Reuters: Pics from Bin Laden compound***GRAPHIC***

Rodram's Avatar
Rakhir's Avatar
Personally I like this one.
That is a wicked looking tail-rotor on that crashed UH-60. I had not seen that version yet. Anyone else current in the helo community? I haven't touched a helicopter in 10 years.
oshins's Avatar
Its being reported as the mythical stealth blackhawk. There's a video of the parts being carted off on one of the news outlets... and commentary about how well Pakistan and China get along.
Rodram's Avatar
Personally I like this one. Originally Posted by Rakhir
LMAO!!!!
That's hillarious Rakhir!
blaktygre's Avatar
now that is classic, rakhir!!!
Rodram's Avatar
Its being reported as the mythical stealth blackhawk. There's a video of the parts being carted off on one of the news outlets... and commentary about how well Pakistan and China get along. Originally Posted by oshins
Weren't those troop carriers? Or was one an attack heli and the other a troop carrier? I heard that there were 25 Seals so maybe what they were could be surmised from that. Is it possible it's was a Cherokee?

This is for JJ sorry oshin!
oshins's Avatar
From what I have read, 2 stealth BH did the insertion, extra chinook on the extraction b/c of the crash. Doesn't really jive, but its what is out there right now.
Next time I see you Rakhir ==> we'll have a new drink called the Bin Laden:

2 shots and a splash of water



And worked helicopters for thirty years from Pedro's to Jolly Greens in Nam and beyond. The UH-60 came into the inventory in 1979 and is a true work horse.
I got to "play" in some of the modified MH-60G PJ toys before I retired. Ironically ==> they are once again being referred to as "Pedro"... (see pic)







In the 1 May 2011 operation that killed Osama bin Laden, it emerged that the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which operated the helicopters during the raid, used a heavily modified version of the UH-60. Features apparently include a modified tail section with extra blades on the tail rotor and other additions which significantly lower noise levels from that of conventional UH-60s. It also had low-observable technology similar to that of F-117 that enabled it to evade Pakistan Air Force radars. The aircraft seemed to include features like special high-tech materials, harsh angles, and flat surfaces, found only on sophisticated stealth jets. This came to light only when one of the helicopters used in the operation crashed and was subsequently destroyed except for its tail section.

In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops. Three birds would have done this mission nicely with a mother bird (Chinook) as noted by oshins.
Rodram's Avatar
From what I have read, 2 stealth BH did the insertion, extra chinook on the extraction b/c of the crash. Doesn't really jive, but its what is out there right now. Originally Posted by oshins
I should've said Comanche not Cherokee.
Rakhir's Avatar
Next time I see you Rakhir ==> we'll have a new drink called the Bin Laden:

2 shots and a splash of water



And worked helicopters for thirty years from Pedro's to Jolly Greens in Nam and beyond. The UH-60 came into the inventory in 1979 and is a true work horse.
I got to "play" in some of the modified MH-60G PJ toys before I retired. Ironically ==> they are once again being referred to as "Pedro"... (see pic)







In the 1 May 2011 operation that killed Osama bin Laden, it emerged that the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which operated the helicopters during the raid, used a heavily modified version of the UH-60. Features apparently include a modified tail section with extra blades on the tail rotor and other additions which significantly lower noise levels from that of conventional UH-60s. It also had low-observable technology similar to that of F-117 that enabled it to evade Pakistan Air Force radars. The aircraft seemed to include features like special high-tech materials, harsh angles, and flat surfaces, found only on sophisticated stealth jets. This came to light only when one of the helicopters used in the operation crashed and was subsequently destroyed except for its tail section.

In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops. Three birds would have done this mission nicely with a mother bird (Chinook) as noted by oshins. Originally Posted by dennisrn


I will take you up on that. BTW I am interested in that chopper as well. Heard some interesting things concerning carbon figure composites.
Rodram ==> a note on the Comanche Program:
http://pogoarchives.org/m/dp/dp-nbc-02232004.pdf

We've gone off track with this thread a little bit; however, talking about the toys being used relating to UBL may be okay (a staff decision); however, I have some thoughts.

It's really a shame they cancelled that helicopter. It was a wonder of modern technology.

And for those of you wondering if it would be useful....well hardly an helicopter would be brought down by an AK unless something is very wrong with its maintenance. An Apache can withstand hits of bullets up to 12.7mm, 23mm in the most important and sensitive areas. The comanche has similar levels of endurance and if the problem was indeed maintenance that would be much less of an issue with comanches's improved modular electronics and remove-and-replace system.

Besides, most of the choppers shot down in Iraq and Afghanistan were hit by heat seeking rockets. Comanche radiates only 25% as much heat as an Apache and relies on a IR supressor that cools down gases coming from the exhausts to such an extent that a heat seeking missile can't lock on to it. Hardly any of those rockets use radar to reach their targets but if that were the case they wouldn't be too efficient against an helicopter with a radar signature smaller than a hellfire missile. Even if it were sound....a comanche makes about 50% less noise than an Apache.

Add to that an incredible manouverability and speed, an impressive array of sensors, ability to operate day and night, in bad weather and harsh desert conditions, and the capacity to quickly collect, analyze and disseminate huge amounts of info and you'll agree that it would be the best possible (manned) replacement for an Apache in its current role in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now if UCAV's are the reason....well then ==> let's make a cockpit-less comanche, either operating independently or with remote control.

DON'T JUST USE THAT TECH ON OLDER CHOPPERS!!</B>
Rodram's Avatar
I don't know this as fact, but, considering that we have become so effective and efficient with the use of UAV's I would think that we probably have seen the last manned combat aircraft (with some exceptions of course) produced like the Joint Strike Fighter and the current Apache with maybe some variations.
I read somewhere that the Stealth BW's that were used were 2 of several that were delivered before the program was defunded. Maybe it was defunded because of unsolved technical problems like what was experienced with this latest malfunction resulting in a hard landing.
I have a fascination with helicopters, especially the engineering involved in the rotors, swash plates, blades, armament, etc. I fly rc helis but have had to cut back because the damn things are so expensive and I want to move on to scale flying and multi bladed rotors like the MD500's and the flybarless Bell Jet Ranger models.
Mokoa's Avatar
  • Mokoa
  • 05-06-2011, 01:59 AM
Yes, the helicopters deserve a thread of their own.

Let's stick to this thread's topic.