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RAH-66 COMANCHE SCOUTS FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS

The reconnaissance and attack helicopter RAH-66 Comanche is "the No 1 development program" of the US Army. This categorisation could not prevent work from progressing slowly, and plans have been changed several times. Up to now only one aircraft is airborne and has spent barely 105 hours in the air.

Chief Warrant Officer John W. Armbrust, the Army's Chief Test Pilot for the Comanche says, "We have first of all tried to optimise the digital Fly-by-Wire-System. Only the three most simple flight control modes, which normally only come into operation after various systems failures, have been checked. The handling was as good as is usual with today's helicopters." According to Armbrust, the RAH-66 reached a forward speed of 316 km/h, 120 to 140 km/h sideways and 130km/h backwards.

While the first prototype is mainly used to test flight performance and flying characteristics, the second aircraft, which was shown at the Farnborough Air Show, is intended to assess sensors and mission equipment. Depending on their availability these will be fitted gradually. The maiden flight will take place next April in West Palm Beach (Florida).

The purpose of the trials is to receive a green light for the further development of the Comanche in March 2000. In order to achieve this, various performance parameters have to be demonstrated, like the rate of climb, small radar cross-section, minimum heat radiation, range of the infra red sensor or maintenance cost. Once this hurdle has been cleared, the fabrication of eight more RAH-66 is planned. These aircraft will be available from 2003. This is later than originally planned, however these helicopters will be closer to the standard of the serial production helicopters.

In 2004 three Comanches will take part in some army exercises. The army wants to optimise its concept of a "digital battle field". The Comanche will play a central role in achieving this.

The first operational squadrons will not receive their RAH-66 before 2006, and whether 1,292 helicopters will be built afterwards over a period of twenty years is in the lap of the Gods. Under these circumstances Boeing and Sikorsky are in favour of international partnerships. However, with the Comanche the difficult question of technology transfer has to be solved first.

From page 51 of FLUG REVUE 12/98