Slaying Taipan
rotor infocus
This annual In-Focus edition examines rotors as the industry prepares to undergo its most significant revolution in a generation, with eVTOLs set for take-off and Defence rejigging its fleet.
Firstly, Hannah Dowling examines our long-troubled MRH-90 Taipans, that were finally put out of their misery in December after years of warnings that the program was haemorrhaging money with no results. What on earth went wrong? Next, she looks to the future and asks if the replacement Sikorsky Black Hawks and Seahawks are up to the job.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
Subscribe to Australian Aviation for unlimited access to exclusive content and past magazines.A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
-
Slaying Taipan: The ADF’s $3.7 billion problem
Defence’s long-troubled fleet of MRH-90 Taipan utility helicopters was finally retired in December after years of warnings that the program was haemorrhaging money with no results to show for it, Hannah Dowling writes.
-
Black Hawk and Seahawk: How do they stack up to Taipan?
As the Australian Defence Force prepares to welcome a fleet of up to 40 US-built Sikorsky Black Hawk and Seahawk helicopters, learn how the ADF's new utility rotor capabilities compare with the embattled Taipan.
-
Bella Richards
Rockets and helicopters: What’s the catch?
Catching a rocket booster with a helicopter might be strange, but Bella Richards explores why one company made the bold move to make space launch cheaper through a completely innovative way.
-
Bella Richards
Record-breaking Ingenuity lives on
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter was sent to Mars for a short test campaign, but the rotorcraft continues to break barriers over a year later. Bella Richards takes a look at its highlights, mishaps and what the future holds for the small helicopter.
-
Going Greenbird: Ushering in Australia’s eVTOL industry
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles are the future of aerial rotor capabilities, and one Australian consortium is collaborating to bring eVTOLs to Australia sooner.
-
The Royal Australian Navy took delivery of 24 Seahawks between 2016 and 2019, and in May 2022, the federal government placed an order for 12 additional Romeos to replace Navy's troubled Taipan fleet.
-
Profile: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
First introduced into the US Army in 1979, the UH-60 Black Hawk answers the US need for a robust, durable, and reliable utility helicopter system.
-
Pip Spence
We’re ready to embrace eVTOLs, says CASA CEO
Pip Spence, the CEO of CASA, talks to the sector after the Rotortech conference on why she wants the organisation to keep up with, and influence, international regulation on eVTOLs.