167-769: The NHIndustries MRH-90 Taipan was a version of the NH90 multirole helicopter in service with the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy in the early 21st century. It entered service in December 2007, and was withdrawn from service in 2022 by the Navy and in 2023 by the Army. Most of the aircraft were assembled in Australia. The fleet was originally scheduled for retirement in 2037. After
334-558: A concrete slab foundation , lined with Gyprock , and with an outer skin of brickwork, to cope with Adelaide's reactive soils , particularly Keswick Clay, black earth and some red-brown earth soils. The use of precast concrete panels for floor and wall construction has also increased. In addition to this, a significant factor in Adelaide's suburban history is the role of the South Australian Housing Trust . Adelaide has
501-682: A forward looking infrared (FLIR), weather radar , digital map generation system, enhanced ground proximity warning system , personal locator system, and VHF / UHF / HF tactical radios. In 2015, the NH90 became the first helicopter to receive a laser-based airborne collision avoidance system . Onboard mission systems feature a dual-redundant databus, are compliant with MIL-STD 1553, and are comprehensively managed via sensor fusion functionality. Customer demand for future avionics improvements such as new data links and communication systems, as well as additional electro-optical sensors, has been anticipated by
668-472: A native species of snake . The first MRH-90 entered service in December 2007 with the Army. Six MRH-90s would be operated by 808 Squadron of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which was reformed in 2011 and recommissioned in 2013. Overall, there were 46 airframes in service, with a 47th kept as a spare. On 20 April 2010, a MRH-90 suffered a single engine failure near Adelaide , landing safely at RAAF Base Edinburgh . NHIndustries personnel investigated
835-623: A "Multi Role Helicopter" and refers to a native species of snake . The first MRH-90 entered service in December 2007 with the Army. Six MRH-90s would be operated by 808 Squadron of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which was reformed in 2011 and recommissioned in 2013. Overall, there were 46 airframes in service, with a 47th kept as a spare. The first airframe took flight in Marignane, France in March 2007, to be delivered to Australia that year. The first two were delivered in December 2007. Out of 46, 42 of
1002-547: A 20th-century motor city. The Mannum–Adelaide pipeline brought River Murray water to Adelaide in 1955 and an airport opened at West Beach in 1955. Flinders University and the Flinders Medical Centre were established in the 1960s at Bedford Park, south of the city. Today, Flinders Medical Centre is one of the largest teaching hospitals in South Australia. In the post-war years around the early 1960s, Adelaide
1169-550: A Fast Roping and Rappelling Extraction System (FRRES) and a gun mount for the cabin door. The Taipan Gun Mount can fit either a M134D minigun or MAG 58 machine gun and when not in use, can be moved into an outward stowed position to provide clearance to enable fast roping and rappelling. In February 2019, the first two of 12 MRH-90s were delivered to the 6th Aviation Regiment . In June 2021, all MRH-90s were temporarily grounded due to lack of maintenance and spare parts which had to be shipped from Europe. In December 2021, on
1336-580: A Final Operational Configuration (FOC). In September 2011, the Finnish Defence Forces and Patria signed an agreement to provide ballistic protection for onboard personnel across the NH90 fleet. In June 2011, nine Finnish NH90s participated in the Finnish Defense Forces ' main field exercise, transporting 157 soldiers across 320 kilometers in two rotations; their performance was described as having exceeded expectations. In January 2015, it
1503-411: A certain role. Since its introduction into service, the NH90 has suffered several technical issues, which have delayed active deployment of the type by some operators. It is a key next-generation helicopter for many NATO countries: some have opted to stick with the type while others have chosen to discontinue operations. In 2022, Norway terminated the program and demanded a full refund. Australia withdrew
1670-410: A civilian version of the NH90 in 2004. As of March 2024, 515 airframes had been delivered, including 24 different variants used by 14 countries. In 2010, German tabloid Bild reported that German Army experts had concerns that the helicopter was not yet ready for the transportation of combat troops. They stated that the seats were rated for only 110 kg (240 lb), not considered enough for
1837-462: A class of sorcerers separated from regular society. Within a few decades of European settlement of South Australia , Kaurna culture was almost completely destroyed. The last speaker of Kaurna language died in 1929. Extensive documentation by early missionaries and other researchers has enabled a modern revival of both, which has included a commitment by local and state governments to rename or include Kaurna names for many local places. Based on
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#17328444883552004-462: A deal was not worked out. The Australian government then decided to dismantle the fleet for key spare parts, including the engine, avionics and other subsystems, which will be removed from the airframes and offered to other NH90 operators, while country specific upgrades will be buried with the airframe. Ukraine officially requested Australia's MRH-90s for use in the Russo-Ukrainian War but
2171-510: A digital 3D map. The cabin was outfitted with a central rappelling and extraction device, gun mounts for M3M .50 caliber machine guns and foldable step. The rear ramp has a quick removable leaf doors system, fast-rope beam, fold-able step and various improvements made to enable the door's use mid-flight. Future gear, such as the Safran Eurofl'Eye distributed aperture system (DAS) and Thales TopOwl helmet-mounted display, may be integrated in
2338-420: A final assembly line at Albacete . The Marignane assembly line can reportedly complete up to 22 NH90s per year. Major components are produced by each of the shareholding companies: Items built by the shareholding companies are then distributed to the six locations for assembly and flight test (Marignane, France; Tessera, Italy; Donauwörth, Germany; Halli, Finland; and Brisbane, Australia). In late 2006,
2505-554: A firm order of 8 aircraft (4 TTH, 4 NFH) and an option for 2 additional TTH. In September 2012, NHI performed the first flight of the Belgium's Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH), which is broadly similar to the French NH90 "Caiman" version. In January 2013, eight NH90s were on firm order. On 1 August 2013, Belgium received its first NH90 NFH at Full Operational Capability (FOC). On 23 October 2013, Belgium's first NH90 TTH entered service,
2672-468: A fully equipped soldier. Heavy infantry weapons could not be adequately secured and the cabin floor was prone to damage, citing an anecdote of damage caused by footwear. The helicopter could only land on firm ground, with obstacles not exceeding 16 cm (6.3 in). Troops carrying full equipment could not use the rear ramp due to weight-limitations placed on it. Adding a door machine gun was not possible due to space taken by troop ingress and egress; there
2839-409: A gun mount for the cabin door. The Taipan Gun Mount could fit either a M134D minigun or MAG 58 machine gun and when not in use, could be moved into an outward stowed position to provide clearance to enable fast roping and rappelling. The weapons could not be fired while a soldier exited the aircraft as the door was not wide enough requiring the Army to implement "tactical workarounds" when operating
3006-646: A hectic era of land booms and tumultuous expansionism. Financial institutions in Melbourne and banks in Sydney closed. The national fertility rate fell and immigration was reduced to a trickle. The value of South Australia's exports nearly halved. Drought and poor harvests from 1884 compounded the problems, with some families leaving for Western Australia. Adelaide was not as badly hit as the larger gold-rush cities of Sydney and Melbourne, and silver and lead discoveries at Broken Hill provided some relief. Only one year of deficit
3173-487: A hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csa ) under the Köppen climate classification . The city has hot, dry summers and cool winters with moderate rainfall. Most precipitation falls in the winter months, leading to the suggestion that the climate be classified as a "cold monsoon". Rainfall is unreliable, light and infrequent throughout summer, although heavy falls can occur. The winter has fairly reliable rainfall with June being
3340-467: A metallic counterpart. The four main rotor blades are also composed of composite materials, increasing fatigue strength and lifespan while providing greater damage tolerance. The unobstructed main cabin area is entered either by large sliding doors on either side of the fuselage or via a rear ramp. The cabin is designed to accommodate modular equipment packages to enable the rotorcraft to be rapidly reconfigured, providing for operational flexibility. In
