Some comments I find interesting from strategypage by someone intelligent:
extra blades on the tail rotors for a start, and skeg treated...
...resounding yes [that Chinese engineers have studied the wreckage]. the pakistani aviation industry does not have the requisite skills to analyse and make reverse engineering assessments.
...the claims about electronic signature suppression on the tail rotor disk are just nonsense. in actual fact its a generational improvement on the horse collar that was designed to deal with back wash cavitation from the main rotors. this hasn't stopped the "experts" on some of the commercial aviation web sites coming out with voodoo commentary.
...the acoustic management is due to the horse collar. that was its original design intent - manage the cavitational wash from the main rotors = lower sig footprint = a change in deftness, a change in speed.
I'm betting that once full platform shots are released we'll see a main rotor thats collared as well, and probably lifted (raised) rotors
as for commanche applique treatment, I doubt it. I would think that same LO coatings that were developed and finessed for JSF, and now applied to Block 9 F-22's has also magically been used on this platform.
if I'm right, that means the collars are whats managing downward pressure, and are the primary managers of the cavitation issues. I'd also expect a change in the horizontal stabilisers, ie shape, absolute surface area (increase) and probably sweep
I'm expecting weeks and weeks of voodoo commentary from the likes of Aviation Week and DTI, but reading too much into this and then having the endstate extrapolating out to a "stealth" helicopter is a bit of a stretch.
the horse collar development and improvements alone would add handling deftness, speed improvements and a substantially lower acoustic footprint.
gf0012-aust
http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/6-76531.aspx
Also see
http://defensetech.org/2011/05/03/secret-helo-may-have-been-used-in-bin-laden-raid/
I always thought the entire concept of the operation didn't make sense. Landing helicopters just outside (and inside!) their compound would leave zero element of surprise. The amount of noise and wind those things kick up would wake up the neighborhood.
No matter how good you are it would make clearing the building extremely difficult if it's protected with even a handful of men.
I have no doubt Bin Laden is dead and that he was in that compound. But there's something they're not telling us.
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperHold on I can't hear you some helicopters just landed outside my front door a second ago and now in the space of a few seconds the place is crawling with guys carrying machine guns boy am I surprised i gotta go check it out.
I always thought the entire concept of the operation didn't make sense. Landing helicopters just outside (and inside!) their compound would leave zero element of surprise. The amount of noise and wind those things kick up would wake up the neighborhood.
No matter how good you are it would make clearing the building extremely difficult if it's p ...[text shortened]... aden is dead and that he was in that compound. But there's something they're not telling us.
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper"Acoustic management" means "doesn't make a lot of noise".
I always thought the entire concept of the operation didn't make sense. Landing helicopters just outside (and inside!) their compound would leave zero element of surprise. The amount of noise and wind those things kick up would wake up the neighborhood.
No matter how good you are it would make clearing the building extremely difficult if it's p ...[text shortened]... aden is dead and that he was in that compound. But there's something they're not telling us.
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperMaybe not land quietly but they can get in low, fast, and by the time you hear them setting down they are on the ground and surrounding you.
"Not a lot" by helicopter standards doesn't mean they can quietly land one in your back yard.
Originally posted by Sam The ShamI'm out of my depth in this topic based on your and paratrooper's specific experience. I will defer to the experts.
I do hope you are joking
EDIT
I was thinking of the image at 3:43 in the following video
Bombs Over Baghdad by Outkast with military imagery
Originally posted by AThousandYoungOK you were serious.
I'm out of my depth in this topic based on your and paratrooper's specific experience. I will defer to the experts.
EDIT
I was thinking of the image at 3:43 in the following video
Bombs Over Baghdad by Outkast with military imagery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmY4FnxcN9E
One doesn't repel from very high altitude. Certainly not high enough to hide the noise of a helicopter.
Seriously, like a question a little kid would ask.
You really worry me. Your thinking displays a lack of experience and common sense.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungHahahaha " all electricity and cell phone service was knocked out in the area before the raid and returned just after it was over" LOLOL I love it.
A clip about the helicopter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6et-7XfGws8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RDDBMWSBn0
Now we gotta develop that techonology a bit more and do it to an entire country instead of a neighborhood.
Oh yes it will happen.
USA ! USA ! USA !
Originally posted by Sam The ShamHe just said he has no experience in the area. Is it really necessary to trash the guy?
OK you were serious.
One doesn't repel from very high altitude. Certainly not high enough to hide the noise of a helicopter.
Seriously, like a question a little kid would ask.
You really worry me. Your thinking displays a lack of experience and common sense.