Quote:
Originally Posted by MedMech
I am not a pilot but have spent many hours buzzing around various parts of the world in the little buggers. I claim a little fame because I was on one of the first OH-58D test flights with all of the new at time night vision electronics.
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That’s the one problem I’ve heard they have with the newer (407 based) -58s. They pack all kinds of heavy electronic goodies in (and on) them without much in the way of power and rotor upgrades.
They do a good job. But when you loose power, you’re in trouble.
We’re pretty close to Bell here. I know many of the techs/sales/staff there. Quite often, they call me up because they have an Army -58 pilot/crew that wants to compare it to the 407. Every time I’ve let them pilot one of our 407s, they have the same response. Something like: “Damn. I wish our ships handled like this.”
BTW - Have you seen the autorotation video of the -58? Not sure why this guy pulled (the first time) at 50’+, but either way - It’s a heavy ship for that rotor system to try to stop. Splat....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EqbOhqlzlc