3507-430: A missing flight software update. The MRH-90 returned to service on 6 April 2023. In July 2023, another MRH-90 crashed at night during Exercise Talisman Sabre off the coast of Hamilton Island , Queensland , resulting in four missing crew members. By early August, the cockpit and human remains were found in a debris field in 40 meters of water, consistent with a catastrophic impact. On 8 August 2023, divers recovered
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#17328444883553674-456: A multi-role, medium-sized military helicopter for both land and maritime operations. According to Flight International, the NH90 has the distinction of being the first helicopter in the world to be developed in line with NATO requirements. As such, the design of the NH90 meets with multiple national and international standards, including military airworthiness processes in Germany, France, Italy, and
3841-590: A press release in 2017 criticising the NH90's cost, citing the statistics of 2015: "The NH90s cost $ 1,182 an hour to fly and that is 2.5 times more expensive than the Iroquois they replaced. They're also unreliable, chewing through $ 3.3 million worth of spares in just two years." The operating cost of a NH90 HCV (High Cabin Version) was reported in Swedish media during 2018 as at least 200,000 SEK (later specified as 242,000 SEK in
4008-509: A quick guide" in 2021, detailing problems with the NH90 since 2005 and why they will be replaced. There the CPFH is listed as "the helicopter's estimated operating costs were $ 30,000 to $ 40,000 per hour, which is 'higher than those combat aircraft with sophisticated weapons and sensor systems' (p. 72). More recently, the cost has increased to $ 50,000 per hour." Axel Aloccio, head of NHI since mid-September 2022, believes that most problems stem from
4175-488: A range of customizable avionics systems, dependent on customer selection and purpose. On some models, French firm Thales Group provides various parts of the avionics, such as the glass cockpit , full-colour multifunction displays, tactical mission and encrypted communication systems, the TopOwl helmet-mounted sight/display , IFF and autonomous navigation systems, and the electrical power generation system. Other systems include
4342-570: A report on the MRH-90, citing procurement errors and development deficiencies delaying final operational capability (FOC), originally set for that month, until April 2019, nearly five years later than planned. NH90s first delivered in 2007 had not yet validated any of the 11 set operational capability milestones, and forced redesigns included bolstered cabin floors and windscreens, rappelling hooks, and door gunner positions; obtaining spare parts and fleet sustainment had also been more costly. The Australian Army
4509-418: A second phase with electrical and mechanical provisions made for their installation. The first five are to be delivered in 2025 and the last five in 2026 to the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment . In 2021, French NH90s rescued six people (and one stranded rescuer) from a capsized yacht in an offshore civilian sea rescue, in extreme sea and wind conditions at the edge of its flight envelope. The weather
4676-522: A significant increase in the state government's spending on Adelaide's infrastructure occurred. The Rann government invested A$ 535 million in a major upgrade of the Adelaide Oval to enable Australian Football League to be played in the city centre and more than A$ 2 billion to build a new Royal Adelaide Hospital on land adjacent to the Adelaide Railway Station. The Glenelg tramline
4843-691: A single engine failure near Adelaide , landing safely at RAAF Base Edinburgh , with NHIndustries personnel investigating the cause. On 18 May, the ADF announced that the MRH-90 fleet was grounded due to engine issues since the April incident. All MRH-90s used the Rolls-Royce Turbemeca RTM322 . The cause of the failure was determined to be the compressor blade contacting the engine casing, leading to new preventative inspections; flights resumed in July 2010. In June 2011,
5010-411: A stop gap, leasing six AW139 , as well as the urgent procurement of a replacement helicopter. In 2023 there were two incidents that lead to groundings, one with loss of life. In March 2023 an Australian MRH-90 with ten personnel aboard experienced an engine failure and ditched in waters of Jervis Bay with everyone surviving. The helicopter's flotation system was deployed, allowing it to float, where it
5177-600: A substantial majority of the South Australian House of Assembly. Of the 47 seats in the chamber, 34 seats (three-quarters of the legislature) are based in Adelaide, and two rural seats include Adelaide suburbs. The Adelaide metropolitan area is divided between nineteen local government areas . At its centre, the City of Adelaide administers the Adelaide city centre , North Adelaide , and the surrounding Adelaide Parklands . It
NHIndustries MRH-90 Taipan - Misplaced Pages Continue
5344-639: A team of men to set out Adelaide, using various templates for city plans going back to Ancient Greece , including Italian Renaissance designs and the similar layouts of the American cities Philadelphia and Savannah –which, like Adelaide, follow the same layout of a central city square, four complementing city squares surrounding it and a parklands area that surrounds the city centre. The benefits of Light's design are numerous: Adelaide has had wide multi-lane roads from its beginning, an easily navigable cardinal direction grid layout and an expansive green ring around
5511-446: A temperature range from −40 °C to +50 °C, and up to a maximum altitude of 20,000 feet. Power is provided by a pair of turboshaft engines, dependent on customer selection, the NH90 is either fitted with Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 or General Electric CT7-8F powerplants; exhaust gases from the engines are filtered through an infrared suppression system for decreased sensory visibility. The NH90 has three gearboxes including
5678-554: A total land area of 870 km (340 sq mi), while a more expansive definition by the Australian Bureau of Statistics defines a "Greater Adelaide" statistical area totalling 3,259.8 km (1,258.6 sq mi). The city sits at an average elevation of 50 metres (160 ft) above sea level. Mount Lofty , east of the Adelaide metropolitan region in the Adelaide Hills at an elevation of 727 metres (2,385 ft),
5845-516: A total of 47. By September 2015, most flaws had reportedly been addressed. In June 2017, the RAN successfully completed trials aboard HMAS Anzac . In 2015, the Australian Army decided to delay retiring 20 older Black Hawks by four years until the end of 2021 in order to develop a special operations capable MRH-90. This required developing a Fast Roping and Rappelling Extraction System (FRRES) and
6012-421: A troop-transport capacity, the cabin can accommodate up to 20 fully equipped soldiers, or up to 12 stretchers in a medical evacuation role, some light vehicles may also be transported; the main cabin is equipped with environmental control systems and sound proofing measures to improve passenger conditions. The NH90 can be equipped with various mission-specific systems, including modular armor plating around
6179-638: Is left to be found in reserves such as the Cleland National Park and Belair National Park . A number of creeks and rivers flow through the Adelaide region. The largest are the Torrens and Onkaparinga catchments. Adelaide relies on its many reservoirs for water supply with the Happy Valley Reservoir supplying around 40% and the much larger Mount Bold Reservoir 10% of Adelaide's domestic requirements respectively. Adelaide and its surrounding area
6346-683: Is north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, on the Adelaide Plains between the Gulf St Vincent and the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges. The city stretches 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills, and 90 km (56 mi) from Gawler at its northern extent to Sellicks Beach in the south. According to the Regional Development Australia, an Australian government planning initiative, the "Adelaide Metropolitan Region" has
6513-493: Is now the suburb of Glenelg North . The event is commemorated in South Australia as Proclamation Day . The site of the colony's capital was surveyed and laid out by Colonel William Light , the first surveyor-general of South Australia, with his own original, unique, topographically sensitive design. The city was named after Queen Adelaide . Adelaide was established as a planned colony of free immigrants, promising civil liberties and freedom from religious persecution, based upon
6680-480: Is one of the most seismically active regions in Australia. On 1 March 1954 at 3:40 am Adelaide experienced its largest recorded earthquake to date, with the epicentre 12 km from the city centre at Darlington , and a reported magnitude of 5.6. There have been smaller earthquakes in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2022. The uplands of the Adelaide Hills , part of the southern Mount Lofty Ranges to
6847-538: Is planned to enter service starting in 2025. The first flight of the Sea Tiger was in late November 2023. Adelaide Adelaide ( / ˈ æ d ɪ l eɪ d / AD -il-ayd , locally [ˈædəlæɪd] ; Kaurna : Tardanya , pronounced [ˈd̪̥aɳɖaɲa] ) is the capital and most populous city of South Australia , and the fifth-most populous city in Australia . The name "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including
NHIndustries MRH-90 Taipan - Misplaced Pages Continue
