Corps certifies UH-1Y; January deployment eyed

[unhappycamper]

Corps certifies UH-1Y; January deployment eyed
By Chris Cavas - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Aug 15, 2008 13:57:15 EDT

The UH-1Y utility helicopter was certified operationally capable by the Marine Corps on Aug. 8, setting the stage for the aircraft’s first deployment in January.

Six Marine flight crews using three of the Bell helicopters have been training over the past year with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 and are set to deploy next year with the California-based 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the assault ship Boxer.

The Marines plan to buy 123 Yankee-model UH-1s by 2016. The Ys will replace UH-1N models in the Marines’ inventory.

According to the Marines, the UH-1Ys will become the first new model of the venerable H-1 Huey series to deploy with an MEU since 1972.


Article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/08/defense_helobrief_081508/



uhc comment: Meet the $19,628,571 UH-1Y -->



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UH-1Y


And then there's this little gem from 2006 --> Bell Gets $137.2M for UH-1Y Venom LRIP


As a sanity check, the P-51 Mustang cost $50,985 in 1945 dollars, and the F-14 cost $38,000,000 in 1998 dollars.

[Captain Hilts]

1. The P-51 would be fully capable..

of accomplishing a lot of missions in Iraq at a fraction the cost of using F-18s.

Same with the A-6. The navy never should have gotten rid of the A-6.

We don't need to play Space Invaders on every mission.

[Crowman1979]

2. You've got to be kidding me!

The F/A-18 is faster, more maneuverable and can carry a greater and more diverse load than either the A-6 or P-51.

[Captain Hilts]

3. That's right. It vastly exceeds the needs of the mission. And the costs involved. nt

[unhappycamper]

4. And the F/A-18 costs only $41,000,000 in 2008 dollars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. Ahhh...c'mon

Close support air to mud aircraft do not need to travel at the speed of heat and then need acquisition and targeting systems worthy of "Star Wars" to put ordinance on target. Sometimes, something a bit more simple in that role can be more effective. In The Nam, the Sandys proved that conclusively.

[Captain Hilts]

6. 'Sandys'?

Mookie wants to know.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Sandy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-1_Skyraider

[Captain Hilts]

9. Those were BEASTS! Yeah! nt

[Angleae]

8. Faster yes, more maneuverable yes, bigger load no.

F-18C/D, 13.700lbs
F-18E/F, 17,750lbs
A-6E, 18,000lbs

There is also the issue of range. The F-18 doesn't have any with a combat radius if 330-350 miles it needs to use it's external stores just to get to the target. The A-6E has a 900 mile radius without external tanks.
It should never have been removed from service, but the fighter pilot admirals didn't want competition.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Right, the "fighter pilots make headlines, attack pilots make history" conflict...

Yeah, you're right. Fighter pilots got to run the navy, not A-6 pilots.