US Clears UK $3-Plus Billion Buy of 16 Chinooks

The U.K. ordered 33 Chinooks in 1978, and deliveries started in 1981. “Bravo November” gained legendary reputation during the Falklands war of 1982 as the single operational Chinook. Four were lost on Atlantic Conveyor after an Exocet strike.

Rainer Nyberg,
in a comment on rotorandwing.com

Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant Prototype Complete, Except For Main Rotors

So why hasn’t Boeing released any pictures of the Iron Bird or flight vehicle over the past two years? And why aren’t you journalists pressing for them and at least providing an explanation of why they refuse to show anything?

“I2eboot,”
in a comment on rotorandwing.com

Price, Niche Mission Keys to Boeing-Leonardo Winning UH-1N Replacement

The U.S. Air Force does it again, congratulations! The mission can easily be accomplished, for many years to come, with new BH412s. But why let saving tons of money on acquisition, maintenance and pilot training stand in the way of a bad decision?

Dennis Conner,
in a comment on rotorandwing.com

Bell Unveils V-247 Autonomous Tiltrotor and It’s the Size of a Huey

Sure, it’s nice, but can it deliver Amazon packages to your front door?

Vincent Goombatz,
in a comment on rotorandwing.com

Current US Funding Bill Boosts Army, Navy Rotorcraft Procurement

There was a mistake in the appropriations report tables, carried over from the SAC-D mark I believe. First, the two (not three) MV-22s the Marines got were in Title IX (OCO). So in total, there were 11 CMV-22Bs funded for the Navy and two MV-22s funded for the Marines for a total of 13. Only seven Navy aircraft were asked for in the budget. The Senate press release was correct. “$468 million for six additional Navy and Marine Corps V-22 aircraft...”

Kent San,
in a comment on rotorandwing.com

Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Pilot Training, Mission Success

While I appreciate the value of “some” AI systems, don’t you think that it might be better to learn how to actually fly the damn helo properly? I find it disturbing that any professional would assert that “interpreting (a) complex instrument like a horizontal situation indicator (HSI)” has become a daunting concern. What’s next — confusion relating to reading an altimeter or that the split engine/rotor indicator will be too tough for a pilot to comprehend? All sarcasm aside, this apparently holistic dependence on synthetic systems fosters other much more negative impacts over time, in the same way that kids can’t count change manually without using a digital cash register. In the end, to really “fly safe,” the question will always end up being, “Is the pilot still the pilot, responsible for the safety of his/her aircraft and passengers, or just a chair-warming systems monitor?” Frankly, I just don’t get it, but if that’s what y’all want to buy into, good luck when the virtual rubber-band breaks.

“olddogAF,”
in a comment on rotorandwing.com