7014-543: Is slow to align, and the weakness of the cabin floor to withstand the impact of soldiers' boots – a problem also encountered in German service. In March 2014, it was announced that a Dutch NH90 had suffered higher than expected fuselage wear and corrosion following an extended deployment at sea; analysis by the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory attributed the corrosion to design and assembly flaws. However,
7181-475: Is the tallest point of the city and in the state south of Burra . The city borders the Temperate Grassland of South Australia in the east, an endangered vegetation community. Much of Adelaide was bushland before British settlement, with some variation – sandhills, swamps and marshlands were prevalent around the coast. The loss of the sandhills to urban development had a particularly destructive effect on
7348-573: The Adelaide Hills ) or the Adelaide city centre . The demonym Adelaidean is used to denote the city and the residents of Adelaide. The traditional owners of the Adelaide region are the Kaurna . The area of the city centre and surrounding Park Lands is called Tarndanya in the Kaurna language . Adelaide is situated on the Adelaide Plains north of the Fleurieu Peninsula , between
7515-581: The Adelaide city centre and a ring of parks, known as the Adelaide Parklands , surrounding it. Light's selection of the location for the city was initially unpopular with the early settlers, as well as South Australia's first governor, John Hindmarsh, due to its distance from the harbour at Port Adelaide, and the lack of fresh water there. Light successfully persisted with his choice of location against this initial opposition. Recent evidence suggests that Light worked closely with George Kingston as well as
7682-586: The Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced plans to replace its UH-60 Black Hawk and Westland Sea King helicopters; a further 34 NH90s were ordered for a total of 46; four were manufactured in Europe while 42 being manufactured locally by Australian Aerospace (an Airbus Helicopters subsidiary) in Brisbane . Its ADF designation and name "MRH-90 Taipan" refers to its use as a "Multi Role Helicopter" and refers to
7849-544: The German Army , the first customer to receive production aircraft, accepted delivery of its first NH90 TTH. In April 2010, the Royal Netherlands Navy was the first customer to receive the navalised NH90 NFH variant. In June 2014, the consortium announced that it had completed delivery of the 200th NH90; at that point, the backlog of orders was reported as reaching out to 2020. In order to alleviate delays and reduce
8016-583: The Gulf St Vincent in the west and the Mount Lofty Ranges in the east. Its metropolitan area extends 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and stretches 96 km (60 mi) from Gawler in the north to Sellicks Beach in the south. Named in honour of Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen , wife of King William IV , the city was founded in 1836 as
8183-527: The Minister for Defence stating that the request for the helicopters had come too late, and it was not considered feasible to reassemble the airframes; although public discourse on the retirement has been ongoing. As of early 2024, reports indicate that 45 of the 47 airframes (1 spare airframe and 1 airframe lost in Talisman Sabre accident) will be decommissioned and buried. One year after fatal July 2023 crash,
8350-554: The SA Government announced plans for a network of transport-oriented developments across the Adelaide metropolitan area and purchased a 10 hectare industrial site at Bowden for $ 52.5 million as the first of these developments. Historically, Adelaide's suburban residential areas have been characterised by single-storey detached houses built on 1,000-square-metre ( 1 ⁄ 4 -acre) blocks. A relative lack of suitable, locally-available timber for construction purposes led to
8517-1102: The Torrens Building in Victoria Square as the Adelaide campus for Carnegie Mellon University, University College London, and Torrens University; the Stock Exchange building as the Science Exchange of the Royal Institution Australia; and the Glenside Psychiatric Hospital as the Adelaide Studios of the SA Film Corporation . The government invested more than A$ 2 billion to build a desalination plant , powered by renewable energy, as an "insurance policy" against droughts affecting Adelaide's water supply . The Adelaide Festival , Fringe , and Womadelaide became annual events. Adelaide
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#17328444883558684-477: The city centre along the cultural boulevards of North Terrace and King William Street . The area around modern-day Adelaide was originally inhabited by the Indigenous Kaurna people, one of many Aboriginal tribes in South Australia. The city and parklands area was known as Tarntanya, Tandanya, now the short name of Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute , Tarndanya, or Tarndanyangga , now
8851-668: The lower house known as the House of Assembly and the upper house known as the Legislative Council . General elections are held every four years, the last being the 2022 South Australian state election . As Adelaide is South Australia's capital and most populous city, the State Government co-operates extensively with the City of Adelaide . In 2006, the Ministry for the City of Adelaide
9018-520: The planned capital for the only freely-settled British province in Australia. Colonel William Light , one of Adelaide's founding fathers, designed the city centre and chose its location close to the River Torrens . Light's design, now listed as national heritage , set out the city centre in a grid layout known as " Light's Vision ", interspaced by wide boulevards and large public squares, and entirely surrounded by park lands. Early colonial Adelaide
9185-545: The "Bonn rebate" deal, France received a 12% discount on its 68 Army NH90s; a November 2012 Senate report put the French TTH unit price at €28.6M after discount, set on the assumption of total orders of 605 aircraft by 2020. Cuts to France's order would have led to workshare reallocation; possibly including French Navy NFH90s being assembled in Italy and Fokker performing maintenance of French TTHs. On 29 May 2013, France formally ordered
9352-407: The 11 set operational capability milestones, and forced redesigns included bolstered cabin floors and windscreens, rappelling hooks, and door gunner positions; obtaining spare parts and fleet sustainment had also been more costly. The Australian Army was forced to operate its aging S-70A Black Hawks beyond its planned retirement date. Due to the delays, Australia received an additional helicopter for
9519-570: The 1970s, deep red and brown bricks became popular. Until the 1970s, roofs tended to be clad with (painted) corrugated iron or cement or clay tiles, usually red "terracotta". Since then, Colorbond corrugated steel has dominated. Most roofs are pitched. Flat roofs are not common. Up to the 1970s, most houses were of "double brick" construction on concrete footings, with timber floors laid on joists supported by "dwarf walls". Later houses have mainly been of " brick veneer " construction – structural timber or, more recently, lightweight steel frame on
9686-413: The 1990s, both technical and funding problems were experienced. In June 2000, the partner states placed a large production order, worth US$ 8.6 billion, for a total of 366 helicopters. Additional orders have since followed from customers in Europe, Asia, and Australia. By April 2013, a total of 529 NH90s of all variants were on order by various customers. As of early 2023, there were 597 on order, and
9853-403: The 21st century, at one stage being named Australia's most liveable city, third in the world. Its aesthetic appeal has also been recognised by Architectural Digest , which ranked Adelaide as the most beautiful city in the world in 2024. As South Australia's government and commercial centre, Adelaide is the site of many governmental and financial institutions. Most of these are concentrated in
10020-600: The 46, was added and allowed one air-frame to be used as a Ground Training Device. Overall the MRH-90 supplemented or replaced Black Hawks or Sea Kings in Australian service. The procurement included the Australian Industry Capability Package , which included final construction facilities in Australia, at facilities in Townsville, Oakey, Nowra and Holsworthy, Australia. On 20 April 2010, a MRH-90 suffered
10187-560: The 500th airframe was delivered at that time. The NH90 was initially intended to be produced at three exporting final assembly lines (FAL): Cascina Costa in Italy for AgustaWestland, Marignane in France and Donauwörth in Germany for Airbus Helicopters. The Nordic and Australian contracts stipulated production locally (the Nordic ones at Patria in Finland and the Australian ones in Brisbane ). Spain has
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#173284448835510354-608: The Army MRH-90s were withdrawn from service a year earlier in September 2023. The Navy operated 6 MRH-90s for support and logistics including from the Canberra-class Landing helicopter dock (LHD), which were withdrawn from service in 2022, a year earlier then the Army. With no buyers, the fleet ended up in storage with major components being sold for parts to other operators, and the airframes destined to be buried. The MRH-90
