Europe under extreme duress

[Random8145]

This is about a year old, but since the U.S. won't sell any Black Hawks to Ukraine, they crowd funded via the Internet and went and bought a privately-owned one:

It is an older model one, built in 1980, but then modified for civilian use by the private firm, and now owned by the Ukrainians who are using it for military purposes again. The pilot says the difference between flying it and the old Soviet designs like the Mi-8 is like the difference between driving a truck and a Maserati. I do wonder why they put that blue-yellow dot on the engine though, makes a nice bullseye it looks like.

 

[Griz882]

This is about a year old, but since the U.S. won't sell any Black Hawks to Ukraine, they crowd funded via the Internet and went and bought a privately-owned one:

It is an older model one, built in 1980, but then modified for civilian use by the private firm, and now owned by the Ukrainians who are using it for military purposes again. The pilot says the difference between flying it and the old Soviet designs like the Mi-8 is like the difference between driving a truck and a Maserati. I do wonder why they put that blue-yellow dot on the engine though, makes a nice bullseye it looks like.

Nice, but one helicopter isn’t going to move the needle much…especially if it doesn’t have a robust support package.

 

[sevenhelmet]

I do wonder why they put that blue-yellow dot on the engine though, makes a nice bullseye it looks like.

Yeah, why mark it with your own country’s colors during a war? It’s not like friendly fire is of any concern.

 

[Random8145]

Yeah, why mark it with your own country’s colors during a war? It’s not like friendly fire is of any concern.

I understand that, my point was why put the "bullseye" on the engine? Or if putting it there, why not like a Ukrainian flag shape? That dot just looks like a way of saying to the enemy, "Aim here."

 

[Griz882]

I understand that, my point was why put the "bullseye" on the engine? Or if putting it there, why not like a Ukrainian flag shape? That dot just looks like a way of saying to the enemy, "Aim here."

They are called roundels and have been part of military aviation from the start.

 

[Hotdogs]

I understand that, my point was why put the "bullseye" on the engine? Or if putting it there, why not like a Ukrainian flag shape? That dot just looks like a way of saying to the enemy, "Aim here."

 

[Random8145]

They are called roundels and have been part of military aviation from the start.

View attachment 40078

Ahh okay. Interestingly, the chart though uses a tryzub (trident) roundel for Ukraine I see. I Googled and the Ukrainian roundel comes up as the one on the Blackhawk, so maybe they changed it?

 

[Random8145]

View attachment 40079

That you flying?

 

[Griz882]

Ahh okay. Interestingly, the chart though uses a tryzub (trident) roundel for Ukraine I see. I Googled and the Ukrainian roundel comes up as the one on the Blackhawk, so maybe they changed it?

Maybe…the chart I posted is dated a bit. I think Iraq has changed theirs.

 

[JTS11]

View attachment 40079

I'm guessing there's always a fight during the NATOPS brief on who sits front seat, with the placement of that 🎯 by the rear seat..😆

 

[taxi1]

They are called roundels and have been part of military aviation from the start.

He does have a point that maybe we ought to at least stick the roundels on the least critical part of the plane.

 

[Griz882]

He does have a point that maybe we ought to at least stick the roundels on the least critical part of the plane.

I mean, I kind of concur, but the symbols are rather a matter of national pride than identification. We are long past needing a symbol to actually see with the old Mk.1 eyeball. Most (gunpowder and shell) gunners today are going to aim for mass, not any specific part.

 

[JTS11]

With this paint scheme, I would ignore the roundel and pull more lead to get shots on target. 😆

 

[GroundPounder]

I mean, I kind of concur, but the symbols are rather a matter of national pride than identification. We are long past needing a symbol to actually see with the old Mk.1 eyeball. Most (gunpowder and shell) gunners today are going to aim for mass, not any specific part.

I will have to dig it up, but there was a study concerning shooting at police cars. Apparently, all things being equal, people tend to naturally shoot at the logo as it naturally draws your eye to it.

So where do we sit? Right behind the target.

 

[Mos]

He does have a point that maybe we ought to at least stick the roundels on the least critical part of the plane.

Unless the critical part is where a friendly AA guy is going to look when aiming?