Re: "Black Hawk"-Upgrade
Verfasst: Mi 20. Feb 2019, 10:27
Forum für Österreichs Militärgeschichte
https://www.doppeladler.com/da/forum/
Ace Aeronautics, LLC to Provide Three Additional Black Hawks to The Republic of AustriaMaschin hat geschrieben: ↑Mi 20. Feb 2019, 10:27 https://www.heliopsmag.com/ace-aero-thr ... to-austria
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defe ... ding-furt/The original contract to upgrade the Austrian Armed Forces Black Hawk Fleet was issued in June 2017, covering nine Sikorsky S-70A-42 Black Hawks, and suffered from a number of initial setbacks.
Firstly, Ace Aeronautics had to adapt and change the Ace Deck configuration from their initial design when it became apparent that there were some differences between the company’s A model and the Austrian Armed Forces’ S-70Is, due to the nuances of being a L model Black Hawk.
However, that now appears to be all in the past, and bodes well for Ace Aeronautics bid to be part of a collaboration on the US Air Force’s UH-1N replacement programme of 84 aircraft with its Ace Deck avionics suite.
Platform controls and aircraft component manufacturer, Essex Industries is showcasing its Ergonomic Collective Grip at HAI Heli-Expo 2019.
The current status of the grip is patent pending. Bob Hale, business segment manager at Essex Industries, commented how the grip is part of a package with Aero Aeronautics.
Ace Aero is upgrading the Austrian Armed Forces Black Hawk Fleet further to a deal sealed in June 2017, which covers nine Sikorsky S-70A-42 Black Hawks. In February 2019, Vienna awarded further aircraft to the direct commercial sale contract.
Hale said how the grip would provide pilots with ‘functionality for the fingertips'. The grip applies additional switches to eradicate hand repositioning or dual seat inputs.
The ergonomic design enables hand positioning for long-range comfort thus reducing fatigue during flight and repetitive strain for the pilot.
At this stage of development it is for the Black Hawk, although Hale explained it was agnostic and could be applied to other rotary-wing platforms.
‘It is designed for the UH-60 Black Hawk but it can be modified for any rotary platform but it’s [targeted] towards more complex aircraft [opposed] to light piston aircraft per se,’ Hale said.
It can be tailored to customer requirements to include weapon or laser switching.
Currently, it is at the stage of rapid prototyping of the 3D printed version. For the UH-60 Black Hawk it compromises of eight different switches, including a Cursor Slew Switch and HUD switch.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defe ... s-black-h/The aircraft test on board the Black Hawk is expected in Q3 or Q4 2019.
https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS ... -hawk-dealIm Juni 2017 beauftragte das BMLV das US-amerikanische Unternehmen Ace Aeronautics (ACE) mit der Modernisierung der neun Black-Hawk-Helikopter des Bundesheeres. In der Folge bestellte das BMLV drei zusätzliche Black Hawks bei ACE, die ab 2021 geliefert werden sollen. Das Gesamtvolumen der zwei Aufträge liegt bei rund 100 Millionen Euro. Laut „profil“ sollen in zwei (offenbar von einem BMLV-Insider verfassten) anonymen Anzeigen schwere Vorwürfe geäußert werden. Demnach sei ACE „ungerechtfertigt bevorzugt“ worden, obwohl nur „minderwertige Leistungen“ angeboten worden seien. Es könne passieren, dass „die gesamte Transporthubschrauberflotte auf unbestimmte Zeit abgestellt werden“ müsse. Die zusätzlichen drei Black-Hawk-Helikopter seien „überteuert“ angeboten worden.
Namentlich genannt werden in den anonymen Anzeigen mehrere hochrangige Bundesheer-Offiziere sowie der damalige Verteidigungsminister Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ). Bei der WKSTA prüfte man die Anzeige genau, verzichtete aber mangels Anfangsverdacht auf die Einleitung eines Ermittlungsverfahrens. Im heurigen April wurde der Fall laut Auskunft der Staatsanwaltschaft endgültig erledigt. Aus dem BMLV hieß es in der Vorwoche gegenüber „profil“, das Black-Hawk-Projekt laufe zur vollsten Zufriedenheit des Bundesheeres. ACE habe alle vertraglichen Vorgaben erfüllt.
http://esd.eu.newsmemory.com/ESD: When does the first S-70 BLACK HAWK return from Alabama where 'Ace Aeronautics' has been upgrading cockpit displays, Navaids, NVG-readiness and comms systems?
Gen. Brieger: We do not have an exact date yet, but it should happen this coming autumn.
Congrats! Did you get the money the Austrian government owns you? Or do you keep their Blackhawk as collateral?