10521-442: The Army's MRH-90 fleet with new UH-60M Black Hawks; their retirement date was moved to 2024. In April 2022, the RAN ceased flying their MRH-90s and stored them. In May 2022, the government announced that the RAN's six MRH-90s would be replaced with more MH-60R Seahawks; it already operated 24 Seahawks, delivered between 2013 and 2016, alongside the MRH-90. In August 2022, Australia approved the purchase of 40 UH-60M Blackhawks to replace
10688-444: The Army's aging S-70A Black Hawk helicopters. In June 2006, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced plans to replace its S-70A-9 Black Hawk and Westland Sea King helicopters; a further 34 NH90s were ordered for a total of 46; four were manufactured in Europe while 42 being manufactured locally by Australian Aerospace (an Airbus Helicopters subsidiary) in Brisbane . Its ADF designation and name "MRH-90 Taipan" refers to its use as
10855-404: The Australian investigation is still ongoing, without clear answers as to why the crash occurred. Data from AgustaWestland, Airbus Helicopters The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003 General characteristics Performance Armament NHIndustries NH90 The NHIndustries NH90 is a European medium-sized, twin-engine, multirole military helicopter . It
11022-503: The Australian states were established after the Murray River was successfully navigated in 1853 by Francis Cadell , an Adelaide resident. South Australia became a self-governing colony in 1856 with the ratification of a new constitution by the British parliament. Secret ballots were introduced, and a bicameral parliament was elected on 9 March 1857, by which time 109,917 people lived in
11189-732: The Belgian Navy declared its NH90s had attained initial operational readiness; on 28 August 2015, the first rescue mission performed by a Belgian Navy NH90 took place. In June 2020, the Strategic Defence Review (STAR) of Belgium planned to phase out the 4 TTH helicopters by 2024 due to their high operating costs and low availability. They are planned to be replaced, along with the Agusta A109, by 15 Airbus H145M helicopters. The 4 NFH variants are to remain operational and be provided with currently-lacking sensors and weapons for ASW. There
11356-434: The Belgian ministry of defence announced a 40% cut to the NH90's annual flight time, stating that, while the Westland Sea Kings retired in 2019 had a cost per flight hour of around €5,000, the NH90 was more than double that at €12,000. per hour. Additionally, the reliability was impacted by a lack of service personnel to keep the fleet flightworthy. The Australian Parliament released their report "MRH-90 Taipan helicopter:
11523-432: The Bundestag approved the purchase of 31 more helicopters for the navy to replace their 22 Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopters via a deal valued at €2.7 billion, including spares, accessories, and training material. This version, called the Sea Tiger, is designed for ASW and ship warfare (and can also do SAR), and operates in conjunction with German Navy Frigates. The Sea Tiger variant is similar to the French NFH Caiman version, it
11690-450: The Harpoon deck-locking system, automatic main rotor blade and tail folding mechanisms, and other deck handling systems to conduct all-weather ship-borne operations; it is also typically outfitted with dipping sonar and sonobuoy processing equipment. The NH90 is equipped with emergency floats, which deploy in case of a water landing and are designed to give personnel enough time to exit the helicopter before it sinks. The NH90 features
11857-407: The MRH-90. In March 2023, an Army MRH-90 carrying 10 personnel appeared to malfunction mid-flight while hovering over a Jervis Bay beach at night amid a training exercise, leading to a controlled ditch into the water. All ten personnel survived and the helicopter was towed onto a nearby beach. Following the incident, all MRH-90s were grounded pending an investigation. Early indications pointed to
12024-571: The MRH-90. On 29 September 2023, the Australian Government announced that the MRH-90 would not return to ADF service, bringing forward the previously planned retirement date from December 2024. Officials stated the early retirement was not meant to suggest the outcome of the crash investigation, which was still ongoing; with the fleet having been grounded since the July 2023 crash. At the time of its grounding, there were 38 MRH-90s in service. The ADF invested about $ 3.5 billion over two decades in
12191-447: The MRH-90. In February 2019, the first two of 12 MRH-90s for special operations were delivered to 6th Aviation Regiment . In June 2021, all MRH-90s were temporarily grounded due to lack of maintenance and spare parts which had to be shipped from Europe. Australia filled service gaps created by the groundings, operational pauses, and early retirement by extending the older S-70A's service life, by buying additional Chinook helicopters as
12358-468: The Main Gearbox (MGB), Intermediate Gearbox (IGB), and a Tail Rotor Gearbox (TGB). According to Airbus Helicopters, the NH90 possesses the lowest radar signature in its class, principally due to its diamond-shaped composite fuselage. The NH90 features an advanced composite airframe, designed for ballistic tolerance, a high level of crashworthiness , lower weight, and 30 per cent greater endurance than
12525-623: The McKinnley report, ordered by the Swedish defence ministry) per hour flown, or about US$ 28,000. In contrast, the Hkp 16, MH-60 Blackhawks in Swedish service had a cost of 40,000 SEK per hour, something that sparked a heated debate not least since it was revealed that the defence minister had demanded that the purchase had to be a joint procurement with the other Nordic countries which in turn excluded all other contenders. (see Nordic Standard Helicopter Program ) Debate among defence bloggers commenced when it
12692-669: The NFH variant lost to the Sikorsky MH-60R in competition to replace the RAN S-70B3Sea Hawks. In July 2014, the Australian National Audit Office released a report on the MRH-90, citing procurement errors and development deficiencies delaying final operational capability (FOC), originally set for that month, until April 2019, nearly five years later than planned. NH90s first delivered in 2007 had not yet validated any of
12859-663: The NH90 could be produced at Airbus' facility in Mississippi, US. Although a civilian version has not been produced, the NH90 was designed from the start to potentially meet FAA certification requirements; it has been speculated that the high-cabin variant already in production would be typical of passenger rotorcraft. If produced, it would fit between the AS365 Dauphin and the AS322 Super Puma in Airbus' product line. NHI studied making
13026-624: The NH90 formally achieved in-service status with the French Navy, being initially used to perform search and rescue and maritime counter-terrorism operations. The first seven NH90s were delivered to an interim "Step A" configuration; later deliveries were to the "Step B" standard and produced at a rate of two per year until 2020. For the ASW role in French service, it is equipped with dipping sonar, acoustic buoys and MU90 torpedoes . The French Navy formally cleared
13193-420: The NH90 is the first helicopter in the world to be equipped with full fly-by-wire flight controls. A four-axis autopilot is also integrated with the fly-by-wire system, as are mission and navigation systems, to enable greater autonomy during operations and reduce pilot workload. The flight envelope of the NH90 is capable of all-weather day-and-night operations, ship-borne operations during high sea states, across
13360-417: The NH90 was designed for NATO interoperability. The MRH-90 can carry two pilots and up to 20 troops, or 12 stretchers. It has weather radar, FLIR sensors, and a glass cockpit, and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9 turbine engines producing over 1600 skw (2,230 shp). The helicopter has a retractable tricycle landing gear, two side sliding doors and a ramp at the rear. Years after introduction
13527-750: The Netherlands. In October 2001, Finland signed a contract for 20 NH90 TTHs for the Finnish Army to replace its ageing fleet of Mil Mi-8 helicopters. This decision was done a group as part of the Nordic Standard Helicopter program along with Sweden and Norway. In March 2008, NHIndustries began NH90 deliveries to Finland; deliveries had been delayed from an initial 2004 date, to minimize further delay, aircraft were first delivered to an Initial Operational Configuration (IOC-) and Nearly Operational Configuration (IOC+), to be later modified by Patria into
13694-404: The Netherlands; conformance with FAR 29 and MIL-STDS design standards, as well as DEF-STN 00-970 icing conditions performance and electro-magnetic compatibility. It is produced in two principal variants, the battlefield Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the maritime NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH). One key innovation of the rotorcraft is the four-channel fly-by-wire control system employed;
13861-594: The Resident Commissioner, James Hurtle Fisher . The rural area surrounding Adelaide was surveyed by Light in preparation to sell a total of over 405 km (156 sq mi) of land. Adelaide's early economy started to get on its feet in 1838 with the arrival of livestock from Victoria , New South Wales and Tasmania . Wool production provided an early basis for the South Australian economy. By 1860, wheat farms had been established from Encounter Bay in
