Quote:
Originally Posted by cosmicfish
I don't see any particular inherent virtue in "older" - certainly something that is brand new is going to be a risk, but (for example) the H-60 and C-23 have been around plenty long enough to be "safe". I would say that, for aircraft, a decade of use is an adequate buffer to ensure that (a) the kinks have been worked out, (b) there is an adequate supply chain, and (c) there is a supply of trained, experienced pilots. And that's a soft decade - the C-27 should certainly be in consideration! There is a tendency in this country to underestimate how long our military aircraft have been flying, and while the Project could make do with pre-Vietnam War aircraft like the C-130 or UH-1, there is not really any benefit in doing so.
The Little Bird bugs me for a different reason - it is too little. It is fine for observation and even light attack, but if it cannot transport a typical MARS or Recon team, along with standard crew including a door gunner or two, then it is going to be too limited in the missions it can handle. It would be fine as part of an assortment of helicopters, but an assortment of helicopters is what the Project should avoid.
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I find the Little Bird to be perfect is a few ways for a Recon team. There small yes, but if you think about it, they can actually be stored inside a Bolthole with all there maintenance gear. Every other helicopter will need a larger hanger. Most teams are only four members large anyway and a Little Bird can carry six, two up front and four in the rear and with cargo pods attached they can carry all the excess gear. An advantage is that with a four man team you need two pilots and the other two can man guns in the rear and have excess room for gear inside and weapon pods on the outside.
Of course a Little Bird and any helicopter is just fine five years after the nukes, but a 150 showing up in one really isn't the way to recon a settlement.