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Aviation History
1969
1969 - 1025.PDF
FLIGHT- International, S June 1969 MILITARY HELICOPTERS The main exhibit of interest here is undoubtedly the full-size "working" mock-up of the Westland-Sud WG.13 utility heli copter, which combines a simple easy-to-build structure with an advanced-design free-turbine engine (the Rolls-Royce BS.360-07) and a Westland rigid rotor. The first of five development aircraft will fly in mid-1970, and delivery will begin in 1973. Design of the armed-reconnaissance version has been transferred to Sud, although Westland will remain the design authority. The Sud-Westland SA.330 assault helicopter is now in full- scale production, and the first British aircraft will be delivered at the end of this year. The Sud-Westland SA.341 is the definitive version of the smallest of the three Anglo-French helicopters. One example, in civil colours, can be seen in the static park. The SA.341, differing slightly in size from the SA.340, has already been flown at the Centre d'Essais en Vol. Deliveries will begin in 1972-1973. Quite the most regrettable absence from the show is that of the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne, cancellation of which, by 933 the American Government took place very recently. Lockheed has filed a suit—which will probably not be heard for a year or so—against the DoD Appeals Board. It is still not clear whether technical problems or cost-escalation is the root cause, but the development programme is still progressing as scheduled. Meanwhile the firm pins its faith on the rigid rotor, of which it certainly has more experience than any other organisation in the world. The welcome news from Sikorsky is that, after years of waiting, the German contract for CH-53s (the largest helicopter in the firm's range) has finally been placed. Interest in the US Army's HLH (heavy-lift helicopter) as the next major military helicopter requirement is evident, and both Sikorsky and Boeing-Vertol have developed versions of their GH-53 and Chinook. Requests for proposals are expected in a month or so. At present there appears to be conflicting requirements: the US Army wants an aircraft sized to a 25-30 ton hook-load, while the US Marine Corps is thinking in terms of 17-20 tons. > An example of the latest Boeing-Vertol Chinook, the CH-47C, is to be found in the static park. Together with the Sikorsky CH-53 and S-64 Skycrane, these are the largest helicopters at present flying in the West. V§!SSBKKtFSi- Ml' SlPi liN mm?** WiS** '*«t«r»fra 12 I mm The V/estland-Sud WG.I3 utility helicopter will have wide application, not only in the three Armed Services of Britain and France, but also as a 12-seat commercial helicopter. The moving-map U display is a prominent feature of the flight-deck (left) m ••I •M § •E5— •^-.*- \ It jjjj The Agusta A.I06, below, is not the most beautiful 111 of helicopters, but its job as a sub-killer does not jjj demand styling. Two Mk 44 torpedoes can be • carried over a 130 n.m ranee : ..::• : "I*".., m udi iP^sff* illf fikk4AiX§Bfil. * "9Hfe HG1 ^^••t Ipjj iiifii''VvW^ / II j£M4?" mm
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