FLRAA and FARA update

[Griz882]

“Let’s name it after an earlier failed development program! How could it possibly happen twice?”

Sioux 2 would have been a lot more fun.

 

[phrogdriver]

Sioux 2 would have been a lot more fun.

Totally—both revolutionary for their time.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Totally—both revolutionary for their time.

It fascinates me that in the early opening years of Vietnam War the Army showed up with H-13s and operated a few hundred until being replaced by OH-6.

 

[SynixMan]

Are we really out of Native tribes that we are recycling the names?

 

[phrogdriver]

Are we really out of Native tribes that we are recycling the names?

We are not.

That said, now they actually bring the tribes into the process and ask them for permission. The Cheyenne might have just wanted it more than anyone else.

 

[wink]

It fascinates me that in the early opening years of Vietnam War the Army showed up with H-13s and operated a few hundred until being replaced by OH-6.

And the OH-23. I have spoken with guys that flew the Hiller in the scout role actually exchanging BBs with the enemy retuning fire with M14s and shotguns. Eventually they fitted a Ma Duce to the skids. on the G model

Interestingly the H-23 is a rare example of not follow the tribal naming convention. I was the "Raven".

 

[SynixMan]

That is not a "Ma Duece" M2. The helo armament systems had oddball names for M60 variants, of which that actually is.

U.S. helicopter armament subsystems - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[hscs]

And the OH-23. I have spoken with guys that flew the Hiller in the scout role actually exchanging BBs with the enemy retuning fire with M14s and shotguns. Eventually they fitted a Ma Duce to the skids. on the G model
View attachment 44824
Interestingly the H-23 is a rare example of not follow the tribal naming convention. I was the "Raven".

Love the smoke (?) grenades on the deck, too.

So cool, you can keep your sleeves rolled up!

 

[Griz882]

Love the smoke (?) grenades on the deck, too.

So cool, you can keep your sleeves rolled up!

Smokes and WPs.

 

[wink]

That is not a "Ma Duece" M2. The helo armament systems had oddball names for M60 variants, of which that actually is.

U.S. helicopter armament subsystems - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

My bad. jumped on the caption without looking closely at the picture. Clearly too small for the .50 cal. The M2 referred to in the caption was the mounting system which allowed elevation adjustments.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Quite a bit of news this morning around Bell/Textron laying off significant numbers of people on the MV-75 as the program moves from development to production.

 

[phrogdriver]

Quite a bit of news this morning around Bell/Textron laying off significant numbers of people on the MV-75 as the program moves from development to production.

Bell lays off 285 employees in Texas and Kansas

The defense contractor also said certain employees will be furloughed for three weeks starting June 15.

fortworthreport.org

It's a bad indication when the Army can't pay for its "#1 aviation priority."

 

[hscs]

Meh. Happens all the time as organizations retool and reset locations. The lack of union layoffs is also more indicative of read to produce vice sell.

I would not read anything into this.

 

[phrogdriver]

Meh. Happens all the time as organizations retool and reset locations. The lack of union layoffs is also more indicative of read to produce vice sell.

I would not read anything into this.

Not when the layoffs are in the airframe manufacturing facility they literally just built.

Army aviation is a shitshow right now, not to mention the rest of the Army.

 

[sevenhelmet]

Not when the layoffs are in the airframe manufacturing facility they literally just built.

Army aviation is a shitshow right now, not to mention the rest of the Army.

Yeah, I’m a little surprised by this too- normally I would think those folks get retasked with other work as the program develops.

Bell thinks differently, I guess.