Our first Mi-24 hovered almost two years ago, but the hydraulic hoses just couldn't be trusted. This was confirmed last June when we had it out for Lone Star Red Star and it busted a hose on the ground just being run up. New hoses had been elusive because the one place where you can get new hoses, a military plant in the Ukraine, has been in something of a vegetative coma for some time now.
But... just last month, we got all new hoses. Fuel, hydraulic, oil, everything. 120 hoses in all, enough for both Mi-24s. The cost was not pretty, but the hoses sure were -- brand new braided stainless hoses that were all made (even the fuel hoses) for 3500psi... we wanted them to last FOREVER. Anything worth doing, is worth over-doing, that's what I say.
Pleasant surprise #2 was when we got the transmission un-stuck on the second Mi-24 (the planetary gear system inside was basically just lacquered up from sitting): a) the APU and both engines woke up from hibernation and worked perfectly on the first try; b) after running for a bit, everything turns so smoothly that a little kid can move the main rotor system. Frankly, it was amazing.
We have enough spare parts and blades in excellent condition plus a new contact in Eastern Europe who can get us *anything* because he has all the right contacts and export licenses... that both are sure to get in the air in the next few months.
I think we're working toward fielding them as a team at airshows the way the Soviets used them. One 12-ton armor-plated 200 mph Hind is
cool but
two at once would be stupefyingly awesome. So the short answer is, yes, look for a PAIR of them to be coming to an airshow near you, uh, Real Soon Now.
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Placard: Straight and Level Flight Strictly Prohibited
http://blog.cwam.org
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