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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 4/97 TIGER ARCTIC TRIALS IN SWEDEN by Karl Schwarz Eurocopter accomplished a successful combination of a necessary test program and an advantageous marketing campaign during the recent cold weather trials with the Tiger. For six weeks, the fourth prototype of the German-French attack helicopter was put through its paces in Northern Sweden. The Tiger prototype was flown on board a French Air Force Transall at the beginning of January from Marignane, France, to Kiruna in Sweden. The loading and unloading of the helicopter was already part of an evaluation by German and French procurement officials. Qualification and function tests in cold weather were the focus of the Tiger's "Sweden campaign", including a general evaluation of all systems in polar conditions. The regular landing gear was evaluated also, as well as, skis which were mounted to protect the aircraft from sinking in deep snow. Take-off procedures, flying characteristics, along with aircraft performance, including take-off and landing on skis under extreme weather conditions, were tested. The function of the 30 mm gun, which is mounted in the HAP version, was evaluated in trials on the ground and in the air. According to Eurocopter, the Tiger accomplished the test program without technical problems. However, the weather conditions distorted the test program once in a while. When the temperature rose from -34 degrees centigrade to an unusual +4 degrees, the fuel had to be cooled in the test facilities of a Swedish car manufacturer in order to achieve the necessary low temperatures for some of the tests. Following the cold weather trials, the Tiger was relocated from Kiruna to the flight test center of the Swedish Army in Boden, which is located 250 km south of Kiruna. In a fact finding program, the helicopter was evaluated for one week according to the criteria of the Swedish forces. Swedish pilots flew from the front and back-seats. Captain Per Radstedt (Army) and Major Bengt Persson from the Swedish procurement agency FMV had already spent one week training in the Tiger simulator in Ottobrunn, Germany, in November of last year. The presentation of the Tiger in the exercise "Polar Star" was a highlight of the campaign. The impressive flying display was supplemented by presentations of the helicopter's technology and military employment concept. This task was accomplished by the development group of the German Army Flight Weapon's School from Bückeburg. Following the presentation, the Tiger prototype was flown back to Marignane on February 14. All together the helicopter from Eurocopter left a "good impression" in Sweden. However, the Swedish Army points out that the trials have no meaning to any future procurement priority. The Tiger was just evaluated to get an overview of the performance and mission capability of the modern helicopter, as was done last year with the McDonnell Douglas AH-64A Apache and Mil Mi-28 "Havoc". The current financial limitations set by the Swedish government won't allow a procurement before the year 2000. The replacement of the HKP 3 (Bell UH-1) fleet, which will have to be taken out of service in the next few years, has a much higher priority. Of course, Eurocopter is interested in this business also. The Swedish forces are already operating Bo 105s and Super Pumas. From page 48 of FLUG REVUE 4/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 4/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated March 7, 1997