Dauphins

[clan]

Opps the medium life helicopters did not come out of 10 million obviously. Eurocopter were selling off brand new Ecureuil last year for Euro 1 Million each. Four upgraded dauphins and 5 new Ecureuils for 10million.

[Silver]

As we all know, at least one of the remaining Dauphins has been withdrawn from service and is being used as a source of parts for the other Dauphins.

Why is it so dificult to get parts for the Dauphin fleet ?
Isn't the Dauphin/Panther still being produced by Eurocopter ?

[Imshi-Yallah]

It may be that the powers that be dont feel the outlay is worth it....unlike a rumoured 20,000 euro for a wright model A.
It may also be a case of incompatibility between our fleet and current production parts, since we bought the then heap of shit dolphin in the 80s its undergone substantial modification everywhere but here

[sealion]

The 5 screen EFIS and  CFM/Bendix 8 in crt radar displays are unique to the 5 SA365Fi purchased by the irish air corps. All other dauphins use analog displays. This was an early form of "glass cockpit" which has not aged well. I believe this is where most of the parts problems are.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

yea isn't the usefull load on the dauphin pritty low

[Silver]

Would it be feasable (cheaper?) to refit the Dauphins with analogue displays ?
Surely this would be cheaper than replacing all of the Dauphins ?

[clan]

There is no need to use any of the Dauphins as parts, all parts for the aircraft are readly available and those that have been obsoleted have been cross referred to new parts which are drop in replacements. It seems the top brass, are willing to keep reducing there available flying craft in the hope of getting new machinery. We need new machinery that is without question, but keep what we have flying and it is basically very very easy to do so. The Avonics in the Dauphin, Gazelle can be enhanced without buying expensive new equipment from Eurocopter.

[Silver]

Welcome to the board clan !

That is exactly what I thought.
I couldn't understand how it is not possible to keep 1980's era helicopters in action (albeit slightly more sophisticated helis), and yet it seems to be no problem to keep 1960's era helis fully operational !

Especially when the Dauphin/Panther is still in full production !!!

[Bailer]

The Dauphin is Unsuited to the task anyway!! They should get more S-61's or even 91's and use the dauphins in the current "supposed" role of army suppt and Get the naval Variant flying again and use it for naval support.

Incidently can anyone give me the actual difference between the SA365Fi and the Naval Version!?!

The 365 N has heavier reinforced undercarriage and harpoon installation for deck landings. I heard a figure of 1.5 mil a pop to totally overhaul the Dauphin avionics including removing the 4 axis autopilot and replacing it with a 3 axis and replacing the search radar with a lighter, cheaper and more reliable weather radar. The weight saving alone would enhance the usefulness of the aircraft, and seeing as it won't be used for SAR in the future, it doesn't need some of that junk. The progress made since the 80's on reducing component size is obvious, I mean just look at the mobile phone. Doing this overhaul and purchasing 2 new 365N's would work out much cheaper than replacing the whole fleet with two types. Use the extra money to concentrate on getting the medium lift right and you have an instant improvement in your light utility capability by having faster, more useful Dauphins instead of 135/145s. Oh, and will someone PLEASE paint the damn things GREEN!