14028-472: The Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) for army use and the navalised NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH); each customer typically has various alterations and customizations made to their own NH90 fleets, such as different weapons, sensors, and cabin arrangements, to meet their own specific requirements. In addition, local construction of airframes was accommodated in many cases, giving participants in
14195-477: The United Kingdom teamed to develop a NATO battlefield transport and anti-ship/anti-submarine helicopter for the 1990s. The United Kingdom left the team in 1987. On 1 September 1992, NHIndustries signed an NH90 design-and-development contract with NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency). This agency represented the four participating states: France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Portugal later joined
14362-466: The agency in June 2001. Design work on the helicopter started in 1993. The first prototype, PT1, made the type's first flight on 18 December 1995. The second prototype, PT2, first flew on 19 March 1997 and the third prototype, PT3, on 27 November 1998. On 12 December 2002, PT3 became the first helicopter to fly exclusively with fly-by-wire controls after the removal of mechanical back-up controls. The NH90
14529-792: The aircraft were assembled by Australian Aerospace, which was part of Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter before 2014). The helicopter was ordered by the Australian Department of Defence starting in 2004 to fulfil the AIR 9000 programme. Twelve were ordered in 2004 for Phase 2 of AIR 9000, and an additional 34 were ordered in 2006 in later phases. The Australian assembled aircraft were part of the Australian Industry Capability Package, which included work at facilities in Townsville, Oakey, Nowra and Holsworthy, Australia. By 2011, 15 aircraft had been delivered. A 47th MRH-90, in addition to
14696-401: The aircraft's withdrawal, they were offered for sale then disassembled for parts which is ongoing as of 2024. A total of 47 helicopters were acquired, primarily operated by the Army with 40 in service with 12 of those made special operations capable. High-maintenance costs and several groundings led to their retirement date being brought forward to 2024. After an Army airframe was lost in 2023
14863-468: The arts, building upon the biennial " Adelaide Festival of Arts " that commenced in 1960. The State Bank collapsed in 1991 during an economic recession. The effects lasted until 2004, when Standard & Poor's reinstated South Australia's AAA credit rating. Adelaide's tallest building, completed in 2020, is called the Adelaidean and is located at 11 Frome Street. In the early years of the 21st century,
15030-703: The availability rate was reported as having surpassed 50 percent. All were in Final Operational Configuration (FOC) in 2018. The French government had initially ordered a total of 34 NH90 TTHs for the French Army Light Aviation and 27 NFH for the Navy . Both versions will be named "Caïman" and final assembly will be carried out by Airbus Helicopters . Early on, the French Army stated its intention to buy 68 NH90 in two separate contracts. Under
15197-635: The cabin area for undertaking high-risk missions and an ice protection system for operations within cold climates. It can also make use of the Helicopter In-Flight Refuelling System (HIFR) as well as additional internal and external fuel tanks to conduct extended range missions. Other equipment includes a wire strike protection system , rappelling system, hoist , cargo hook , search light and various seating options, including crashworthy foldable seats. For performing maritime operations, such tasked NH90s are typically equipped with
15364-476: The cause. On 18 May, the ADF announced that the MRH-90 fleet was grounded due to engine issues since the April incident. All MRH-90s used the Rolls-Royce Turbemeca RTM322. The cause of the failure was determined as the compressor blade contacting the engine casing, leading to new preventative inspections; flights resumed in July 2010. In July 2014, the Australian National Audit Office released
15531-507: The city centre. There are two sets of ring roads in Adelaide that have resulted from the original design. The inner ring route ( A21 ) borders the parklands, and the outer route ( A3 / A13 / A16 / A17 ) completely bypasses the inner city via (in clockwise order) Grand Junction Road , Hampstead Road, Ascot Avenue, Portrush Road , Cross Road and South Road . Suburban expansion has to some extent outgrown Light's original plan. Numerous former outlying villages and "country towns", as well as
15698-399: The city. The plan involved the construction of freeways, expressways and the upgrade of certain aspects of the public transport system. The then premier Steele Hall approved many parts of the plan and the government went as far as purchasing land for the project. The later Labor government elected under Don Dunstan shelved the plan, but allowed the purchased land to remain vacant, should
15865-496: The coastline due to erosion. Where practical, the government has implemented programs to rebuild and vegetate sandhills at several of Adelaide's beachside suburbs. Tennyson Dunes is the largest contiguous, tertiary dune system contained entirely within Metropolitan Adelaide, providing refuge for a variety of remnant species formerly found along the entire coastline. Much of the original vegetation has been cleared with what
16032-411: The complexity of manufacturing a large number of NH90 variants, NHIndustries (NHI) proposed the adoption of a simplified baseline airframe which could be configured to the individual customer's requirements. Between 2004 and 2016, the production lead times for the NH90 had reduced from 18 months to 7.5 months. In 2014, worldwide production of the NH90 peaked at 53 helicopters per year. In October 2015,
16199-639: The country. On 23 June 2013, German Army NH90s were declared operationally capable of medical evacuation operations. Following an engine failure and controlled crash in Uzbekistan in July 2014, the army temporarily grounded the type for investigation. In December 2015, it was announced that production of the German Navy's variant of the NH90 NFH, named Sea Lion , had commenced; a refit of the German Army's TTH variant
16366-573: The delivery of the 250th NH90 was formally accepted by the Italian Army . In 2015, the rate of NH90 production declined, reportedly due to countries choosing to delay their orders and some contracts having been fulfilled; in 2016, the Finnish final assembly line became the first to close with its orders completed. In 2023, the 500th NH90 was delivered to the French Army, from the Marignane facility. Although no US order has been taken, it has been noted that
16533-417: The design of the side doors became a subject of discussion, as they were not wide enough for certain combat situations, which led to the Army implementing "tactical workarounds" when operating with the MRH-90. The special operations capable variant added a Fast Roping and Rappelling Extraction System (FRRES) and a gun mount for the cabin door. In 2004, Australia announced it would order 12 NH90s to supplement
16700-580: The downthrown St Vincent Basin and its embayments, including the Adelaide Plains Sub-basin, and the Golden Grove, Noarlunga and Willunga Embayments. These basins contain deposits of Tertiary marine and non-marine sands and limestones, which form important aquifers. These deposits are overlain by Quaternary alluvial fans and piedmont slope deposits, derived from erosion of the uplands, consisting of sands, clays and gravels, interfingering to
16867-400: The dual name for Victoria Square, in the Kaurna language . The name means 'male red kangaroo rock', referring to a rock formation on the site that has now been destroyed. The surrounding area was an open grassy plain with patches of trees and shrubs which had been managed by hundreds of generations. Kaurna country encompassed the plains which stretched north and south of Tarntanya as well as
17034-536: The early development of a brick-making industry, as well as the use of stone, for houses and other buildings. By 1891, 68% of houses were built of stone, 15% of timber, and 10% of brick, with brick also being widely used in stone houses for quoins, door and window surrounds, and chimneys and fireplaces. There is a wide variety in the styles of these houses. Until the 1960s, most of the more substantial houses were built of red brick, though many front walls were of ornamental stone. Then cream bricks became fashionable, and in
17201-627: The east of Adelaide, are defined on their western side by a number of arcuate faults (the Para, Eden, Clarendon and Willunga Faults), and consist of rocks such as siltstone , dolomite and quartzite , dating from the Neoproterozoic to the middle Cambrian , laid down in the Adelaide Rift Complex, the oldest part of the Adelaide Superbasin . Most of the Adelaide metropolitan area lies in
17368-529: The fleet was not grounded. In response, NHIndustries launched a corrosion prevention programme and enacted several design modifications. In December 2014, Dutch NH90 deliveries, which had been temporarily halted earlier in the year, restarted after the majority of identified points were addressed and an agreement was made by the manufacturer to bear the cost of developing modifications, repairs, and preventive measures against corrosion. Ron Mark , New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Defence put out
