U.S. Navy LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) Competition

Stingray · Administrator

U.S. Navy LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) Competition

Stingray · Administrator

Based on finds by Stephane and CostasTT, here is Sikorsky's "SeaLynx":

http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/50i17mq0r75gby.jpg

http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/lsienhm76fk5xu.jpg

http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/yqt4pqprca6dw6.jpg

Stingray · Administrator

Another entry to the competition, NOT from Sikorsky:

Stingray · Administrator

From Nico:

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,13139.msg130333.html#msg
130333

Hi Pioneer and all friends,
searching my archives I found some pictures of the various LAMPS II and III proposals.
Unfortunately, I remember a sketch (perhaps from an ad appeared on 'Aviation Week') of a Bell proposal different from the AB-212/UH-1N derivative and vaguely resembling Model 222, but I was unable to retrieve it.
I found the mock-up of the Boeing LAMPS MK.II (a dedicated version of the MBB, former Boelkow, Bo 105) and the subsequent LAMPS MK.III, based on the V-179/YUH-61A losing UTTAS proposal, the mock-up of the Kaman LAMPS MK.III (in folded and unfolded configurations) and an artist's impression of the Hughes LAMPS MK.III proposal.
Enjoy

Gunship · Veteran Member - Level 3

Wow, half of these LAMPS entries I never knew existed! Specifically the Sikorsky SeaLynx, the joint Boeing-MBB aircraft and the Hughes proposal. Great finds!

Former Deputy Administrator

Stingray wrote:
Another entry to the competition, NOT from Sikorsky:

Obvious, Seasprite.

Former Deputy Administrator

YSH-60B in color.

http://www.helis.com/timeline/sikorsky4.php

Pepper · Veteran Member - Level 3

Great thread!

The Kaman proposal is called "Sealite", a basic scaled-down and lighter version of the Seasprite. Would have two 900 h.p. UAC PT-6-400 engines rated at 670kW. Intended to carry the Sparrow missile and Mk. 46 torpedoes.

hannetonIII · Veteran Member - Level 2

Who won the competition? Was it Sikorsky or Kaman?

Gunship · Veteran Member - Level 3

Sikorsky and the SH-60, of course! The rest were too small and had unsuitable powerplants.

The Sealite was a close choice for LAMPS II but that part of the program was abandoned for LAMPS III.

Another thing is that the Navy wanted it's own engine in the program rather than one developed by the Army, so Lycoming developed the PLT-27 as a competitor to General Electric's T-700. Thing is, it lost three times to the GE engine, and a T-700-fitted SH-60B prototype won in 1977.

One thing that puzzles me, is the connection of the "SeaLynx" between the SH-60B... could just be an early proposal.

-- Edited by Gunship on Wednesday 13th of July 2011 06:24:38 AM

Pepper · Veteran Member - Level 3

Gunship wrote:
One thing that puzzles me, is the connection of the "SeaLynx" between the SH-60B... could just be an early proposal.

You have to remember, LAMPS in itself is a navalized UTTAS competition. Therefore it's expected Sikorsky's original design work seep into the program.

Stargazer2006 · Former Deputy Administrator

More on the Kaman Sealite:

Stargazer2006 · Former Deputy Administrator

As you all probably know, Sikorsky's rival on the LAMPS III competition was Boeing Vertol. Just like Sikorsky was offering the S-70B Seahawk, a navalized S-70A Black Hawk (H-60), Boeing was offering the BV-237, a navalized BV-179 (H-61) (itself the unlucky competitor of the Black Hawk). Needless to say, Sikorsky won the day and gave Boeing a fatal blow in its attempt to diversify its rotorcraft activity.

Stargazer2006 · Former Deputy Administrator

And here is the LAMPS (III) logo, which shows a helo that could be (of course) either an H-60 or an H-61...

Sarah · Veteran Member - Level 2

Boeing-Vertol YUH-61 in original Boeing markings.

Former Deputy Administrator

Hughes also entered the OH-6A in the competition and flew a prototype with Mk. 46 torpedoes in 1969. If all the other losers were too small for the program, then the fate of this OH-6A proposal is no mystery.

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%201163.html

Commander31 · Veteran Member - Level 3

Gunship wrote:
One thing that puzzles me, is the connection of the "SeaLynx" between the SH-60B... could just be an early proposal.

"SeaLynx" surey does predate the SH-60B as it is an entry to LAMPS 1, while SH-60B is a LAMPS 3.

Gunship · Veteran Member - Level 3

I figured. yawn

Stingray · Administrator

From Nico, the Boeing LAMPS III mockup:

Leela25 · Global Moderator

555 wrote:
Hughes also entered the OH-6A in the competition and flew a prototype with Mk. 46 torpedoes in 1969. If all the other losers were too small for the program, then the fate of this OH-6A proposal is no mystery.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%201163.html

You sure that's the LAMPS OH-6? The Spanish Navy has OH-6s with torpedoes and ASW equipment in a similar config. as this one.

Former Deputy Administrator

Positive. IIRC, the Spanish Navy models have different markings followed by hardpoints for torpedoes on the sides of the fuselage, not the belly.

Stingray · Administrator

555, you're right about the markings and the hardpoints, but they do not carry the torpedoes! They have the same armament configuration as the proposed LAMPS model, so its obvious where the confusion came from.

http://files.activeboard.com/899225?AWSAccessKeyId=1XXJBWHKN0QBQS6TGPG2&Expires=1313020800&Signature=
ZwzZbMK4YuwNpnkviMe2j8i9GCU%3D

Sidewinder · Veteran Member - Level 2

Stingray wrote:

Also of note is the Bell Model 608 (I think it was a modified Model 206L Long Ranger?), equipped with folding rotor, MAD and a torpedo.

I tried searching for these with Google but I only came up with links to here and SPF.

Gunship · Veteran Member - Level 3

I came up with a location for Taco Bell. Now I have a craving. Off I go...

rotorwash · Veteran Member - Level 2

Here's the elusive Bell 608 from "The Bell Helicopter Textron Story" by David Brown.

Ray

-- Edited by rotorwash on Friday 18th of November 2011 12:24:48 AM

-- Edited by Stingray on Monday 15th of April 2013 03:30:25 AM

Stingray · Administrator

Big thanks for this one, Ray!!!!

Stingray · Administrator

From the Naval Helicopter Historical Society Collection at the San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives:

Stingray · Administrator

Also from the same source is this model of a "SH-1" (?):

Stingray · Administrator

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/sets/72157627928485093/

Man with helicopter rotors of the Bell 608
Close up of mechanism on rotor of the Bell 608
Close up of cargo load gear on the Bell 608
Close up of the rescue hook on the Bell 608
View into helicopter window of the Bell 608
Helicopter control panel, probably Bell 608

Stingray · Administrator

And the same helicopter (N1366X, c/n 11) mis-captioned as a "BAC 206 Jet Ranger" at the SDASM Archives photostream: