kwpaquette
26 Mar 04, 09:14
NEWS STORY
Quad A: Look Out Below, It's An Unmanned Little Bird
26 March
Nashville, Tenn: Boeing will soon test fly an unmanned version of the MH-6 Little Bird at its Mesa, Az., facility. The aircraft is being studied for a number of possible applications, including use as a 'decoy' for urban operations. Related to the Vietnam-era 'Loach' the MH-6 is a highly modified aircraft appearing here armed with, among other things, a gatling.50 cal machine gun - a weapon developed since the fabled days of Mogadishu and 'Black Hawk Down,' in which it played a starring role. The aircraft, says Boeing's Waldo Carmona, a former 160th SOAR aviator would have a 1,000 payload when developed. Flights are expected to begin this summer and, if successful, the aircraft could find itself deployed on a fast track schedule. MH-6s - staple of the 160th SOAR - are considered a key to army aviation development these days. The aircraft - now built and 'owned' by MD Helicopters Inc., of Mesa, Az., - could mean a new lease of life for that company - suffering from a prolonged downturn in the civil market. Asked if the UAV version would affect plans for the Army's so-called Class IV UAV - now 'given' (without a competition) to Schweizer's FireScout helicopter (developed into a UAV by Northrop Grumman) , Carmona said it would have a superior payload and loiter to that design. Meanwhile, talk at the show here is that MD is seeking a partner to help it deal with bulk orders for MH-6s - and even unmanned versions -- with as many 100 believed to be wanted within the next two years.
- David S. Harvey
Quad A: Look Out Below, It's An Unmanned Little Bird
26 March
Nashville, Tenn: Boeing will soon test fly an unmanned version of the MH-6 Little Bird at its Mesa, Az., facility. The aircraft is being studied for a number of possible applications, including use as a 'decoy' for urban operations. Related to the Vietnam-era 'Loach' the MH-6 is a highly modified aircraft appearing here armed with, among other things, a gatling.50 cal machine gun - a weapon developed since the fabled days of Mogadishu and 'Black Hawk Down,' in which it played a starring role. The aircraft, says Boeing's Waldo Carmona, a former 160th SOAR aviator would have a 1,000 payload when developed. Flights are expected to begin this summer and, if successful, the aircraft could find itself deployed on a fast track schedule. MH-6s - staple of the 160th SOAR - are considered a key to army aviation development these days. The aircraft - now built and 'owned' by MD Helicopters Inc., of Mesa, Az., - could mean a new lease of life for that company - suffering from a prolonged downturn in the civil market. Asked if the UAV version would affect plans for the Army's so-called Class IV UAV - now 'given' (without a competition) to Schweizer's FireScout helicopter (developed into a UAV by Northrop Grumman) , Carmona said it would have a superior payload and loiter to that design. Meanwhile, talk at the show here is that MD is seeking a partner to help it deal with bulk orders for MH-6s - and even unmanned versions -- with as many 100 believed to be wanted within the next two years.
- David S. Harvey