17535-500: The flight data recorder. On 29 September 2023, the Australian Government announced that the MRH-90 will not return to ADF service, bringing forward the previously planned retirement date of December 2024. Officials stated the early retirement was not meant to preempt the outcome of the crash investigation, which was still ongoing; the fleet has been grounded since the July 2023 crash. At the time of its grounding, there were 38 MRH-90s in service. Australia filled service gaps created by
17702-415: The flight software and maintenance. In July 2023, an Australian MRH-90 crashed at night during Exercise Talisman Sabre off the coast of Hamilton Island , Queensland , with the loss of its four crew. By early August, the cockpit and human remains were recovered in the debris field in 40 meters of water, consistent with a catastrophic impact. On 8 August 2023, divers recovered the flight data recorder . It
17869-625: The future need for freeways arise. In 1980, the Liberal party won government and premier David Tonkin committed his government to selling off the land acquired for the MATS plan, ensuring that even when needs changed, the construction of most MATS-proposed freeways would be impractical. Some parts of this land have been used for transport, (e.g. the O-Bahn Busway and Southern Expressway), while most has been progressively subdivided for residential use. In 2008,
18036-442: The grounding, operational pauses, and early retirement by extending the older S-70A's service life, by buying additional Chinook helicopters as a stop gap, leasing six AW139 , as well as the urgent procurement of a replacement helicopter. The ADF invested about $ 3.5 billion over two decades in the program. In August 2022, Australia approved the purchase of 40 UH-60M Blackhawks to replace the MRH-90. In 2007, Belgium signed on for
18203-575: The ideas of Edward Gibbon Wakefield about colonial reform, Robert Gouger petitioned the British government to create a new colony in Australia, resulting in the passage of the South Australia Act 1834 . Physical establishment of the colony began with the arrival of the first British colonisers in February 1836. The first governor proclaimed the commencement of colonial government in South Australia on 28 December 1836, near The Old Gum Tree in what
18370-589: The ideas of Edward Gibbon Wakefield . Wakefield had read accounts of Australian settlement while in prison in London for attempting to abduct an heiress, and realised that the eastern colonies suffered from a lack of available labour, due to the practice of giving land grants to all arrivals. Wakefield's idea was for the Government to survey and sell the land at a rate that would maintain land values high enough to be unaffordable for labourers and journeymen. Funds raised from
18537-444: The issues, because in a combat zone the risk profile is completely different. However, because of timing, the helicopters were already being stripped of parts, to be prepared for burial, as was done with Australia's F-111s , as of early 2024 most of the airframes are stored partially dissembled in a warehouse in Australia. The disposal plan that was developed, did not include transfer to other operators, as no buyers could be found, with
18704-430: The last was delivered on 13 November 2014. From first delivery until the last, three NH90s flew 34 hours a month for a total of 450 flight hours with a 67 percent availability rate, making Belgium one of the type's most intensive users. Two NH90 NFHs for the navy were delivered, the final two were delivered by early 2015 to replace their Westland Sea King helicopters for Search and Rescue operations. On 21 August 2015,
18871-453: The manufacturer. NHI's long-term plan for the NH90 had reportedly included service life extensions, avionics upgrades, and possibly adding heavier armament for the army versions, such as rockets or guided missiles. In 2020, an upgraded TFRA2 Special Operations version was announced, featuring numerous specialized modifications on the TTH, including extra fuel tanks, twin gun mounts, fast roping from
19038-409: The only transport infrastructure developed to cope with the urban growth. The O-Bahn Busway is an example of a unique solution to Tea Tree Gully's transport woes in the 1980s. The development of the nearby suburb of Golden Grove in the late 1980s followed a planned approach to urban growth. In the 1960s, a Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study Plan was proposed to cater for the future growth of
19205-662: The original host of the Australian Grand Prix in the FIA Formula One World Championship from 1985 to 1995. Today, Adelaide is known by its many festivals and sporting events, its food and wine , its coastline and hills, its large defence and manufacturing sectors, and its emerging space sector, including the Australian Space Agency being headquartered here. Adelaide's quality of life has ranked consistently highly in various measures through
19372-576: The program a chance to develop experience in construction. However, despite many advanced features, there have been a series of complaints about the overall experience, including delays in delivery, high maintenance, software issues, and durability, leading to the early retirement of some fleets. Nevertheless, it has served in increasing numbers and roles in the 2010s, taking on naval search and rescue, ASW, troop transport, special operations, various resupply and disaster relief, and medical evacuation. In several cases, NH90 variants can be quite specialized towards
19539-468: The program. In February 2024, the Australian Government announced that it would lease five H135 Juno from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for five years, to support "essential training requirements" for Army pilots. The helicopters may also be used for personnel or equipment transport in a civil emergency. At the time of the retirement the NH90 was in service with a dozen nations and
19706-585: The province. In 1860, the Thorndon Park reservoir was opened, providing an alternative water source to the now turbid River Torrens. Gas street lighting was implemented in 1867, the University of Adelaide was founded in 1874, the South Australian Art Gallery opened in 1881 and the Happy Valley Reservoir opened in 1896. In the 1890s Australia was affected by a severe economic depression, ending
19873-490: The region. In October 2020, France signed a contract to develop the TFRA Standard 2 configuration for the French Army's special forces using the final batch of 10 NH90 TTH already ordered. A design study for the new configuration began 18 months earlier in cooperation with Belgium and Australia. The first phase featured a Safran EuroFLIR 410 electro-optical system (EOS), external 500 kg (1,100 lb) fuel tanks and
20040-559: The removable rear door, Helmet Mounted Sight Digital Display, and various enhanced or extra visual sensors with displays for increased situational awareness. In June 2024, plans were announced for the Block 1 upgrade, which was also called software release 3 (SWR3); called a "roadmap milestone", this involves an upgrade to NH90 software, weapons systems, and capabilities. In 2004, Australia announced it would order 12 NH90s to supplement its Army's aging S-70A Black Hawk helicopters. In June 2006,
20207-409: The reports of visitors in the early 20th century, noting that "many visitors to Adelaide admired the foresighted planning of its founders", as well as pondering the riches of the young city. Adelaide enjoyed a postwar boom, entering a time of relative prosperity. Its population grew, and it became the third most populous metropolitan area in the country, after Sydney and Melbourne . Its prosperity
20374-403: The sale of land were to be used to bring out working-class emigrants, who would have to work hard for the monied settlers to ever afford their own land. As a result of this policy, Adelaide does not share the convict settlement history of other Australian cities like Sydney , Brisbane and Hobart . As it was believed that in a colony of free settlers there would be little crime, no provision
20541-469: The same day the older generation of Black Hawks was retired, the Australian Government announced plans to replace the Army's MRH-90 fleet with new UH-60M Black Hawks; their retirement date was moved to 2024. In April 2022, the RAN ceased flying their MRH-90s and stored them. In May 2022, the government announced that the RAN's six MRH-90s would be replaced with more MH-60R Seahawks; it already operated 24 Seahawks, delivered between 2013 and 2016, alongside
20708-563: The satellite city of Elizabeth , have been enveloped by its suburban sprawl . Expanding developments in the Adelaide Hills region led to the construction of the South Eastern Freeway to cope with growth, which has subsequently led to new developments and further improvements to that transport corridor. Similarly, the booming development in Adelaide's South led to the construction of the Southern Expressway . New roads are not
20875-429: The second batch of 34 NH90 TTHs for just under €1 billion. In January 2016, France placed an order for six additional NH90 TTHs. The French Army took delivery of its first NH90 TTH in December 2011. Just one week after entering service, a French NH90 rescued 19 people from supply ship TK Bremen at night. On 21 December 2012, the French Navy received its first NH90 NFH in final operating capability. In December 2010,
