Army spent $2.6 billion on helicopters that overheat in hot weather

[ProSense]

By AARON C. DAVIS, Associated Press Writer 6 minutes ago

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Army is spending $2.6 billion on hundreds of European-designed helicopters for homeland security and disaster relief that turn out to have a crucial flaw: They aren't safe to fly on hot days, according to an internal report obtained by The Associated Press.

While the Army scrambles to fix the problem — adding millions to the taxpayer cost — at least one high-ranking lawmaker is calling for the whole deal to be scrapped.

During flight tests in Southern California in mild, 80-degree weather, cockpit temperatures in the UH-72A Lakota soared above 104, the point at which the Army says the communication, navigation and flight control systems can overheat and shut down.

No cockpit equipment failed during the nearly 23 hours of testing, according to the Pentagon report, prepared in July. But the report concluded that the aircraft "is not effective for use in hot environments."

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[FightingIrish]

1. Maybe we should have invaded Finnland.

[zabet]

2. Geeezz...

how come I cannot get prices like that for
worthless junk? :shrug:
That is what they will be
if the deal is scrapped.

[Disturbed]

3. The don't need to be scrapped.

They can be used in the Artic.

[JohnyCanuck]

5. But for how much longer?

What with the projected increase in global warming and all. :evilgrin:

[FreeStateDemocrat]

4. Not to worry, it's chump change, the big waste would be paying for healthcare for uninsured kids.

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. These helicopters are a Messerschmitt design

Built by EADS, the same parent company that makes Airbus, this airframe is a design originated by MBB (Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm)

http://www.uh-72a.com/

Civilian version of essentially the same airframe


So the question is, with Bell and Sikorsky right here in the USA, why the hell is the military buying helicopters from Europe?

Oh, i forgot, they are also buying the new Marine One from them as well, except that one is a derivative of an Italian designed Augusta.

Sorry all you Helicopter builders in Connecticut and Texas.

[Tesha]

7. You know, it's funny.

> cockpit temperatures in the UH-72A Lakota soared above 104,
> the point at which the Army says the communication, navigation
> and flight control systems can overheat and shut down.

You know, it's funny. Some of the places we fight
have temperatures that *ROUTINELY* run higher than
104F (40C). Heck, even in New Hampshire, you might
soon run into that sort of heat. So when these
choppers sit parked in the sun, their avionics are
guaranteed to fail???

Tesha