2 quick questions about the Hawk.

1. Wasn’t some model of the 200 series offered to Saudi Arabia at one point.I know they use the basic trainer model,but I thought I also heard they were interested in the Hawk 200.

2.A little off topic,but still dealing with the Hawk family,since the T-45 Goshawk has replaced the TA-4J in the training role,why not the aggressor role as well? IMO,it would provide a cheap,reliable,agile aggressor aircraft.

The A-7E was evaluated,along with the A-4 Skyhawk and the SEPECAT Jaguar M to replace the original Etendard.I heard the American planes were cut fairly soon and the Jaguar M was scrapped on the grounds that it was part British.This left the all French Super Etendard,which as you know,got selected.I never saw a reason the American jets got canned,other then being American when they wanted something all French.I read somewhere the didn’t like the fact the A-7 had almost no air to air capability,but the Super Etendard was no Tomcat either,so I’m a little confused on that one myself.

I agree that the UH-1Y is very similar to the 412, but to say it is “nothing more than” a souped up version of that helo is a bit harsh. The Yankee model is the fastest Huey by a wide margin, and just as quick as the Blackhawk. At about 185 mph (approx 300 km/h), the UH-1Y is one of the faster helicopters out there. Additionally, its maximum payload has been increased from 5,000 pounds (which was max for the UH-1N) to slightly over 7,000 pounds. That’s not a bad improvement if you ask me. Then there’s all the other whiz bang features including full glass and NVG cockpit, FLIR turret, side and door mounted weapons options, increased range and manuverability, etc. Just a nice package for a good price I think.

Art, I know how you like to downplay certain things, but this new Huey model isn’t really something you can scoff at. It’s probably the ultimate level of evolution that you can get out of the basic Huey design.

I don’t think buying Blackhawks would have been a good idea because it would have required serious modifications to make them sea worthy. Yes I know the Seahawk exists, but it required so many changes and modifications to make it adaptable for seaborne operations, that it lost some of the performance of the UH-60. The Blackhawk is a good 30 mph faster than the Seahawk. The Huey by contrast has been operated by the Corps for a very long time, and they know how to best employ it. It’s a rugged airframe that has proven to be very reliable in the rough conditions of seaborne use as well as desert use. I’m sure if the Seahawk/Blackhawk had been deemed as more suitable for the Corps then they probably would have looked into getting them, but seeing as the new Huey offers similar capabilities and prices which are probably cheaper then it was certainly the way to go.

Serious modifications?! I guess you’ve never heard of the US Navy’s CH-60S Knighthawk,also know as the MH-60S.It is basically a navalized UH-60L Blackhawk and can even carry the ESSS pylons with either weapons or external fuel tanks.Therefore a naval Blackhawk that can operate off carriers and assault ships is already operational.

Vortex,I am an American,live in Ohio near one of the largest bases still active and am a former member of Ohio Army National Guard.Now while I respect your opinions,I will say that I can see why countries would want these weapons.But heres the million dollar question.In over 60 years since nuclear weapons came into being,when have they been used? Only once,by the US at the end of WWII.When you consider of the hundreds of thousands of warheads made in the US,Russia,China,France and England,not to mention India,Pakistan and Israel,none have even been used in combat.Think about it,not even India and Pakistan have used them against each other.I think that says alot.

So I guess we could still yet see World War III? Great,I was begining to think that we had missed that.Right as I am getting ready to go back into the Army too.Always wanted to see a nuclear holocaust upclose.Bet it’d make a hell of a pay per view special.Wonder if it’ll be like “The Day After”?That movie scared the hell out of me.Pretty cool though.A Nuclear War would be pretty exciting for about the first 20 mins then it would start to suck pretty quickly thereafter.

Chinese Tu-160 huh? nice

I’d say a mix of Mig-29SMTs and maybe some Su-25Ks would be more useful.

Argh!!! I’m Blinded! lol,j/k Now everyone knows Hungarian girls are the sexy ones,thats what I have,a bi one at that.