[Newsbot]

Title: Cyclone helicopters delayed for third time; Ottawa warns it may issue fines
Category: Military
Posted By: Hyack
Date: 2010-11-23 15:34:29
Canadian

[Gunnair]

Fuck... sakes!

[Johnny_H]

Hahaha, it would be funny if it werent so inept.

[Canadian_Mind]

At this rate they should start the procurement process for the Cyclone replacement...

[Johnny_H]

The CF should have been flying safe reliable and remarkable EH-101's for the last 10-12 years. Instead of paying the firms x2 the original cost for the helo's in contractual damages. Its pretty funny for the Cdn.Gov't to preach about "contractual obligations" considering how badly they cocked up the EH-101 deal which was also a contract.

[bootlegga]

Johnny_H Johnny_H:

The CF should have been flying safe reliable and remarkable EH-101's for the last 10-12 years. Instead of paying the firms x2 the original cost for the helo's in contractual damages. Its pretty funny for the Cdn.Gov't to preach about "contractual obligations" considering how badly they cocked up the EH-101 deal which was also a contract.

Safe and reliable?

The EH-101s we bought for the Coast Guard have had all sorts of maintenance issues, and one crashed in 2006, killing all three on board. I think we dodged a bullet when Chretien cancelled the original program - although paying $500 million to do so sucked big time, as did the delays on getting the procurement project restarted.

What we should have bought was a proven, tested product. Unfortunately, everything that fit the bill was either smaller than what CF wanted or larger than what CF could operate off of the Halifaxes.

[Johnny_H]

The EH-101's bought for the Coast Guards were "Cormorants" were they not? I'm not an expert in avionics and helicopters but the ones the SAR guys got were the "economy versions" compared to the Merlin's that the R.N. fly.

Again, I really want to stress that I am a complete novice and the "economy version" tag was something said on the news when the Cormorant's were being negotiated. The Brits (Merlin) and the Germans (NH-90?) seem to do pretty well with the EH-101 design.

Two incidents is one too many but no aircraft design is perfect. I've heard from a buddy of mine in the service that the trial Sikorsky that was flying off the H.M.C.S. Montreal last year had its fair share of teething problems.

[bootlegga]

Johnny_H Johnny_H:

The EH-101's bought for the Coast Guards were "Cormorants" were they not? I'm not an expert in avionics and helicopters but the ones the SAR guys got were the "economy versions" compared to the Merlin's that the R.N. fly.

Again, I really want to stress that I am a complete novice and the "economy version" tag was something said on the news when the Cormorant's were being negotiated. The Brits (Merlin) and the Germans (NH-90?) seem to do pretty well with the EH-101 design.

Two incidents is one too many but no aircraft design is perfect. I've heard from a buddy of mine in the service that the trial Sikorsky that was flying off the H.M.C.S. Montreal last year had its fair share of teething problems.

I'm not an expert in avionics either, but from what I've read the main difference between the Cormorant and the EH-101 that was ordered was mainly in electronics/weapons systems - as the naval helo had to have attack capabilities that the Cormorant doesn't need.

Canada isn't the only customer who has had problems with the EH-101. They caused the Danes so many problems that they sold their entire troop transport fleet to the Brits, and even the Brits have had problems with tail rotor cracks.

FYI, the German NH-90 is a totally different helicopter from the EH-101 - Germany does not use the EH-101 at all.

[Johnny_H]

Thanks for the clarification, I stand corrected.

[Gunnair]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Johnny_H Johnny_H:

The EH-101's bought for the Coast Guards were "Cormorants" were they not? I'm not an expert in avionics and helicopters but the ones the SAR guys got were the "economy versions" compared to the Merlin's that the R.N. fly.

Again, I really want to stress that I am a complete novice and the "economy version" tag was something said on the news when the Cormorant's were being negotiated. The Brits (Merlin) and the Germans (NH-90?) seem to do pretty well with the EH-101 design.

Two incidents is one too many but no aircraft design is perfect. I've heard from a buddy of mine in the service that the trial Sikorsky that was flying off the H.M.C.S. Montreal last year had its fair share of teething problems.

I'm not an expert in avionics either, but from what I've read the main difference between the Cormorant and the EH-101 that was ordered was mainly in electronics/weapons systems - as the naval helo had to have attack capabilities that the Cormorant doesn't need.

Canada isn't the only customer who has had problems with the EH-101. They caused the Danes so many problems that they sold their entire troop transport fleet to the Brits, and even the Brits have had problems with tail rotor cracks.

FYI, the German NH-90 is a totally different helicopter from the EH-101 - Germany does not use the EH-101 at all.

The Cyclones



are the same as these...