Chuck Kemp @ send no stinking spam wrote:
[stuff snipped]

Also, the rollover design that everyone crows about in the event of a
crash,
was predicated on the design of the OH6, which didn't have outboard
weapons
pylons and the such. Doesn't the ARH have to have the capability to
shoot
stingers, hellfires and rockets? I don't think the MELB currently
does this
either but the OH58D does. No doubt the MELB can be made to do so,
but its
another area for redesign...


The current AH-6J and M have the capability of shooting Hellfires and
standard 2.75 inch rockets. They tested Stingers on them but AFAIK
they've never been used operationally. The Little Bird fleet was
standardized with wiring for Hellfires several years ago. There's an
onboard lasing system for designation or they can be designated by
somebody else.

Food for thought:

[more stuff snipped]

2. With the Bell's ARH being modified from an existing commercial
aircraft
(407X) and since these aircraft are to be kept similar, it would seem
that
the supportability for these aircraft would be more extensive as
logistically the Army could purchase many parts from a local CSF
nearest to
them.


Except the Army doesn't usually get its spare parts that way.

John Hairell )