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Well we use the Tigre down here in Oz, I don't know how well it compares to other attack choppers (helo's ain't my thing), but was chosen over the Apache, Supercobra, Rooivoik and blackhawk gunship varient (?). Here is some pics I took at an airshow last year.
Rooivalk.
No explanation needed.
Well we use the Tigre down here in Oz, I don't know how well it compares to other attack choppers (helo's ain't my thing), but was chosen over the Apache, Supercobra, Rooivoik and blackhawk gunship varient (?). Here is some pics I took at an airshow last year.
No an explanation would be nice.
The Tiger is faster though.. the Apache is pretty slow, I remember that when flying with Chinooks the Apache pilots would often call in and request that they slow down cause they couldn't keep up. Sure puts a smile on a Chinook pilot's face
The Rooivalk has been tested in the very harsh African weather and terrain conditions to make it a really great and effective combat helicopter and also does not need a lot of people and equipment to be carried around to keep her flying and can be used for reconnaissance, heliborne escort, close air support, deep penetration and anti-armour.
It can carry a wide range of weapons that makes it a weapon that can make your day a bad day. The Rooivalk has great handling as well to get her out of those difficult situations.
I saw the stuff Denel developed for the Rooivalk and it is amazing what they did with the Helmets of the pilots. I will find it ad give you the specs of them, I do not know it out of my head.
That technology is nothing new. The Helmet sights have been in use by the Apache since the 1980s.
The Tiger is faster though.. the Apache is pretty slow, I remember that when flying with Chinooks the Apache pilots would often call in and request that they slow down cause they couldn't keep up. Sure puts a smile on a Chinook pilot's face
The Cheyenne was cancelled because it was expensive and complex - Bell offered limited parts interchangeability between the Cobra and the Huey.But speed doesn't matter all that much for a good attack helicopter; what matters more is the avionics and overall capabilities (armament, fuel, etc.). The Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne is (was?) the fastest attack helicopter in history, but all that speed didn't make up for the fact that it was cancelled by the Army in 1972.
The Cheyenne was cancelled because it was expensive and complex - Bell offered limited parts interchangeability between the Cobra and the Huey.
It probably could of competed with the Apache if Lockheed wanted to resurrect the project. By that time "CALAC" had another program called "Have Blue" that was the focus of their attention.
BTW one of my old Lockheed bosses was one the the Cheyenne test pilots...
Yes he did - he said it was the best combat helicopter of its day - the problem was the Army wanted a "shotgun." Lockheed gave them a howitzer.Sweet! Did he ever talk about the Cheyenne program?
Yes - I've heard rumors that Lockheed was asked to compete under the same solicitation that brought about the Apache - they declined.I'm assuming when you say "Have Blue" you're talking about the Lockheed Skunk Works project for a low-observables fighter back in the early '80's.