European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 30, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday june 30, 1991 the stars and stripes. A Page 3a. A a  Jacl saws just ,2slr a Ltd a a a a a a a Al rat wives a. Quot a it v w Svac a v Sefc a yww81 Vyrin. \ a    Mem -ss.-. By so Iii a a maw we a a a 1  a a Arat firer. A a is a a a a a we a a a a  it a. X. A a a we a a a. Libya >-v.�. A a Quot by a a or Quot a a so it Quot to jssjss5 a  a Quot a a or Quot say a a a i a a go ? a a amp a amp a it or. A s. A it. A a rs86i�f amp amp a _�?�5 -<5�.v&Quot a ask a Quot v Ravy Ltd a it v. 480 a a a it a temm a Quot tw5jsswvva a a Assw v a a a a a a a. A. A a a a a a a a a a a a a a ,. A a a a a a. A a a a a a a a. Booing  the army a new attack scout helicopter the Comanche will be Able to Fly up to 1,260 nautical Miles. Soldiers will be Able to Load refuel and rearm it rapidly officials say Comanche at Home in desert officials say by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer Heidelberg Germany a problems that plagued army aviators during recent desert operations should cause Little trouble for the services newest helicopter when it debuts in 1998, according to7industry and army officials involved in its development. During operations desert storm and shield soldiers battled abrasive Sand and dust that creeper into engine parts and blasted Rotor Blades in Emery Board fashion. Aviators also flew frequently at night and in poor weather. The Rah-66 Comanche a Cross Between an attack and scout helicopter was designed to survive better in a dust and Sand filled desert environment and have better night vision capability than even the army a High tech Apache. A full scale mock up of the reconnaissance attack aircraft scheduled for its first test flight in August 1994 and distribution  1998, was displayed at the Paris air show earlier this month. Service members also had a Chance to View the desert camouflage painted Model at Campbell Barracks in Heidelberg and at Wiesbaden a for three Days last week. The Model Comanche will be displayed monday at nato he in Brussels Belgium and wednesday at shape he in Mons Belgium. It will then be set up in the Hague Netherlands Friday at the British ministry of defense in London july 9 and 10 and at the British museum of army flying in Middle Wallop july 11 to 14. Briefings on the aircraft and its projected capabilities Are available. The Comanche which when empty weighs just 7,500 funds is intended to replace Vietnam Era lightweight helicopters including the ah-1 attack helicopter and oh-6 and oh-58 scout helicopters. Those choppers have not been Able to keep Pace with the sophisticated Apache helicopters they support. The comanches Mission is expected to be 80 percent reconnaissance and 20 percent attack said Bill Pollard marketing director for a Boeing Sikorsky Comanche team selected in april to develop the new aircraft. The. Army awarded the 12-company. Team led by Boeing a helicopter division and United technologies Sikorsky aircraft division the s2.8 billion contract to develop the  think its going to be an outstanding machine when the development comes  chief warrant officer 4 Robert Whatley Usa eur Apache standardization officer k latest plans Call for production of about 1,300 co Manches Down from the original 2,100. Estimated Cost for each aircraft in fiscal 1988 dollars is $8.5 million Pollard said. This would make the defense contract Worth More than $30 billion when completed. During operation desert storm there weren to enough oh-58d scout helicopters to go around Pollard said. Moreover the 01i-58ds lacked the needed capabilities so apaches took on reconnaissance missions. A they were using dedicated heavy attack aircraft in a reconnaissance role a Pollard said. The targeting system on the oh-58 is basically the pilots eyes. At night there were night vision goggles said chief warrant officer 4 Mark Ammon of the training and doctrine Comdr a systems management office at fort Rucker Ala. Obsolete systems on the oh-58a and c models require pilots to Fly As close As 300 meters Yards to see things Ammon said. The apaches Forward looking infrared night vision system fl1r allows aviators to see great distances at night and during bad weather. Similar night flying sophistication like that on the Comanche is needed to complement the Apache. A the flir worked very Well in the desert environment a Ammon pointed out. While lessons Learned in  Are being applied during the continuing development Many of the features we Ere conceived Early in the nearly decade Long design period Pollard said. A the Sand and dust ingestion a being looked at very closely a he said. A the engines Are Brand new engines with a very High Quality air particle separator built into the engines so that a going to take care of a lot of the problems  the comanches two part Rotor Blades will allow damage prone tips to be replaced instead of entire  weapons such As Ilell fire antitank missiles that took a beating in the Gulf will be safely tucked away in a weapons Ibay on the Comanche Pollard said. Likewise the helicopters 20-mm Gatling gun will hide from the elements until its time to fire. An Over pressurized cockpit designed for Protection from chemical weapons also should prevent Sand dust and dirt from intruding into the helicopters avionics and electronics systems Ammon said. Other features of the futuristic helicopter include a a built in Tail Rotor called a a a Fantail anti torque system that enables the aircraft to Fly sideways and backward and make rapid 180-degree turns. A computerized mapping and navigation systems that provide nearly instant information on location and charting of troop movements. This includes the satellite navigation system that was in great demand during the War by troops who had difficulty using traditional navigation systems because of the deserts Lack of landmarks. A a a ability to Fly up to 1,260 nautical Miles using auxiliary tanks and thereby deploy without Airlift support. Ammon said that in the Case of desert storm the Comanche could have flown a Southern route to the Middle East in 30 hours. _ _ a rapid portability that allows the chopper to be loaded and unloaded from cargo planes in 20 minutes. A speedy refuelling and rearming with the process taking three Crew members in chemical gear just 15 minutes. A i think its going to be an outstanding machine when the development comes around a said chief warrant officer 4 Robert Whatley Usa eur Apache standardization officer. Especially impressive to the Apache Pilot is the comanches stealth technology that will allow it to avoid detection. The Comanche named after the Indian tribe known for its scouting prowess is not loaded with hammers and Active equipment but is a passive quiet aircraft that will be Able to get closer to the enemy than its sidekick the Apache Ammon said. At the same time the increased vision capability will allow it to engage targets from greater distance s. A