Kazakhstan's government has been dipping into the helicopter market recently, taking both Russian and European types. One the one hand we have the sleek (relative) modernity of Eurocopter's EC-145 and on the other we have the er...well...more industrial looking* Kamov Ka-32. Now, can anyone tell them apart?
Credit: Eurocopter
Credit: Russian Helicopters
*When we say 'industrial' we mean like a VW Combi with a set of rotors bolted on.
Like something straight out of Apocalypse Now comes this picture from the US Marine Corps. OK, so it's not the 'Nam, but the Philippines, and shows a pair of Boeing CH-46E Sea Knights on exercise on Palawan. The helicopters are with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, Marine Air Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Credit: USMC
From the UK Defence Images flickr stream is this Eurocopter Gazelle, somewhere in a field in Canada with an oh-so-moody sky. Actually, according to the caption it's at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Alberta, Canada.
Credit: Defence Images
Pictured on the recent Pashtun Dawn pre-Afghanistan deployment exercise is this pair of RAF Chinooks at the comically-named FARP (that's a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point to you) in the depths of Salisbury Plain in God's Own County*. Pic by duncan monk on Flightglobal/AirSpace.
*Wiltshire Credit: User duncan monk on Flightglobal/AirSpace
This picture from the UK Ministry of Defence has been released to coincide with completion of sea trials by the Royal Navy's first AgustaWestland Lynx Wildcat helicopter at the beginning of February on board HMS Iron Duke. Prototype ZZ402 made a total of 390 landings on the frigate, including 148 at night, 76 of which while using night-vision goggles. The first of 28 navalised versions is due to be delivered in the fourth quarter.
Credit: Crown Copyright/MoD
Forgive us - but when confronted with a press release jam-packed with acronyms (TTH, DGA, NAHEMA, ALAT etc) the will to live is quickly eroded. Nonetheless, we present to you the first NH Industries NH90 Tactical Troop Transport in final operational configuration for the French armed forces. And yes, that's a TTH in FOC to you.
Credit: Eurocopter
Pictured here are a Boeing AH-64 Apache, Eurocopter AS532 Cougar and a Boeing CH-47 Chinook of the Royal Netherlands Army Air Force on exercises at Volkel earlier this year, photographed by Flightglobal Airspace user Ghostplanes.
Credit: Airspace user Ghostplanes
Because it's friday and because of the sheer amount of effort that's gone into building it - here's an example of what you can do with lego if you put your mind to it. In this case, a pretty detailed reproduction of a Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey.
Credit: Mad physicist photostream on Flickr
For more of these fantastic models - click here (and be consumed with jealousy)
In the light of the first delivery of the Block III variant of Boeing's Apache to the US Army yesterday, here's a nice shot of the attack helicopter (also featuring an AAI RQ-7 Shadow) on test at Dugway's Michael Army Airfield. (And for anyone wanting a somewhat low-tech version of same - click here).
Credit: US Army
Slight poetic licence there, and there seems to be no fearful symetry to behold in this picture, but the Eurocopter Tiger looks the part. At the moment Eurocopter is pushing them to the South Koreans for that country's likely AH-X contest, but there are rumours, meanwhile, that the German armed forces are looking to cut their order. Watch this space.
Credit: Eurocopter
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