Quote: First Flight for the New Medium Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) HC-235A
By Thomas J. Esposito, Coast Guard Aviation Programs
Naval Air Systems, Patuxent River, Md.
Six Coast Guard pilots arrived in Seville, Spain and commenced 22 days of Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) ground training on Sept. 28. Flight training is scheduled for Oct. 30 and will last approximately 12 days.
On July 20, Coast Guard test pilot Lt. Robert Barthelmes pilot flew the MPA (HC-235A) for the first time as part of intensive flight testing at the manufacturers' facility in Seville. Lt. Barthelmes joined the EADS-CASA flight test team for two flights that evaluated auto-pilot gains and aerodynamic drag counts.
The HC-235A was designed and built by EADS-CASA of Spain and was procured by Integrated Coast Guard Systems as part of the Deepwater program. This aircraft is expected to serve the Coast Guard for the next 40 years following deliver in 2007.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 1, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 10603 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
Cool....it's always nice to see some variety (and mission-specific aircraft) in the US military. Do you have any idea how many the USCG will ultimately acquire?
Quote: EADS CASA CN 235-300M
Number Planned: 36
Maximum Cruising Speed: 236 KTAS
Maximum Range: 1,565 NM (MPA Configured)
Range with Payload: (6000 lbs) 575 NM (Cargo Configured)
Endurance: 8.7 hours
Length: 70.2 FT
Wing Span: 84.7 FT
Cabin Length: 31.6 FT
Cabin Height: 6.1 FT
Cabin Width Max Width: 8.9 FT, Floor Width: 7.7 FT
Maximum Take-off Weight: 36,380 lbs
Maximum Landing Weight: 36,380 lbs
Engines: (2) General Electric CT7-9C3 Turboprop Engines
Propellers: Hamilton Standard 14RF-37 (Four Blades)
36 planned as of right now. Which is good because that means they are going to need a lot more pilots so I may be joining up at a good time for pilots!
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 10503 times:
It is good to see our USCG friends finally getting in some of the Deepwater hardwear. The HC-235 will be a great asset for them. But, will it replace some of their HC-130Hs?
FlyUSCG From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 656 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 10455 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 4): It is good to see our USCG friends finally getting in some of the Deepwater hardwear
In addition to the HC-235, the christening of their very first National Security Cutter (NSC) USCGC Bertholf WMSL 750 is tomorrow (11/11/06). http://www.uscg.mil/deepwater/
*construction photo gallery on the right under the small picture of the cutter*
FlyUSCG From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 656 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 10356 times:
Quoting Cancidas (Reply 7): is this a/c meant as a replacment for another type or is it just there to supplement the current fleet?
Supplement for now and then I believe will be the replacement for the HU-25 Falcon
FlyUSCG From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 656 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 10309 times:
The newest ones were delivered in 1983. They have gone through several upgrades over the years and now most are HU-25C models.
Halls120 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 10268 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 4): It is good to see our USCG friends finally getting in some of the Deepwater hardwear. The HC-235 will be a great asset for them. But, will it replace some of their HC-130Hs?
Not completely. However, most of the older 130's will be replaced by this aircraft, and it is a tragedy. Like most of the Deepwater program - too little, too late, and not enough.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 12, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 10253 times:
Halls120 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 10246 times:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 12): Quoting Cancidas (Reply 9):aren't the falcon fairly new?
I am not knocking the Falcon 20 airframe, but the USCG did goof by going to those one-off engines that the aircraft has.
Either replace them or put some actual normal Garretts on the aircraft.
Actually, I believe that the Falcons were originally delivered with Garretts - ATF3-6-2C Turbofan - which were notoriously unreliable. IIRC, the problem with those engines is that they weren't designed for the operating envelope intended by the Coast Guard.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 14, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 10246 times:
Quoting Halls120 (Reply 13): Actually, I believe that the Falcons were originally delivered with Garretts - ATF3-6-2C Turbofan - which were notoriously unreliable
Yes, exactly....AFAIK they are the only aircraft to ever use that engine.
