Optional stub wings allowed the helicopter more tactical flexibility when using varied ordnance options though at the cost of a larger radar signature. Internal weapons bays were intended from the beginning as was a retractable powered, wheeled undercarriage. The RAH-66 was given a large five-blade composite main rotor system with a tail rotor housed in a shroud, similar in concept to the French "Fenestron" approach. The compact design adopted a small profile and sharp lines seen previously in the multi-faceted Lockheed F-117 "Nighthawk" during a time when angled panels were the norm for stealth-centric aircraft (since abandoned in more modern stealth designs such as the Lockheed F-22 "Raptor" air superiority fighter). First flight by the initial prototype was carried out in 1996 with a second prototype not to join the flight testing phase until later in the decade - recording its first flight on March 30th, 1999. The aircraft was unveiled in May of 1995 and delivered to Florida for the flight testing phase - the first flight delayed by one year already. Army order now contracted for just two prototypes. By this time, the product was handed the official designation of "RAH-66" with the name of "Comanche".Ĭonstruction on the first airframe commenced in 1993 though the U.S. Army seeking four flyable prototypes (YRAH-66) in this early stage. In 1990, the program was given a new name as the Light Helicopter (LH) program and the following year saw the Boeing-Sikorsky submission officially selected as the winner of the program with the U.S. Army requirement had been evolved along the lines of a light reconnaissance-minded attack helicopter. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was not enacted until 1988 to which, by now, the U.S.
Origins of the RAH-66 began with the LHX program (Light Helicopter Experimental) of 1982, the design proposal forwarded by a joint Boeing-Sikorsky. Had it been serially produced, the RAH-66 would have been the world's most advanced combat helicopter in service with any army anywhere in the world. The RAH-66 was the world's first purpose-built stealth attack helicopter complete with fully-powered internal bays housing anti-armor and anti-air missiles and promoted heavy use of stealth materials to help conceal its approach from enemy radar. It was a stealth-based light attack helicopter set to replace an aging stock of Bell UH-1 "Huey" gunships, Bell AH-1 "Cobra" light attack helicopters, Hughes OH-6 "Cayuse" light observation and attack helicopters, and Bell OH-58 "Kiowa" light helicopters. Release date is unknown yet, Early Access is to start in Q1 2020.At one point, the Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was set to become the future of U.S. At Gamescom 2019 they announced a new multiplayer 5v5 action helicopter game by that name. In 2016 THQ Nordic bought NovaLogic's property including the Comanche series.
#Comanche helicopter series
Since the Comanche project has been cancelled by the US military on Febru(the total cost of the project ran up to an estimated 6.9 billion dollars and only two prototype helicopters were ever produced), it appears unlikely that new installments of the series will be produced. The games allow the player to pilot a Comanche through numerous military missions and terrains and engage in both aerial and ground combat. Developed by NovaLogic, the Comanche series of games are flight simulators focusing on the RAH-66 Comanche attack helicopter which would have become the successor of the famous AH64 Apache.
0 kommentar(er)
