Rooivalk

[Fransw]

Nuff said!

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[Lood]

I've looked at the Rooivalk pictures at a recent airshow and I wondered how it will compares to the competition. Attack helicopters, like the Apache, KA-52, the MI-24/28, etc, etc.

[cage]

I've looked at the Rooivalk pictures at a recent airshow and I wondered how it will compares to the competition. Attack helicopters, like the Apache, KA-52, the MI-24/28, etc, etc.

Would have thought much more development has gone into the Apache etc to keep its platform current but the US is so far ahead with development plans for the FVL programme, that conventional helicopters seem to be a thing of the past.
Bell's new Valor tiltrotor has won first of the sub-projects with tiltrotors or coaxial/pusher-prop alternatives competing.

Conventional rotorwing aircraft are just too slow with limited range for modern ops.

[Lood]

Looking at the current war in Ukraine, it seems that air warfare is moving very fast to be completely unmanned and drone type aircraft. The pilots are going to be sitting on the ground, somewhere safe and far away.

Must be extremely nerve-racking to be an infantry soldier these days, or anywhere on the ground in a battlefield, for that matter ...

[Fransw]

Does anyone know what the width of the main rotor blades are? Not length or thickness but width. It seems very wide for someone that knows zero about chopper blades. What is the 407(for example) blade width for perspective...

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[Eddie Haynes-Smart]

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Much easier to see what's what if they're the right way up
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[Fransw]

Any Avcommers with Rooivalk time? Whirly, Snoopy, Peregrine, Roger??

[Whirly]

Any Avcommers with Rooivalk time? Whirly, Snoopy, Peregrine, Roger??

Nope, it was still in the very early stages when I left, the Alfa X1 or something just started test flights.

Whirly.

[Peregrine]

I have a few …

Regarding an earlier comment: conventional attack helicopters will be around for a good while yet. Speed and range are not necessarily required for “modern ops”. Entirely scenario dependent.

[cage]

Regarding an earlier comment: conventional attack helicopters will be around for a good while yet. Speed and range are not necessarily required for “modern ops”. Entirely scenario dependent.

Agree, the general focus may be shifting, but they are decades away from implementing this broader strategy.
Some of the first aircraft may only be seen 2030 to 2040, assuming priorities and budgets remain the same.
For the planned role, Valor should be a good fit.
Sikorsky seem to be unable to get their concepts to actually work to spec, so the tried and tested helo won't be disappearing anytime soon.

Bell are also pitching the Invictus for the future attack role. It is quite pretty, but I do still like the old Comanche that came to an untimely end.

Screenshot 2023-06-22 at 17.52.42.png

[Fransw]

Flying the Rooivalk. Cockpit view.

[Sprocky]

Any Avcommers with Rooivalk time? Whirly, Snoopy, Peregrine, Roger??

Firedog has Rooivalk time, but not very active on Avcom.

[Fransw]

Monster Tailwheel!

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[Fransw]

Nice onboard video of the Rooivalk. Sorry to the plankies but this must be the coolest thing to fly in SA! ( By far!)

[Fransw]

I know these are old videos but watch them again it will put you in a good mood!

Question: How do they transport the Rooivalk to a conflict area, DRC for example? Do they fly it or ''freight'' it?