News Bin Laden Raid Reveals Possible Stealth Helicopter

[Hlynkacg]

The afore-mentioned IGB...


It is certainly new to me.

I did 6.5 years as an H60 crewchief (got out in 2009), I remember seeing proposals and mockups for a "stealth" upgrade in 2008 but did not know if it had actually been built/deployed.

The Stabilator is a different shape than I remember but the shrouded rotor head and flattened TGB fairing certainly match what I saw.

 

[dougkeenan]

ah, thank you internet -> IGB == Intermediate Gearbox

sorry, not everybody's a pilot

least not outside Orbiter!

 

[Thunder Chicken]

This picture has been floating around the web for a few hours:

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/showfull.php?photo=45148

I'm unsure of where it came from originally or when. It could predate the crash or could have been cooked up since the compound photos came out.

 

[Hlynkacg]

That looks a lot like the mock-up I saw back in 2008 though I don't remember it having 5 blades.

 

[dougkeenan]

The Stabilator (A & B) is one piece, correct?

 

[Hlynkacg]

The Stabilator (A & B) is one piece, correct?

Not quite, on the standard H60 there's a hinge and lock-pin in the middle that allows the stabilator to be removed or folded for transport.

As far as our "Funky-Stealth-Hawk" is concerned, I can't say for sure but I would imagine it has a similar set up.

 

[Eli13]

This is definitely a interesting mystery, then again, it could be like bin laden, hiding in plain sight.... :hmm: maybe Pakistan is harboring this also? :lol:

 

[dougkeenan]

Not quite, on the standard H60 there's a hinge and lock-pin in the middle that allows the stabilator to be removed or folded for transport.

As far as our "Funky-Stealth-Hawk" is concerned, I can't say for sure but I would imagine it has a similar set up.

Great photo, thanks! Makes sense that lock-pin mechanism could easily break.

Aviation Week is saying "... and a 'dishpan' cover over a five-or-six-blade tail rotor." I don't see six and I'm trying my best to see four. Five lights, four blades, lol.

 

[Eli13]

Here's a small cut-out of the wreckage minus the background and people. Hope it helps.

 

[Quick_Nick]

3 and 4 both look odd. But, if you look at 4, the circular "housing" (sorry for poor term) shows an indention like at the other two blades.

 

[Hlynkacg]

On the standard H60 the "4 blades" of the tail rotor are actually 2 spars mounted cross-wise. (If you look carefully you can see this in the image I linked)

It's possible that the blades were knocked out of alignment in the crash.

Great photo, thanks! Makes sense that lock-pin mechanism could easily break.

Lord I hope not

 

[Quick_Nick]

On the standard H60 the "4 blades" of the tail rotor are actually 2 spars mounted cross-wise. (If you look carefully you can see this in the image I linked)

It's possible that the blades were knocked out of alignment in the crash.

Like I said 2 and 5 line up perfectly (even in this view) and so do 1 and 4.
It's so strange that this is still under question. Whoever took the photo knows the answer without doubt.

 

[dougkeenan]

On the standard H60 the "4 blades" of the tail rotor are actually 2 spars mounted cross-wise. (If you look carefully you can see this in the image I linked)

It's possible that the blades were knocked out of alignment in the crash.

Lord I hope not

Sorry, I meant in a crash. Does this photo help with any questions about alignment? Are these the 2 spars you mention?

---------- Post added at 22:43 ---------- Previous post was at 22:31 ----------

Like I said 2 and 5 line up perfectly (even in this view) and so do 1 and 4.

It's so strange that this is still under question. Whoever took the photo knows the answer without doubt.

any guess about the badges? bet they know how many lights

 

[Hlynkacg]

Hard to say, but it looks at how the upward facing blade has shifted compared to its corisponding notches in the tail-rotor "hubcap".

As for the badges I imagine its just an employee ID(or something similar) for whatever company/agency got tasked with cleaning up the mess.

 

[dougkeenan]

Hard to say, but it looks at how the upward facing blade has shifted compared to its corisponding notches in the tail-rotor "hubcap".

As for the badges I imagine its just an employee ID(or something similar) for whatever company/agency got tasked with cleaning up the mess.

Cleaning up the big pieces at least. Any idea what that does?

 

[Hlynkacg]

Looks like the remains of a clamp or bracket of some sort.

The hydraulics bay is full of them.

 

[dougkeenan]

Too bad for that kid on the resale market.

I see what you mean about the "upward facing blade." Looks like the spar on the bottom got bent badly also.

 

[Eli13]

Sorry, I meant in a crash. Does this photo help with any questions about alignment? Are these the 2 spars you mention?

---------- Post added at 22:43 ---------- Previous post was at 22:31 ----------




any guess about the badges? bet they know how many lights

Is it just me, or do they look to relaxed to be a cleanup crew to a historical kill mission?

 

[statickid]

I have to say there's no way this is only a 4 blade tail.

 

[Urwumpe]

I have to say there's no way this is only a 4 blade tail.

The rotate this around and watch the spacing - if it is close to 72°, it is OK, if the variance is too big, you need another number, and I am pretty sure that 90° is fitting better.