The Commanche project was a great concept in rotory wing development. However, as stated previously, there were certain drawbacks to the system prior to its development. The environment of land combat has changed significantly since Vietnam. Now we find ourselves fighting in more urban combat with an enemy that does not distinguish its self from the civilian population. This changing enviorment combined with the recent advanced developments in STOL technology (first flight tested in the 60's) are more what caused the death of the Commanche program. We are not fighting in a NBC enviroment. We are also not fighting in an environment where the need for stealth from missles is paramount. With the development of the CMWS system, the expense of the MANPADS systems available to terrorist organizations, and the incredibly low use of them, why do you need a gun system like the Commanche when the Apache Longbow is more then adequate to neutralize the threat?

There are other disadvantages as well. The pilot work load for Apache pilots is the highest of military rotory wing pilots (excluding SOAR) and they have the highest accident rates due to this excessive workload. Commanche was to increase the pilot workload and thus increase it's accident rate potential. Commanche went with a dual monocle system (one on each eye similar to the Apache system), that the test pilots found gave them sensory overload. The system was to be transportable in 3 basic packages requiring no more then 12 special tools to assemble and repair. However, the tools required a chemical grease coating that required mechanics to wear special gloves in order for them to repair/replace airframe components. And I have heard that the weapons bay was not build large enough to house the missle system they had intended to use. (I have not confirmed this as of yet)

But there have been some real great strides in the development that I'm sure you'll see in future helicopter development. This was the first fly by wire rotory wing aircraft. They integrated the yaw control into the cyclic stick located on the right of the pilot, thus eliminating the need for pedals for the pilots. Being able to disassemble the aircraft into 3 main packages allows fast deployment in different aircraft with mission capabilities upon entry into the combat theatre. The power of the Anti-Torpue system (the Fenestron tail rotor) is amazing. It had power to give total control to the pilot while flying sideways at over 70mph. Most tail rotors today limit you to 40mph in sideward flight.

And finally, the death of the Commanche has allowed the Army to fix the lack of replacement supply issues and modernize the exhisting fleet. We now have a modern, off the shelf, aircraft to suppliment and eventually replace the OH-58D in the armed reconnisance role with the purchase of the Bell 407. National Guard units now have a commercial off the shelf helicopter designed strictly for search and rescue and RAID (Reconnisance and Interdiction Detachment, the Unit works with local Law Enforcement Agencies as support for their drug interdiction) missions in the form of the Eurocopter EC-145. Both helicopters save the Military in terms of available parts, maintenance support and virtually no Research and Development costs.

The redistribution of funds from Commanche combined with Beoing's huge CNC machine granted the Army the ability to build brand new airframes in the Foxtrot configuration to replace all 440+ D model Chinook airframes plus building completely new built Chinooks to give the Army a 600 strong Heavy Lift Chinook fleet. It has also give us the ability to fund the supply of large replacement items such as Engines, Rotor Blades, Swashplates, and Transmissions for which there has been a severe lack of available replacement parts. The sandy environment in Iraq and Afghanistan severly decrease the wear and tear of helicopter components and shortens the length of TBO (time before overhaul) items, thus requiring a higher demand for parts. The aircraft in the field get priority in parts while the aircraft at home wait. Most National Guard units state side have to hangar queen one aircraft to keep the rest flying.

The cancellation of the Commanche program will also allow the Army with the necessary funds to impliment the replacement of the UH-60 Blackhawk in the near future.

While it is a little disappointing to see an incredible aircraft program shut down, it was the right decision. It does not, and never will, make sense to fund another project at the expense of the entire Fleet. I am grateful that our Military leadership finally had the forsight to cancel a program that was far to advanced for the current and projected enviroments.


CW2 Karl Bodner
Washington Army National Guard
Pilot, CH-47D