Vertical Magazine reports that the first Royal Canadian Air Force Bell CH-146 Griffon to have completed the CH-146C Mk II upgrade “has performed its maiden flight, the manufacturer has announced. The modification to the RCAF’s CH-146 Griffons — a variant of the Bell 412EP — is being completed under the Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) project, which is designed to extend the fleet’s service life to at least 2031.”
Full Story (Vertical Magazine)
Tag: RCAF
DND: Cracking Issue Prompts Repairs to at Least 19 of 23 RCAF CH-148 Cyclones
Aviation Week reports that Canada’s Department of National Defense (DND) said that a “cracking issue has required repairs to at least 19 of the 23 Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopters in the Royal Canadian Air Force fleet.” Vertical Magazine reports that on November 26, “cracks were found on the tail of one of the helicopters undergoing a routine maintenance inspection. After the initial cracks were found, other aircraft at that squadron were inspected for the same problem and cracks were found on three other Cyclones.” According to the Canadian Armed Forces, the “same cracking issue was eventually found on 19 of 23 CH-148s.” The remaining two CH-148 Cyclones “are in longer-term maintenance and will be inspected at a later date.”
Full Story (Aviation Week) More Info (Vertical Magazine)