The famous helicopter Ka-50 "Black Shark" has the potential to become the best car in the world in its class. Being developed in the Soviet Union in 1981 and conceived as a counterweight to the American "Apache" helicopter never saw the conveyor. Why 28 years of operation have made a total of 17 machines, and why the "shark" has not visited in any hot spot in all this time? The answer to this question is actually quite simple and sad.
Reason first - is not done well
In fact, in the design of the Ka-50, all was not as good as many people think in their ignorance. Numerous were criticized coaxial helicopter screws. Despite the impressive power-ups, and they had very specific defects which could bury the crew in a real combat situation. For example, pilots did not exceed the recommended bank angle of 70 degrees in the machine. Coaxial screws made control of the machine is generally less convenient. Some maneuvers on the Ka-50 were too dangerous. At the same time on older Soviet helicopters such maneuvers were not considered something exceptional.
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The reason second - Air Force Command
In the 1990s, when once again we were talking about taking the "shark" into service, in command and was not produced a final decision on the matter. The confusion lasted for years. In addition, the command did not like that in the Ka-50 is a large proportion of human-duty pilot was transferred to Electronics. Senior officers are constantly called into question the possibility that a single pilot and be able to effectively operate the machine, and to fire in a combat situation.
Interesting fact: In fact, command arguments were quite fair. As a result, funding for the project was transferred to the Ka-52 "Alligator" with two pilots. The machine stands on the arms of the Russian Federation today.
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Reason third - "Vanya, grandmother !!!"
The fact that the project is the Ka-50 is generally able to survive the unfortunate restructuring, was a marvel. The collapse of the Soviet Union "not the best" (and that's an understatement) was reflected in the numerous defense initiatives. The economic crisis that broke out with renewed vigor in the 1990s, is also not the best way affected the funding of military projects. Even if there were no problems described above, and the Ka-50 from the very beginning was the ideal machine, then the establishment of production simply could not find the money.
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Continuing the theme in the United States created a helicopter without tail rotor: he that does not stop to maneuver and not only.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/300619/50864/