Experimental Chopper Loses Part of Blade (Lands in NS, Canada)

The Daily News ^ | November 24, 2004 | Chris Lambie

[TADSLOS]

Yeah, I don't get why they killed the RAH-66 Comanche, but kept the Osprey

Two different missions, two different services. The Army's decision to axe Comanche was long overdue. It was an aircraft built on marketing hype and little else. I can't speak with authority on the V-22, other than I know the USMC desperately needs something to replace their ancient CH-46 fleet.

[meema]

I'm 100% for that idea. Let the CEO types, Board members and the Generals who want this thing so bad fly it to work every day for a year.

Great concept, but this thing can't fly.

[TADSLOS]

I heard that it was also a very soft airframe and would be very easy to knock down. Is that true?

The Comanche did not have any active ASE and relied soley on passive measures to avoid detection and air defense systems. It had little in the way of armor plating and even the windscreen was non-ballistic tolerant plexiglass. These design measures were adopted to reduce weight in order to increase rate of climb performance. The transmission and turreted gun system were even re-engineered to accomodate weight restrictions.

[Haro_546]

Yeah, My mistake. Still, it should be cancelled.

[TADSLOS]

This article doesn't give enough details, but it isn't that uncommon to have a blade de-laminate in small pieces or for a tip cap to sling off. While disconcering to the crew, it isn't usually a catastrophic situation.

It should also be noted that this was a test flight in extreme weather conditions with the expressed purpose to test performance of de-icing equipment on the blades. A chunk of(melting)ice flying off of one rotor into the other set of blades at high rpm could be the culprit.

[SC Swamp Fox]

These drawings show the problem even better. In order for the props to clear the ground the landing gear would have to be about 8 feet long. I always thought this was a major problem for the Osprey.

30 to 45 degrees might work, but I have no idea how well it flys in that configuration.