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Originally Posted by Pangloss62
Desert landings with two major downwash vorticies, not to mention its vulnerability to enemy fire (noise, size, target value, etc.).
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In which it's comparable to the helo's its replacing...
while in hover near the LZ. Where's it's expected to shine over the competition is flying faster/higher/farther while enroute, which reduces its vulnerability to ground fire. Having greater range keeps it away from the ground more also.
When you talk about "desert landings", remeber that this design is largely a result of lessons lerned at Desert One. Running *anything* mechanical in a sandbox is a challenge...but if it can be done this aircraft should be able to do it.
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Originally Posted by Pangloss62
As a taxpayer, I feel I have no say in the matter.
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Actually, I'm glad we don't vote on these things. Would you fly in an aircraft designed by the same process that gave you the government? :-)
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Originally Posted by Pangloss62
I just hope they can separate the pork from the engineering and science on both of these craft.
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As Rocky said to Bullwinkle, "That trick never works." But we can hope for enough separation of dreck from tech that something is delivered that's comparable to the DC-3, the B-52 or the F-15.