New U.S. Army Helicopters Unsafe to Fly on Hot Days
November 11th, 2007This is my favorite story today.
Via: Boston Globe:
The Army is spending $2.6 billion on hundreds of European-designed helicopters for homeland security and disaster relief that have a crucial flaw: They are not safe to fly on hot days, according to an internal report obtained by the Associated Press.
While the Army scrambles to fix the problem, potentially adding millions to the taxpayer cost, at least one high-ranking lawmaker is calling for the deal to be scrapped.
During flight tests in Southern California in mild 80-degree weather, cockpit temperatures in the UH-72A Lakota soared above 104 degrees, the point at which the Army says the communication, navigation, and flight-control systems can overheat and shut down.
No cockpit equipment failed during the nearly 23 hours of testing, according to the report, prepared for the Army in July. But it concluded that the aircraft “is not effective for use in hot environments.”
The Army said that to fix the problem it will take the highly unusual step of adding air conditioners to many of the 322 helicopters ordered.
23 hours of testing for a $2.6 billion dollar investment of taxpayers dollars, and its squawking in 104 heat.
Call it a dog.Thumbs down.STOP.
That is of course, if you are not going to wage war in the middle East, or the south and mid west of the U.S. where temperatures Farenheit have consistently been over 104.
No problem send in the National Guard. What no people Tney are all round the world, not here at home.
Send Our Troops and Dollars home.
Vote Ron Paul