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Quite a few additions from the plain vanilla Mig-29. I see additions on the side below the cockpit, wingtips and aft of the landing gear. All ECM sort of stuff I presume. Any details on what they are?
Also looks like testing on the earlier addition to the right fin base is complete? They've painted it over with the normal paint.
India wants to introduce 100 seaplanes into service in the next 10 years to support tourism and essential services to its coastal and island territories.
The federal government has allowed 100% foreign direct investment in the seaplane sector and has urged foreign operators to take advantage of the offer. India looks at more foreign direct investment in this sector so seaplanes can be introduced on a large scale not only for tourism, but also to provide essential services and medical aid during floods and other emergencies.
“The international market for seaplanes over the next decade is 1,000 units. I think 10% of that must come to India. That is our target,” says S N A Zaidi, India’s civil aviation secretary.
India has a long coastline and there is a need for strong efforts to promote seaplane operations, he says, as such services are significant to improving the economy of the Anadaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep. India’s Civil Aviation Ministry has created a separate department to oversee seaplane-related infrastructure, safety, security and regulatory issues, he adds.
The ministry is also close to commissioning a study on key issues concerning the seaplane operations in the country.
To encourage waterfront tourism, Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd., in association with the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, introduced seaplane service to those islands in January, with an eight-passenger Cessna Caravan 208A.
India has a long coastline and there is a need for strong efforts to promote seaplane operations, he says, as such services are significant to improving the economy of the Anadaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep. India’s Civil Aviation Ministry has created a separate department to oversee seaplane-related infrastructure, safety, security and regulatory issues, he adds.
Not directly related to this thread. However, there were reports earlier about Russia charging exorbitant prices for its spares. Guess what, the US isn't that far behind. Greed has no borders
Boeing charged the Army excessive prices for helicopter spare parts, including $644.75 for a tiny, black plastic motor gear that cost another Pentagon agency $12.51, according to a report by the Defense Department's Inspector General.
Earlier this year, the company refunded $556,006 on the "spur gear" after an audit draft was issued.
The second-largest defense contractor also issued a $76,849 Army refund for a dime-sized, plastic "roller assembly" that costs $7.71. Boeing charged the Army $1,678.61 apiece.
Both parts are installed on the CH-47 Chinook.
The refunds were among $1.6 million Boeing made during the auditing phase or after the draft was issued. The audit cites excessively priced parts or costs based on pricing data that wasn't current, complete or accurate from Boeing's two Corpus Christi, Texas, Army depot contracts valued at about $970 million.
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Overall, based on a sample of 18 "high-dollar parts" used to maintain Army helicopters at Boeing's facilities in Philadelphia and Mesa, Ariz., "we calculated that Boeing charged the Army about $13 million, or 131.5 percent more than fair and reasonable prices," on $23 million in orders, according to the audit.
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I hope the C17/C130 spares don't cost such inflated prices !!
The ceremonial last visits (before he retires in July) will begin soon. You will see a lot of that in the news now. I am going to miss ACM Naik Sir. Straight speak, with a no nonsense attitude and brimming with confidence. He has been an amazing chief.
Rakesh wrote:The ceremonial last visits (before he retires in July) will begin soon. You will see a lot of that in the news now. I am going to miss ACM Naik Sir. Straight speak, with a no nonsense attitude and brimming with confidence. He has been an amazing chief.
Among the first to be affected is the crucial road being built from Thingbu towards the 18,000-foot Tulung La Pass on the border, so far just a mule track on which the Chinese infiltrated in 1961 to outflank Indian troops ensconced on the mighty Sela Pass. Since BRO was using a Pawan Hans Mi-172 helicopter to carry a dismantled bulldozer to Thingbu, building has been stalled until it flies again. The Indian Air Force has already expressed its inability to support the BRO road building, since its helicopters are fully committed in provisioning the army’s remote border outposts.
We had an auxiliary air force in the late fifties. Five Squadrons based at Delhi / Mumbai (Bombay) / Chennai (Madras) / Kolkata (Calcutta) / Bhubaneshwar were raised. They were absorbed into the regular Air Force in 1962.
Instead of resurrecting the auxiliary air force , we can follow the Soviet or American idea.
Establish a contract with private companies and establish a civil auxiliary air force to serve and pitch in when called upon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Reserve_Air_Fleet
OR
Use AirIndia in a role like the USSR used Aeroflot.
i'd worry about civvi helis flying the last mile logistics into mountain bases... dangerous and highly skilled/experienced pilots required. different kettle of fish to flying B737's between major airports (full of materiel and troops)
the pilot shortage can be worked around.. lack of heli's at a time of emergency cannot, so having a bunch of heli's and some civy pilots trained to fly the safer and easier routes should at least reduce the burden on the entire fleet and giving us more pilots and birds to fly in the tougher location...
JMO...
chackojoseph wrote:Lol, i was searching the text "stealth" in the pdf
But, Stealth Dhruv did cross my mind after the raid. We make it, we can modify it.
This would be an interesting excercise...however IMHO it is the LCH that it should be experimented with given it already has the narrow relatively angular fuselage....JMT
I would think that the Dhruv's radar signature would be relatively less given the high use of carbon composites ityadi...?
^^^^ One of the other things. it was so glamorous that the helicopter could not lift off, so they blew it up. If it was Dhruv, then poor third world country cannot make choppers that can fly.
Prasad wrote:This picture is clearer than the earlier one, showing protrusion below the cockpit is the refueling probe assembly.
Thinking aloud, the probe looks very close to the fuselage. Isn't that a problem?
The M2Ks, Rafales and MKIs have the probes farther away from the fuselage minimising the chances of friction between the hose and the fuselage. Plus, the pilots can see it happening in front of their eyes. Not sure about Mig UPGs though, unless the pilots make make an effort to lean out of the canopy . JMT.
Last edited by Dmurphy on 16 May 2011 10:01, edited 1 time in total.