 2022-12-06 14:57|| 2022-12-06 14:57|| Front Page Top

#8 I think it came down to Bell having a better Powerpoint presentation than Sikorsky.

Posted by Matt 2022-12-06 16:45|| 2022-12-06 16:45|| Front Page Top

#9 In one major difference from the earlier V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, the engines remain in place while the rotors and drive shafts tilt. A driveshaft runs through the straight wing, allowing both prop rotors to be driven by a single engine in the event of engine loss. Wikipedia

Sounds like an improvement.

Posted by Bobby 2022-12-06 17:29|| 2022-12-06 17:29|| Front Page Top

#10 Who exactly are the designers? Who exactly are the maintainers? Who exactly are the logies? Who are the ops that just got voluntold to become meat servos? Any failure along that chain kills the pilot. Eventually it kills multiple pilots and their crews.

Posted by Lowspark 2022-12-06 17:47|| 2022-12-06 17:47|| Front Page Top

#11 I have a question: When the rotors tilt forward, with the fixed wings, does it become a fixed wing aircraft, and belong to the Air Force?
That's been the criteria...

Posted by ed in texas 2022-12-06 19:09|| 2022-12-06 19:09|| Front Page Top

#12 Maybe in Canada.

Posted by Lowspark 2022-12-06 20:50|| 2022-12-06 20:50|| Front Page Top

#13 That wasn’t meant to be snarky, ed. US MIl has all platforms in all branches. To include Coasties, which I do. Fixed wing, rotary, bullet catchers, and boats.

Posted by Lowspark 2022-12-06 21:02|| 2022-12-06 21:02|| Front Page Top

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