21042-673: The south to Clare in the north. George Gawler took over from Hindmarsh in late 1838 and, despite being under orders from the Select Committee on South Australia in Britain not to undertake any public works, promptly oversaw construction of a governor's house, the Adelaide Gaol , police barracks, a hospital, a customs house and a wharf at Port Adelaide . Gawler was recalled and replaced by George Edward Grey in 1841. Grey slashed public expenditure against heavy opposition, although its impact
21209-605: The summer typically range from 8 to 10 °C (46 to 50 °F). There are usually several days in summer where the temperature reaches 40.0 °C (104.0 °F) or above; the frequency of these temperatures has been increasing in recent years . Temperature extremes range from −0.4 °C (31.4 °F), 8 June 1982 to 47.7 °C (117.9 °F), 24 January 2019. The city features 90.6 clear days annually. The average sea temperature ranges from 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) in August to 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) in February. Adelaide
21376-483: The teething issues of a new system that take a few years of service to find and correct, and that most are either solved or will be addressed with the transformation plan called "New Horizon" that Aloccio's predecessor, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, launched. This program of system-wide changes had the aim of 50-60% average global fleet availability by the end of 2022 through better spare part availability and localisation of overhaul services. It also seeks to lower operating costs,
21543-411: The time between maintenance inspections and overhaul for dynamic components have both been raised by 50% in order to keep them synchronized, from 600/1200 flight hours to 900/1800 hours respectively. The Australian fleet retirement is being dismantled for spare parts, which it is hoped will increase the supply of spare parts for other users. The NH90 was designed to fulfill a NATO staff requirement for
21710-459: The troop transport variant; the first three serial production NH90s were delivered to the army in December 2006. By January 2013, a total of 80 aircraft were on order for the army. In 2009, the German Navy was also considering the procurement of up to 30 NFH for its new Maritime Helicopter. In March 2013, the German government chose to reorganise the NH90 procurement; the Army's fleet of 122 NH90s
21877-495: The type first entered operational service in 2007. As of June 2022, the NH90 logged 327,053 flight hours in the armed forces of thirteen countries. It is an advanced but high maintenance military helicopter employed by a dozen countries in two major versions. It has a naval version that can land on ships and is used for sea rescue and submarine warfare, and an army version that has been used for transporting cargo, people, medivac, and special operations. The NH90 has two main variants:
22044-399: The type in 2023, well ahead of the planned retirement date of 2037. Currently in the mid-2020s, a dozen countries continue to use the NH90, while additional orders and improvements equate to ongoing and widespread use of the type. Efforts are ongoing to increase roles, upgrades, and increase the service life and ease of maintenance. In 1985, France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and
22211-541: The type to perform ASW duties in 2012, clearance to perform ASW missions followed in 2013, allowing the NH90 to take over missions previously performed by the Westland Lynx and Aérospatiale Super Frelon rotorcraft fleets. On 3 November 2014, the French Army Light Aviation deployed two of its NH90s to Mali ; both helicopters had been fitted with three additional fuel tanks to fly the four-day ferry flight to
22378-407: The west with transgressive Pleistocene to Holocene marine sands and coastal sediments of the shoreline of Gulf St Vincent. Adelaide is a planned city, designed by the first Surveyor-General of South Australia, Colonel William Light . His plan, sometimes referred to as "Light's Vision" (also the name of a statue of him on Montefiore Hill ), arranged Adelaide in a grid , with five squares in
22545-455: The wettest month of the year, averaging around 80 mm. Frosts are occasional, with the most notable occurrences in 1908 and 1982. Hail is common in winter. Adelaide is a windy city with significant wind chill in winter, which makes the temperature seem colder than it actually is . Snowfall in the metropolitan area is extremely rare, although light and sporadic falls in the nearby hills and at Mount Lofty occur during winter. Dewpoints in
22712-601: The wooded foothills of the Mt Lofty Ranges . The River Torrens was known as the Karrawirra Pari (Red Gum forest river). About 300 Kaurna populated the Adelaide area, and were referred to by the settlers as the Cowandilla. There were more than 20 local clans across the plain who lived semi-nomadic lives, with extensive mound settlements where huts were built repeatedly over centuries and a complex social structure including
22879-575: The world's second National Park City, after the state government had lobbied for this title. It was ranked the most liveable city in Australia by the Property Council of Australia , based on surveys of residents' views of their own city, between 2010 and 2013, dropping to second place in 2014. Adelaide, as the capital of South Australia, is the seat of the Government of South Australia . The bicameral Parliament of South Australia consists of
23046-469: Was also no provision for fast roping or paratrooper equipment. In response, the German Defense Ministry proclaimed that this article referred to a prototype, not to the production model; the specifications for which were not even finalised at the time. The prototype evaluation and its results were described as a normal procedure in an ongoing design process. In November 2011, the MRH-90 program
23213-562: Was also underway at the same time. Since late 2014, Germany has promoted the creation of a multinational NH90 force for combat MEDEVAC missions; the taskforce would comprise up to 20 NH90s. The Navy's version, known as the NH90 Sea Lion, is based on the NH90 NFH. It first flew on 8 December 2016. The 18 NH90 Sea Lions are equipped with improved navigation and communications equipment, permitting operation within civil airspace, along with additional sensors for military missions. The IFF system
23380-668: Was also updated. Designed to replace Germany's Westland Sea Kings in the SAR and Vertrep roles, the Sea Lion was to enter service with the German Navy by the second quarter of 2019. The first NFH Sea Lion was accepted in October 2019. On 26 November 2019, the German Navy stated that the NH90 was not operational yet due to deficiencies in technical documentation not allowing safe operations. The NFH Sea Lion entered service in June 2020. By February 2023, 18 Sea Lion had been delivered. On 20 November 2020,
23547-470: Was consistently ranked in the world's 10 most liveable cities through the 2010s by The Economist Intelligence Unit . In June 2021, The Economist ranked Adelaide the third most liveable city in the world, behind Auckland and Osaka . In June 2023, Adelaide was ranked the twelfth most liveable city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit. In December 2021, Adelaide was named
23714-606: Was created to facilitate the State Government's collaboration with the Adelaide City Council and the Lord Mayor to improve Adelaide's image. The State Parliament's Capital City Committee is also involved in the governance of the City of Adelaide, being primarily concerned with the planning of Adelaide's urban development and growth. Reflecting South Australia's status as Australia's most centralised state, Adelaide elects
23881-407: Was denied as none were reportedly flightworthy at the time and the disassembly of the airframes had already commenced. The Department of Defence said that it would not be feasible to return the aircraft to a fully operational state. In addition, there were concerns over providing helicopters marred by troubles if they were reassembled. On the other hand, Ukraine stated that they are less concerned about
24048-493: Was determined there was not a link between the Jervis bay incident and the Talisman Sabre crash, which was ruled out by late 2023, however the investigation was ongoing into many factors such as weather, route, and other helicopter systems. The MRH-90 was originally scheduled to be retired in 2037. In December 2021, on the same day the older generation of S-70 Black Hawks were retired, the Australian Government announced plans to replace
24215-455: Was developed in response to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) requirements for a battlefield helicopter which would also be capable of being operated in naval environments. It was developed and is manufactured by NHIndustries , a collaborative company owned by Airbus Helicopters (formally Eurocopter), Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland ), and Fokker Aerostructures . The first prototype conducted its maiden flight in December 1995;
24382-478: Was developed into two main variants: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH). These two main variants share about 75% commonality with each other. Many of the operators have requested specific configurations to their own helicopter fleets, thus each country's NH90 is effectively customized to the end-user's requirements. During the development phase of the programme in
