Northern Ireland Aviation Enthusiast's Forum

General Aviation Discussion => General Aviation Discussion => Topic started by: smudge on May 16, 2018, 03:46:46 PM

Title: AAC Gazelle support contract to 2022
Post by: smudge on May 16, 2018, 03:46:46 PM

Airbus Helicopters has been awarded the support contract, the first term runs until 2022 with potential for up to three years beyond that:

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-gazelle-helicopters-to-soldier-on-until-at-least-448587/

Airbus were selected by default due to being the sole source of approved support.

Title: Re: AAC Gazelle support contract to 2022
Post by: Sneaky_Nikon on May 16, 2018, 03:53:59 PM

The tender for it's replacement is out also, i thought it very much a sign o' the times that it specifies that it be a manned rotocraft.

Title: Re: AAC Gazelle support contract to 2022
Post by: casper on May 16, 2018, 06:48:56 PM

Quote from: Sneaky_Nikon on May 16, 2018, 03:53:59 PM

The tender for it's replacement is out also, i thought it very much a sign o' the times that it specifies that it be a manned rotocraft.

Can it be a womanned rotorcraft? lol

Title: Re: AAC Gazelle support contract to 2022
Post by: Sneaky_Nikon on May 16, 2018, 07:02:44 PM

Personned even.  Hadn't thought of that.

Title: Re: AAC Gazelle support contract to 2022
Post by: smudge on May 17, 2018, 11:12:32 AM

Pity SOKO isn't still around, they could have knocked-out a couple of dozen new-build Gazelles.

After all the US Army is still buying Loaches!  Edit: fifty years after telling Hughes they were too expensive and switching to Bell :o