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Does anyone have the numbers on the UH-1Y program? I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why the Yankee Huey program was given the green light over an already existing platform in say the USN's MH-60S? It seems to me that fleet commonality and logistics chains would still have been there, and that as the Yankee Huey continues to ballon like Oprah at All-You-Can-Eat buffet the capabilites of the MH-60S seem to exceed that of the Yankee Huey? Am I wrong here, wouldn't the MH-60S have been a far wiser choice in terms of less money and more capabiltiy?

It seems to me they keep stuffing more and more into this platform that was never intended to be the size that it is, when they could have got a much better airframe than what they will ever end up with in the MH-60S?!

<img src="http://www.vtol.org/news/MH60SAHWS.jpg" border=0>

<img src="http://www.helis.com/h/h1_9y.jpg" border=0>

What are the actual numbers of the UH-1Y - is Bell getting a sweet subsidy here by blending their Yankee Huey into the Zulu Cobra program? Is the $5.5b number for the entire H-1 upgrade, because my simple math has $5.5B divided by 100 UH-1Y aircraft costing about $55m per plane, where as an MH-60S can be had for about $28m per copy.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Program officials estimate production costs for building the helicopters new to add approximately $100,000 per aircraft, and non-recurring engineering costs to add approximately $8.1 million, to the program for a total increase of $17.4 million for the 90 UH-1Ys. Per the President’s 2005 budget, the H-1 Upgrades total program cost is estimated to be approximately $5.5 billion. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... /uh-1y.htm

The Huey is a much smaller bird and is appropriate for operations into much smaller LZs than Blackhawks. It's also a whole hell of a lot cheaper probably.

I remember when i was in and the "end of the Hueys" were being phased out that the pilots used to joke that "A huey will pick up the last blackhawk crew at the boneyard" someday.

With the UH-1Y set to be around for decades...maybe those old rotor-heads were right...

<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/OnTheJobEnhanced.jpg" border=0>
<b>"One post, One Kill".</b>

Also jillions of Hueys in commercial/private use, they probobly WILL outlast the Blackhawk.

A 45 has a muzzle.
A 9mm has a bullet vent.

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Kreiger, that number includes the AH-1 upgrades. It's a major upgrade to both airframes to include a new 4 bladed composite main rotor with automatic blade fold (no more whoop whoop as the blade feathers), new performance matched transmissions, T700 Digital Control Units, 4 bladed composite tail rotors and drive stabilizers, upgraded landing gear, tail pylon structural modifications and fully integrated cockpits and avionics systems (digital fire controls, NVIS, Night Nav/Targeting and "On-Board" mission planning).

The object is to have commonality between the two aircraft to reduce training and maintenance costs. I've forgotten the exact number but 40% sticks in my mind for common parts between the AH-1 and the UH-1 which is why the Marines never entertained buying one of the H-60 variants.

BTW, none of this is classified and the whole spec is available as an Invitation to Bid if you're qualified.

OC

Some days it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints

Edited by - old chief on May 21 2006 17:04

The only reason the Marines went with the UH-1Y was because they thought it could help get them the AH-1Z; it's nothing more than a maggot riding on the coattails of the Zulu Cobra. The Marines have taken notice as Bell is behind on the program and over costs, and I've read where as recently as in the last two months they have looked at going with the MH-60S but decided as of for now to remain wiht the H-1 upgrade program. The H-1Y is up to about $20m per copy now and still 9 months late on the first LRIP Yankee.

I'm all for the AH-1Z but have nothing but dissapointment in the H-1Y - their re-inventing the wheel just to come up with an aircraft that is already certified and in production: MH-60S. I don't think the size difference between the UH-1Y and an MH-60S is going to leave the Huey with any significant differences in LZ's its capable of entering. Let's face it, it's like an episode of MonsterGarage where Jesse is shoehorn'ing a VW Beetle with a Big-Block Chevy to run fast 1/4 miles times - just leave that motor in the car it came in and you already have what your seeking! Same goes with the UH-1Y/MH-60S comparison.

In the article below, the Marine DCA talks about cutting the entire H-1 upgrade program, but about the only other viable alternative (attack helicopter capable of serving on a boat - even though no orders for navalized variant to date,) that I know of would be the Italian Augusta A-129 Mangusta.

Agusta A129 Mangusta, or Moongoose.

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/agusta/

Cool brochure...

http://www.agustawestland.com/dindoc/4% ... 009_05.pdf

<img src="http://www.army-technology.com/projects/agusta/images/agusta5.jpg" border=0>

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AH-1Z: Cancellation 'An Option,' DCA Says

Washington DC:- The Marines' air boss (Deputy Commandant, Aviation) says 'it's now up to Bell' to deliver on the promises of the AH-1Z programme and that cancellation of the project is 'always an option.'

Lt Gen John Castellaw - who retuerned yesterday from a summmit on the aircraft at Bell's Amarrillo, Tx., plant - says a key meeting set for May 31 will be decisive.

'We've communicated to them what the capability is that we want in the aircraft. They know. Now it's up to them.'

The meeting was attended by top Navy officials, Castellaw, and senior executives including Bell Helicopter Textron CEO Mike Redenbaugh and his boss, Textron Chairman and CEO Lewis Campbell, Castellaw told rotorhub in an interview in his office in the Pentagon this morning.

He said Campbell has become 'personally very involved' in the programme. Despite the warning tone of his remarks, Castellaw said it was apparent that Bell is now 'making the right moves' on the aircraft.' But, he added: 'understand, I am not defending Bell.'

Castellaw declined to go into details, but from body language it was clear he shared an interviewer's concerns that the aircraft is behind schedule - perhaps several years, over budget, and still not performing as advertised.

He said the 'DAB-level' meeting this month would show clearly 'what everyone intended to do.

And he had these words for delays accompanying the utility version of the aircraft, the UH-1Y: 'I get up every morning and look in the mirror and feel guilty about having the 'one Novembers' (UH-1Ns - the aircraft that will be replaced by the Ys) still flying with us.' In remarks he said the utility airctaft are stretched thin in terms of load carrying performance, and that the Marines desperately need the upgrade promised them.

- David S. Harvey


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http://www.shephard.co.uk/Rotorhub/News ... fc3141d966