407 versus Astar

[Biggles]

Hey, Kyle, bet you''re sorry we joined the club! Don''t give up on us, we''ll settle down someday, and show''em that we really are a smart bunch (even if some of us are short, chuncky, bald, hairy ....why does "I''ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts" ringing in my head this morning!)

VertRef: Thigh Master, really - right on! Toupe headset, cool! Does it come in various colors?

 

[Winnie]

To all:
You''ll never win, because the Schweizer 300CB is the best, just ask RDM ("Lead with the throttle!")
Good to be onboard!
See that? They have the ''newfie wink!''

 

[CTD]

VRef - they have changed - ordinarily we''d be after his wife.

Biggles knew me back when I had most of my hair, and was about 50 lbs lighter. Old Biggy has aged more gracefully than me - how''d you keep your hair so dark Dude?

winnie, I''d like to hear how old Ninja Throttle did on his 300 checkout.

 

[Biggles]

Ah shucks CTD, you''re way to kind ! And re dark hair DUDE, hey, thats my secret, and only my barber knows! Thats my story and I''m stickin to it!!!

 

[MagSeal]

In all seriousness guys, does anyone know if there are crash tests done on airframes much like in the auto industry, to see if an airframe meets specific requirements. I''ve seen destructive testing for fighters and large transport aircraft, but in all honesty have never seen or heard of any for helicopters. Seats I believe meet some sort of requirements but that only works if you drop the right way of course. I have a feeling the testing is done in the field by a large contingent of living, breathing CTD''s (no offence to the real CTD)

 

[CTD]

No offense taken - that''s why I''m a retired CTD.

Except for pure military stuff, like the attack or battlefield helicopters, the only crash tests I''ve ever heard of are the fuel cell drop tests, and the seat-specific tests. For the fuel cell tests, they actually drop an airframe, but they don''t have anything to do with cabin integrity.

I was around for a few ''first types'' at Bell, especially the 427 - which was a pure from-scratch, first-off, and that''s all we did. I imagine that EC, Agusta, Sikorsky et al don''t have it in their flight test programs for civvie stuff either. The reason is, because it''s not a requirement under FARs, CARs or JARs.

 

[407 Driver]

I was there when the Astar was first tested. Yes, it''s hard to believe, but it''s true. They had a whole lot of very good french wine, some lovely french maidens, and some goose liver pate, and they all got drunk and sang songs well into the night as only drunken frenchmen can do. This went on for days. Oh yes, the helicopter tests, well, I never actually saw that part, but they said that they tested it.

 

[Winnie]

CTD
Ninja Throttle did fine!!
Great to fly with him! Nothing too hairy at all.
We''re actually looking forward to seeing him again soon, but we really hope he doesn''t scare the students so badly this time (on the oral)

and the 300 is still the best (until I get my hands on a 61!)

 

[RDM]

Thank you Winnie, that''s another one of your students I will pass