RAH-66 COMANCHE




The U.S. Army's new aviation modernization plan has as its centerpiece the Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche armed reconnaissance helicopter. The aviation plan reflects the Army's new post-Cold War strategy to react to regional conflicts by using fewer personnel and long-range, self-deployable aircraft based in the continental United States. 



Powerplant: 
Two T800-LHTEC-801 turboshaft engines. 		RAH-66 Comanche
Rotor system: 
Five-bladed, bearingless main rotor.
FANTAIL anti-torque.
  
Facts:  Self-healing digital mission electronics.
Longbow fire-control radar.
Passive long-range, high-resolution sensors.
Triple-redundant fly-by-wire flight control system.
Wide-field-of-view helmet-mounted display.
Simple remove-and-replace maintenance system.
Milestones: 
April 1991: Dem/val prototype (contract go-ahead). 
January 1992: Preliminary design review. 
November 2004: Initial production 
Crew:
2 Man Crew
1 Pilot
1 Weapon.
 RAH-66 Comanche

The Comanche is a twin-turbine, two-seat (tandem) armed reconnaissance helicopter with projected missions of armed reconnaissance, light attack and air combat. Initial operating capability is set for the year 2003. 

Outstanding features of the Comanche's systems and features include its five-bladed bearing-less main rotor; FANTAIL anti-torque system; low observables (radar, infrared and acoustic); on-board diagnostic system; triple redundant fly-by-wire flight-control system; and fully retractable missile armament system. 

Team Comanche is led by Boeing and United Technologies' Sikorsky Aircraft Division. 

The Boeing-Sikorsky team, chosen in 1991 to develop the RAH-66 Comanche reconnaissance attack helicopter for the U.S. Army, continues its design and test program in Philadelphia. 
"The prototype RAH-66 Comanche helicopter, developed jointly by Boeing and Sikorsky, lifts off for ITS FIRST FLIGHT Jan. 4, 1996, at the Sikorsky development flight-test center in West Palm Beach, Fla. At the controls are Sikorsky test pilot Rus Stiles and Boeing test pilot Bob Gradle." 


Video: Quicktime .MOV (583,303 bytes) or Microsoft .AVI (2,308,670 bytes).