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USCG to bid on AF C-27J
- Thread starter highside7r
- Start date
Now we just gotta replace them in the couple Guard/Reserve units that are waiting for the Active side to give over their "old" Blk I/Blk II's. Shouldnt take too long, but since we're standing up a whole new set of units on the active side right now, other than 1 ID at Riley, thats gonna take a bit longer.
We've got 701D's... But they are working with C DECU's so really they dont bring anything to the table the C models dont. The only place you'll find straight 701s is the flightline at Rucker and that number is slowly dwindling to zero.
Our power limitation isnt from the Engines though, its the Nose Gear Box 90 degree bend to route the power to the transmission. And the fact that we are the slow fat kid. The A model Apache was a Ferrari compared to the Cobra. The D model was a Dodge Ram compared to the A model in terms of performance and its all due to weight. We ate away our power margin with several thousand pounds black boxes and stuff (and thats not including the Radar). Blk III speaking to guys who have flown both, would be like racing an Enzo against an 80s Testarossa.
You talking about the old single engine F model correct?
Those and the TOW model S/T's. Army never had the cool/sexy Twin engine models.
Sapper!
Excuse the BS...
Sure I understand it's tough to fight in OEF with the type of platform the Apache is. The bird is being asked to do something it wasn't necesarily designed to do and had some short comings in high altitude/high temp performance from the start (the A model, so that last part isn't really relevant I guess) But with so many more hours being flown from the -58 and the far less maint required, why aren't they getting a block 2? To me the block 3 apache can WAIT until the KWs get more payload, either that or they just need more airframes period.
I'm tracking that the FW side is relegated to guard reserve but there are alot of missions flown by the handful of Sherpas out there and those things need replacing. I mean we rely on mass material so the hawk is great but can't do that mission and you know the hooks cost a butt load.
Being very serious, how does the army get good value out of the attack/escort duty that makes up the majority of combat aviation and how do we get more stuff moved around on the medium lift side? Honest question, I'm kind of stumped because I know we can't move stuff like we want to but do we get there?
The one and only environment the Kiowa is of any use right now is in Southern Afghanistan against a low tech enemy, and even then use level is arguable. Yes we fly the piss out of the Kiowas, not because we want to, but because there arent enough Apaches to go around. They are all up in the East where the altitudes range from 6-8 K just for the FOB, let alone the high peaks in the area. . They cant hit as accurately or as hard as we can, and their weapons payload and capabilities are laughable at best. They also cant see shit with their sensor, thats the reason they are always down in the weeds, not because its tactically superior but because its a necessity. And their legs are far too short and no amount of weight reduction or anything else is gonna change that, its just too small a helicopter.
Take them out of a fully permissive environment and they're lack of survivability becomes a liability to themselves and a detriment to any unit relying on them to perform.
Make them perform at ranges further than 50K from a FARP and their station time is diminished to nothing.
These negatives keep adding up for the platform.
I can be a scout... They will never be a gunship.
Sapper!
Excuse the BS...
I definitely wasn't disagreeing with anything you said. Was curious what you thought (your insight as an Army aviator) about the medium lift issue the Army seems to always be lacking on.
The KW was always supposed to be interem (and once again seems interim, economy of force, etc) and I'd agree that it doesn't do much of anything particularly well, further I'm not an aviator ....... Would a swarm of MDs give bang for buck flight hour wise and be better with the increased firepower? Honestly, seen all of the issues those guys have in operations, get on station after 45 min of flight only to stay on station 20 min, slow escorts for hawks and hooks, only enough firepower to piss people off, and no power to do much of anything in the mountains. Just kind of pissed the Army didn't put up a good fight over the -27J issue. Was fishing for a doppelganger, i'll go to my corner now.
You'll never have enough helicopters to satisfy the ground force. Fact of the matter is outside of Afghanistan we wont use (ie over use) Air the way we do. If it werent for the terrain being nearly impassable in areas and the threat of IEDs we would move a lot more equipment by ground.
Sapper!
Excuse the BS...
True. That was definitely the case in OIF.
Looks like this is gonna actually happen. 14 aircraft at that!
http://sewardcitynews.com/2013/06/napolitano-approves-transfer-of-c-27j-aircraft-to-coast-guard/
http://sewardcitynews.com/2013/06/napolitano-approves-transfer-of-c-27j-aircraft-to-coast-guard/
Well, I hope you get more than that. Weren't 27 C-27Js the original purchase quantity? Where did the other 13 go? Anyway, based on reading specs, etc., the C-27 is the best & most versatile of the twin-engine, European-made light transports out there - and, hell, it fits right in w/ the CG love for things European!
