Hot new helicopter/rotorcraft news

[wink]

I'll ask here only because it is the most active helo thread now. Is there currently some sort of availability problem with the TH-57? My son is an engineer for a company that supports the TH-57 and Dyncorp maintenance. He is working on an issue and I am curious about impact in the HTs.

 

[squorch2]

They’re old. That’s about the long and the short of it.

 

[croakerfish]

I'll ask here only because it is the most active helo thread now. Is there currently some sort of availability problem with the TH-57? My son is an engineer for a company that supports the TH-57 and Dyncorp maintenance. He is working on an issue and I am curious about impact in the HTs.

There are numerous parts availability problems looming, particularly for the engine. There are a few more impacting the fleet right now, most notably the yaw trim servo for the Charlies.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Fort Rucker, Army Aviation bid bittersweet farewell to TH-67 Creek

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Army Aviation bid a bittersweet farewell to an old friend that an estimated 90% of its aviators learned to fly in when it hosted it...

www.army.mil

 

[phrogdriver]

Fort Rucker, Army Aviation bid bittersweet farewell to TH-67 Creek

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Army Aviation bid a bittersweet farewell to an old friend that an estimated 90% of its aviators learned to fly in when it hosted it...

www.army.mil

The TH-67 had a better throughput than the Lakota all the way until its retirement.

I predict the Navy will find the same to be true with the 73.

In a training environment, simpler is usually better.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Its interesting to me contrasting the three different aircraft used in the US to train helo pilots - basically doing the same thing. All 3 have glass cockpits, and IFR certified and all more or less in the same weight and HP range.

I still think the AF took the most efficient and pragmatic path - installing all new avionics and dynamic components in refurbished/0 time H-1 airframes that was completed under a total under the radar acquisition model since there were not "new aircraft". Time will tell.

Army TH-67's are being snatched up in droves for public/civ use.

Navy TH-73 6,283 LBS MGTOW, 1,000 SHP


Air Force TH-1H 10,500 LBS MGTOW, 1,600 SHP


Army UH-72 7,904 LBS MGTOW 1,476 SHP (2 x 738 SHP)

 

[Griz882]

Get ‘em while they are hot! $180,000 ain’t bad (and the component times aren’t awful) but the post-purchase costs would be tough!

BELL 206 B3 (TH-67 CREEK - LOT 601)

Bell TH-67

gsaauctions.gov

 

[squorch2]

I can see the AD now

 

[ChuckMK23]

I can see the AD now

I know that's tongue in cheek - but these aircraft were all maintained to the original FAA type certificate and carried FAA airworthiness certificates during service. Cycles and times in the 206 series are well understood. There are a lot of high time 206BIII's out there that see really hard use in the commercial sector. And a plethora of aftermarket products and STC's to improve performance and lower costs keep being introduced.

 

[Griz882]

I know that's tongue in cheek - but these aircraft were all maintained to the original FAA type certificate and carried FAA airworthiness certificates during service. Cycles and times in the 206 series are well understood. There are a lot of high time 206BIII's out there that see really hard use in the commercial sector. And a plethora of aftermarket products and STC's to improve performance and lower costs keep being introduced.

Everyone being auctioned now has an N reg.

 

[wink]

Get ‘em while they are hot! $180,000 ain’t bad (and the component times aren’t awful) but the post-purchase costs would be tough!

BELL 206 B3 (TH-67 CREEK - LOT 601)

Bell TH-67

gsaauctions.gov

I'll wait until the AF parts with their reman TH-1, thank you very much.

 

[Griz882]

I'll wait until the AF parts with their reman TH-1, thank you very much.

You could afford to buy, fly, and maintain about two and a half 206B’s for one UH-1!

 

[ChuckMK23]

 

[wink]

You could afford to buy, fly, and maintain about two and a half 206B’s for one UH-1!

Mostly true. But no Jet Ranger sounds as cool as a Huey, has the combat bona fides and is so iconic. I even think a Huey can carry more than 2.5 206Bs. Certainly carries more pax and has flown more heros than any other helo.

 

[Griz882]

Mostly true. But no Jet Ranger sounds as cool as a Huey, has the combat bona fides and is so iconic. I even think a Huey can carry more than 2.5 206Bs. Certainly carries more pax and has flown more heros than any other helo.

No question about that...Huey is THE helicopter...but sadly, the money would have to be mine.