Rotor Torque

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the Bell 206B-3 is the safest single engine aircraft in the world and with over 7600 aircraft manufactured, the Model 206B-3 has accumulated in excess of 25 million flight hours.

As a training helicopter for the US Navy, the Model 206 (Navy Designation TH-57) has accumulated an impressive 900,000 flight hours without a major accident, and has performed over one million safe full autorotation touchdowns.

The Bell TH-67 has an advanced cockpit display system embedded in the rear of the right seat which provides the second student with a full view of the primary flight and navigation instruments. In addition, this cockpit display system is capable of being recorded for any part of the inflight training period for playback during the student debriefing.

Finally, the aircraft is fitted with state of the art commercial technology avionics providing dual pilot IFR capability, and is powered by the 420shp Allison 250-C20J engine which has logged millions of hours in civilian and military use.

EH 101 Tactical Support Helicopter in Jeopardy

Following a UK Ministry of Defence reassessment of support helicopter needs, the government has announced that it is no longer committed to purchasing 25 EH 101 tactical support helicopters.

Proposals to acquire second hand civil Pumas, and to reassign excess Navy Lynx HAS 2/3 following a reduction of RN frigates and destroyers in commission, are presently being studied. An announcement clarifying MOD UK needs will be made later this year.

$280,000 Upgrade to Nrma Careflight Helicopter Nrma

CareFlight’s Dauphin helicopter is back on line after a six week upgrade which cost $280,000.

On duty at Westmead Hospital, at the geographic centre of Greater Sydney, the dedicated helicopter with its rescue and medical crew is rostered on duty around the clock to provide rapid response support to ambulance, fire and police services as well as to hospitals within a 200km radius.

The upgrade included the installation of a 272kg (600lb) two person Western Gear rescue hoist which has a 76m (250ft) cable and high speed recovery; a new water resistant cabin floor which allows for additional and more secure seating; a major upgrade of radio communications, and lastly, additional medical storage lockers for secure stowage. The NRMA CareFlight President, Peter MacCormick in commenting on the upgrade, said that it would boost CareFlight’s ability to complete rescues with greater safety to its patients and crew. He went on to say that the community based service has always set the highest possible medical standards, uniquely holding medical college accreditation, which can now be matched with the latest rescue hoist.

The upgrade has been made possible through CareFlight’s sponsors and ongoing community support.

V-22 Osprey Flight Testing Resumes

Flight testing of the tiltrotor V-22 Osprey was scheduled to resume at the end of last month following modifications to the second and third prototypes.

The test programme was halted following the second crash of a test aircraft as the fourth prototype was transitioning for an approach into the US Marine Corps air base at Quantico (refer p85 Oct 92 AA).

Only two of the remaining four prototypes of the original six will be flown to test modifications to be incorporated in four production representative V-22s. The first V-22 will be used for spares whilst the sixth aircraft, which was not completed, will be used as an engineering mock up.

Modifications include improvements to the avionics, flight control system, and engines and drive system. The production representative aircraft will be 1000kgs lighter than the prototypes following a weight saving exercise which includes improvements to the wing fold and a redesign of the tail.

Despite the setbacks experienced by the programme, support for the revolutionary aircraft remains strong in the US Congress, aided by the change in administration which has seen the departure of the previous anti V-22 Defence Secretary. Bell Boeing remains confident that the aircraft will be accepted into service.