So what the USCG should do if they want to keep the airplane is service is send them back to France and have Dassault install the TFE731 on the factory SB that a lot of Falcon 20's are being modified on.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Halls120 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 10244 times:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 14): Quoting Halls120 (Reply 13):Actually, I believe that the Falcons were originally delivered with Garretts - ATF3-6-2C Turbofan - which were notoriously unreliable
Yes, exactly....AFAIK they are the only aircraft to ever use that engine.
So what the USCG should do if they want to keep the airplane is service is send them back to France and have Dassault install the TFE731 on the factory SB that a lot of Falcon 20's are being modified on.
I'm sure the Coast Guard picked the engine they did because it was the cheapest option at the time - operating capabilities be damned.
When the CASA decision was announced, I asked one of my classmates who works on deepwater why the F the Coast Guard didn't just buy more C-130's. The answer - supposedly couldn't afford them.
The truth is, people bitch about spending so much money on the military, when in reality it needs to be increased at least on the order of 25% - DHS Coast Guard budget included.
And with the recent political changes, I highly doubt we'll see ANY increase funding.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 17, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 10231 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
Quoting Halls120 (Reply 13): IIRC, the problem with those engines is that they weren't designed for the operating envelope intended by the Coast Guard.
I don't think anything on the Falcon was designed for the operating envelope intended by the Coast Guard....
Halls120 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 10227 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 17):
Quoting Halls120 (Reply 13):IIRC, the problem with those engines is that they weren't designed for the operating envelope intended by the Coast Guard.
I don't think anything on the Falcon was designed for the operating envelope intended by the Coast Guard....
Back in the 80's, Air Station Sacramento was one of the first A/S to get the Falcon. They had four, and were lucky to be able to keep one flying. Their responsiveness was so bad that one morning at the Area staff conference, the CoS remarked that we should offer the Coast Guard version of the missing man formation at the then-upcoming fleet week celebration - a formation of one CG Falcon. Needless to say that all of us shipdrivers had a good laugh.
Quote:
"a fleet-wide recapitalization is becoming an urgent priority given its new domestic security responsibilities. That effort is being handled as an integrated, multi-year $25 billion project called Deepwater that encompasses everything from long-range patrol aircraft and UAVs, to new communications and computing backbones, to new ship designs. Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, has been serving as the program's overall system-of-systems integrator.
Deepwater has been fraught with difficulties since the program's inception. The Coast Guard was guaranteed a rough ride due to the issues with its existing fleet and lower status than the military services,"
Aeroweanie From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1600 posts, RR: 52 Reply 20, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 9842 times:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 14): So what the USCG should do if they want to keep the airplane is service is send them back to France and have Dassault install the TFE731 on the factory SB that a lot of Falcon 20's are being modified on.
Lockheed had a contract to reengine the USCG Falcons and they blew an incredible amount of money, accomplishing nothing. The USCG has attempted to restart this effort, using other companies, but haven't been able to come up with more money.
The ATF3s were a very risky choice at the time they were selected. The engines were orphans, having been designed for low-observable aircraft (you can't see the turbine by looking up the tailpipe, due to the "inside out" design).
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 21, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 9785 times:
Quoting Aeroweanie (Reply 20): Lockheed had a contract to reengine the USCG Falcons and they blew an incredible amount of money, accomplishing nothing. The USCG has attempted to restart this effort, using other companies, but haven't been able to come up with more money.
This is what is completely pathetic, Dassault has an SB to re-engine civilian ones with TFE-731's allready.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Quote:
"EADS CASA is supplying the aircraft under contract to the Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, with three HC-144As currently under contract and a requirment for 36 aircraft until the year 2017."
DEVILFISH From Philippines, joined Jan 2006, 4426 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (6 years 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 8849 times:
Probably still wincing from being booted, LockMart nonetheless has placed additional orders for five HC-144A maritime patrol aircraft from EADS CASA for the USCG's Deepwater Program.....
Quote:
"Lockheed Martin has ordered a further five EADS CASA HC-235A planes for the US Coast Guard's Deepwater Program. The aircraft, which will be delivered to Lockheed Martin through year 2008, take the number of CN-235 planes ordered so far for the program to eight."
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