Transport helicopters

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Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 51

I just can't let go of this topic...

Which "next generation" (if such a thing exists in helicopterterms?) helicopter will be the most succesful?

The currently flying/developping models are the EH-101, NH-90, S-92, Ka-60/62 and Mi-38 (and V-22, but that's not a real helicopter). Are there any others?

I think the V-22 will be to expensive for the "normal" airforce.
I don't see the Mi-38 flying quite soon (how's that program going by the way?).
The Ka-60 seems to be a good helicopter, the only question is if the Russians will be able to market it worldwide.
The most succesful helicopters of the next decades probably will be the NH-90 and EH-101, I think.

But: What do YOU think?

Bredero

Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 258

RE: Transport helicopters

I dont know much about helecopters (besides the rc ones) but i know that the new stealth helecopter will be the best damn helecopter ever! Later.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 151

RE: Transport helicopters

Sorry I must have missed that info. Which helo are you talking about.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 151

RE: Transport helicopters

the only stealthy helo i can think of is the RAH-66, but that's a scout/attack helicopter.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 51

RE: Transport helicopters

Why are you that enthousiast about that 'new stealth helicopter'. I never heard about it, but I really would like to (like many others I think...)

Personally, I don't think stealth will do much good for a helicopter: they don't have to be invisible for radar: most of the time they just fly too low for the radar to detect them. A helicopter worst enemy isn't the a SAM or other big stuff, but smaller and lighter arms, like shoulder-fired rockets, AA-artillery and normal machine guns. Those weapons don't work with Radar, but by other means.
I really would like to know more about your 'new stealth helicopter'.

Bredero

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 258

RE: Transport helicopters

Forgive my spelling but it is the Commanchee and i dont know the letter symbol thing for it. I have heard of it several times online and in the history channel. My hacking friend claims that he has seen it before online (BULLSHIT). I am very interested in stealth even though a stealth helecopter really doesnt seem logical. But thats Military intelligence (or there lack of) ideas. later.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 129

RE: Transport helicopters

hey!!, i thought this thread was about transport helos, not attack or scout helos, there is no stealth transport helo as of now. I think that the mi-26 and the mi-10 will become very successful in the future

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 51

RE: Transport helicopters

Well, I'm glad that somebody finally said something about transporthelicopters, thanks Wolfkiller...

The Mi-26 is indeed a potential succesful helicopter: it isn't that expensive for what it offers: a enormeous payload. I can agree on this one with you.
But the Mi-10? Isn't that a bit of an old type? If I'm not mistaking it goes back to the sixties... I don't know if you can call this type 'modern...
I really would like to know some more about the Mi-38. Is that program going anywhere? Will it ever fly? It's very difficult to get some reliable info on that program. But if it ever get's into production, it will probably be a huge succes (with Eurocopter involved you can be sure that they will push the Mi-38 in the West. Other totally Russian models aren't that beloved in the West.)

Please give some comment

Bredero.

RE: Transport helicopters

Well, here's my point of view:

-The V-22 is totally overestimated: if it's that good, why is that program been cancelled and abandonned that much? Ok, the tiltrotorconcept has some advantages; it's a helo and plane in one airframe, but so what?
-For the same price you can get a helo AND a plane
-It's a helo that can fly long distances, but you're not going to tell me that they really will use it to fly half the globe... Helicopters are mostly used in battlefield, which means that they don't have to fly that far.

-The NH90 programme would be dead if the investing countries didn't invest such an amount of money everytime the programme was behind scheme. I'm not saying it's a bad helo, it just neede a lot of money before it actually flew (and didn't crash after 5 minutes in flight...)

-The Mi-38 will never fly: the project is going on for almost 8 (?) years, and there's still no sign of a prototype.

-The Ka-60 probably will be a succesful helo (in Russian terms): it will be exported to many countries, but probably not in the west, because Russian planes aren't that popular here...

-The EH-101 is a pretty good helo I think, but it has two of the most famous helicoptermanufacturers behind it, so it must be a good one.

-I don't know anything about the S-92.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 7,989

RE: Transport helicopters

You guys are forgetting about the new Huey model that is coming out. The UH-1Y Twin Huey is coming out soon for the Marine Corps. It will incorporate the latest technology. It will be faster and more agile than earlier Huey's. It will also have a greater payload. It should be able to lift at least 6,000 lb. It will carry rockets, grenade launchers, machine guns, mini guns, and I think even Stinger AAM's. It will also have a FLIR turret and an NVG compatible cockpit. It will be able to carry up to 14 passengers or fully-equipped combat troops. This new Huey is a whole new take on the most successful helicopter ever. If it goes as far as the Huey's now in service, it will be immensely successful.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 120

RE: Transport helicopters

Everyone here seems to be down on the V-22. Personally I think it will be a huge success. After it enters service in the US I personally expect many other countries to be awed by it's potential. With it's ability to move heavy loads quickly from point to point this could easly replace several types of helos and transport aircraft. I don't think it's too far off that the nay will be looking into a anti-sub version ( replacing the S-3 and SH-60's ) on small boys and carriers. There has already been several versions mentioned that carry AEW radar for the british. It could even be used as a replacement for COD on the carriers. If I'm not mistaken it has similar weight loads. The more they build the less the overall cost will be , so I don't think that cost will be that big of a problem when a few overseas orders are taken.