24549-408: Was discussion in 2023 to sell the 4 TTH and buy one more NFH; together with the acquisition of new helicopters the NFH will no longer be tasked with SAR missions. Belgium is expanding its defense budget and naval capabilities in the 2030s, and naval NH90s are planned to be upgraded and to operate from in-service frigates . In addition, Belgium is buying a NH90 mission flight trainer in partnership with
24716-444: Was expanded at the nearby port of Whyalla . The South Australian Government in this period built on former wartime manufacturing industries but neglected cultural facilities which meant South Australia's economy lagged behind. International manufacturers like Holden and Chrysler made use of these factories around the Adelaide area in suburbs like Elizabeth , completing its transformation from an agricultural service centre to
24883-410: Was extended through the city to Hindmarsh down to East Terrace and the suburban railway line extended south to Seaford. Following a period of stagnation in the 1990s and 2000s, Adelaide began several major developments and redevelopments. The Adelaide Convention Centre was redeveloped and expanded at a cost of A$ 350 million beginning in 2012. Three historic buildings were adapted for modern use:
25050-425: Was forced to operate its aging S-70A Black Hawks beyond its planned retirement date. Due to the delays, Australia received an additional helicopter for a total of 47. By September 2015, most flaws had reportedly been addressed. In 2015, the Australian Army decided to delay retiring 20 Black Hawks by four years until the end of 2021 in order to develop a special operations capable MRH-90. This required developing
25217-491: Was investigating the possibility of setting up a multinational helicopter unit to operate these 22 NH90s as a shared NATO resource with other countries using and contributing to the force. In July 2012, Germany's NH90 fleet reached a combined total of 5,000 flight hours. In April 2013, up to 4 German Army NH90 TTHs were deployed in Afghanistan in a Forward Air Medical Evacuation role in support of coalition forces operating in
25384-724: Was made for a gaol in Colonel Light's 1837 plan. But by mid-1837 the South Australian Register was warning of escaped convicts from New South Wales and tenders for a temporary gaol were sought. Following a burglary, a murder, and two attempted murders in Adelaide during March 1838, Governor Hindmarsh created the South Australian Police Force (now the South Australia Police ) in April 1838 under 21-year-old Henry Inman . The first sheriff, Samuel Smart,
25551-452: Was negligible at this point: silver was discovered in Glen Osmond that year, agriculture was well underway, and other mines sprung up all over the state, aiding Adelaide's commercial development. The city exported meat, wool, wine, fruit and wheat by the time Grey left in 1845, contrasting with a low point in 1842 when one-third of Adelaide houses were abandoned. Trade links with the rest of
25718-480: Was noted for some serviceability issues with Norway also withdrawing the helicopter from service. The Department of Defence offered the MRH-90s for sale to other NH90 operators after they were retired from service. No sales eventuated with work to dismantle helicopters for spare parts commencing in late 2023. New Zealand was the only country who expressed interest in buying entire helicopters rather than just parts, but
25885-609: Was one of many helicopters types operated by the Australian Defence Force during this period, including various types of multi-role helicopters. The MRH-90 supplemented and eventually replaced the then in-service Sikorsky Black Hawk and Westland Sea King helicopters in the early 2000s. The MRH-90 Taipan was the Australian version of the NHI Industries NH90 multirole helicopter, with a roughly 10 ton maximum take off weight, composite fuselage and fly-by-wire controls,
26052-529: Was placed on the Australian Department of Defence's "Projects of Concern" list. The most serious problem identified by a diagnostic review, which caused a brief grounding in 2010, is compressor blade rubbing caused by the bending of a spool in the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engine due to uneven cooling after shutdown. Other problems identified include failure of transmission oil cooler fans, windscreen cracking, an inertial navigation system that
26219-464: Was recorded, but the price paid was retrenchments and lean public spending. Wine and copper were the only industries not to suffer a downturn. Adelaide was Australia's third largest city for most of the 20th century. Electric street lighting was introduced in 1900 and electric trams were transporting passengers in 1909. 28,000 men were sent to fight in World War I . Historian F. W. Crowley examined
26386-428: Was reduced to 82; 18 NH90s previously ordered for the army were converted to the NFH maritime variant for the navy instead. On 26 June 2013, the German defense committee declared that the order for a combined 202 NH90 and Tiger helicopters was to be reduced to 157. In December 2014, Germany announced that, in addition to the 80 troop transports firmly on order, it was considering an option for an additional 22 NH90s; it
26553-407: Was reported that Finnish NH90s had been experiencing considerable reliability issues, at one time in 2014 fleet availability dipped to 19%, and some spare parts had up to seven months waiting time. By early 2015, the combined NH90s fleet had accumulated a total of 7,000 flight hours, and had an availability rate of 40%. On 18 June 2015, delivery of the final Finnish NH90 took place. In November 2015,
26720-433: Was revealed that much of these costs was the result of the accounting practices forced upon the Swedish defence forces; the purchase cost and annual services had been factored in, meaning that the cost per hour increases the less flight time per year the fleet gets. In this debate, it was also pointed out that the Finnish defence had budgeted CPFH to €15,900 in 2017, which the year after had been lowered to €10,000. In 2020,
26887-450: Was shaped by the diversity and wealth of its free settlers, in contrast to the convict history of other Australian cities. It was Australia's third most populated city until the post-war era. It has been noted for its leading examples of religious freedom and progressive political reforms, and became known as the " City of Churches " due to its diversity of faiths. The city has also been renowned for its automotive industry , as well as being
27054-574: Was short-lived, with the return of droughts and the Great Depression of the 1930s. It later returned to fortune under strong government leadership. Secondary industries helped reduce the state's dependence on primary industries . World War II brought industrial stimulus and diversification to Adelaide under the Playford Government, which advocated Adelaide as a safe place for manufacturing due to its less vulnerable location. Shipbuilding
27221-436: Was so extreme the first rescuer was stranded when the winch line snapped, but the rescuer along with the boaters, who were in a life raft were able to be retrieved by an additional NH90. At the end of 2022, the French Navy finally retired its last Alouette III helicopters which had been in service for 60 years, and was on the training helicopters before pilots moved onto the NH90, along with Dauphin. The German Army procured
27388-411: Was surpassed by Brisbane as Australia's third largest city. The Dunstan Governments of the 1970s saw something of an Adelaide "cultural revival", establishing a wide array of social reforms. The city became noted for its progressivism as South Australia became the first Australian state or territory to decriminalise homosexuality between consenting adults in 1975. Adelaide became a centre for
27555-447: Was the first production helicopter to feature entirely fly-by-wire flight controls. There is extensive use of composite materials and electronic sensors. The helicopter has two main versions, the TTH oriented towards land applications (able to carry up to 20 troops) and the NFH, oriented towards naval use and focused on such tasks as ASW and marine SAR. Over 500 have been produced for a dozen users, and it remains in production. The NH90
27722-453: Was towed onto a nearby beach. Following the incident, all MRH-90s were grounded pending an investigation. Early indications pointed to a missing flight software update. The MRH-90 returned to service on 6 April 2023. It was later reported the Jervis Bay ditch was caused by a turbine blade failure in the engine, however this was related to a known engine and maintenance issue identified ten years prior part of more complicated overall situation with
27889-552: Was wounded during a robbery, and on 2 May 1838 one of the offenders, Michael Magee, became the first person to be hanged in South Australia. William Baker Ashton was appointed governor of the temporary gaol in 1839, and in 1840 George Strickland Kingston was commissioned to design Adelaide's new gaol. Construction of Adelaide Gaol commenced in 1841. Adelaide's early history was marked by economic uncertainty and questionable leadership. The first governor of South Australia, John Hindmarsh , clashed frequently with others, in particular
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