Tag Archives: mitsubishi

Technology

Do you know how to maintain the UH-60? 1st ‘V’ variant arrives in NATO-Germany!

Video

02 July 2023 (12:40-UTC-07 Tango 06) 11 Tir 1402/13 Dhu l-Hijja 1444/15 Ji-Wei 4721/02 июль 2023 года

U.S. Army photo by Samantha Treadway, 01JAN2023.

Every year, units from the Regular Army (active duty U.S. Army [USA]), Army Reserve, and National Guard, spend time on the Corpus Christi Army Depot in Texas, learning the latest in rotary wing aircraft maintenance.  This year, they are learning about the new ‘V’ variant of the old UH-60 Black Hawk, even though the ‘V’ upgrade program suffered setbacks.

The first UH-60V delivered to a U.S. unit overseas, on Wiesbaden Airfield, NATO-Germany, 04JUN2023. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Todd Strobel.

Despite the setbacks, by June 2023, upgraded UH-60Vs began to be deployed to bases in the European Union.  Northrop Grumman states that the ‘V’ upgrade replaces the old UH-60L cockpit “with a fully open, digital and integrated avionics suite”.

Kentucky Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Daniel S. Cooper gives the official explanation of why Ecuador currently has UH-60 Black Hawk maintenance crews in Kentucky. There is no mention of the recent Black Hawk crashes. Video interview by Sergeant First Class Benjamin Crane, 29JUN2023:

Video (by Sergeant First Class Benjamin Crane) of Ecuadorian UH-60 Black Hawk maintenance crews’ visit to Kentucky, 29JUN2023:

Some UH-60 (and other rotary wing aircraft) maintenance is performed at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, on Muir Army Airfield in Pennsylvania. Video by Erik Sandbakken, 05JUN2023:

JapanTimes, May 2023: Engine Problems Linked to Fatal Black Hawk Crash.

Georgia Army National Guard HH-60M gets a 40-hour preventive maintenance check on Inezgane Airfield, Morocco, during African Lion 2023. Photo by Sergeant Cameron Boyd, 31MAY2023.

The Defense Post, May 2023: The U.S. Army grounded all pilots not involved in critical missions until they complete required training, after four helicopters crashes.

‘Pumped’ UH-60 helicopter repairers with the Connecticut Army National Guard, tear into a hydraulic pilot assist module during a maintenance competition at the 1109th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group, Groton, Connecticut, 21APR2023. Photo by Sergeant Matthew Lucibello.

GAO (Government Accountability Office), April 2023: “Army and Air National Guard reported 298 helicopter accidents during non-combat flight operations from fiscal years 2012 through 2021…  …their respective flight safety training programs can be improved.”

Army Times, April 2023: Army investigators confirm collision led to double Black Hawk crash.

Military.com, April 2023: Renewed Scrutiny of Black Hawk Safety Record.

In March 2023, during wargame Cobra Gold, the Washington Army National Guard conducted joint UH-60 maintenance with the Royal Thai Army, in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Associated Press, February 2023: Black Hawk pilots killed in Alabama crash were experienced.

This is the Arizona Army National Guard’s Western Arizona Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, where they teach how to repair the UH-60L/M Black Hawk. Photo by Sergeant First Class Brian A. Barbour, 24FEB2023.

In 2022, using the ‘Pland-emic supply shortages’ as an excuse, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) began something called ‘additive manufacturing’.  Additive manufacturing is an industry phrase referring to the use of 3D printing to create your own parts. This December 2022 DLA video report (by Nutan Chada) is about creating 3D printed fuel elbows for the UH-60:

Assigned to the Texas Army National Guard on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, a Black Hawk maintainer from New York torques a nut on the pitch control rod of a UH-60M. Photo by Specialist Jason Lo, 06SEP2022.

Reuters, September 2022: Afghan government blames technical problem for fatal crash of U.S. made Black Hawk.

Bangkok Post, July 2022: Engine problems blamed for Royal Thai Army Black Hawk crash.

Gulf News, July 2022: 14 people dead after Mexican Navy Black Hawk crashes into airport.

The Salt Lake Tribune, February 2022: Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a “training accident” near the Mineral Basin area.

Vehicle I-D, 2022: IDAHO GETS NEW UH-60M

Government Shenanigans, 2020: UH-60 FOR AFGHANISTAN, KILLED-OFF BY THE MIL 17?

2017:  Missouri Army National Guard UH-60L LOOSES WINDSHIELD AT NTC!

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Mitsubishi desperate to sell off European factory, for only one Euro!!!

11 July 2012, NHK (nippon housou kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) reporting that Mitsubishi Motors is so desperate to dump its factory in Netherlands, that it’s willing to take only one euro (currently equal to $1.22 USD)!

A Dutch company, VDL, wants to buy it and build licensed BMWs. The factory employes 1,500 people, and Mitsubishi wants to make sure they all keep their jobs with the new owners, so, they’ve made a deal to sell the factory for only one euro with a guarantee from VDL that no one loses their job.

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology

What Economic Recovery? Mitsubishi to end European production, 1,500 people will lose their jobs, Thailand the winner

Mitsubishi Motors announced on February 6 that they will close their only factory in Europe.

The factory is in Netherlands, and employees 1,500 people.  Mitsubishi says the factory is outdated, and it’s not worth it to upgrade.

Also, Mitsubishi stressed that they must focus on stronger car markets, like South America, and they are giving up on any chances to increase sales in Europe.  However, they will continue to ship cars to Europe from their factory in Thailand.  They also have a new Thai factory that’s scheduled to begin production in March  (mmm, cheaper Thai labor, I wounder if that’s the real reason they’re shutting down their Dutch factory?).

Mitsubishi is now working with the Dutch government to find a buyer for their Dutch factory.

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Japan’s biggest paper maker closing down, Hitachi & Mitsubishi merging

Japan’s biggest paper maker, Nippon Paper Group, will lay off at least 1,300 workers and close at least five factories.

Part of the blame is on the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which damaged three factories.  Company officials say it’s not worth it to rebuild the damaged factories.

In fact business is so bad that Nippon Paper says it will close down factories, and lay off employees, as part of plans to cut production by 800,000 tons of paper.

And two industrial giants in Japan are merging in an attempt to save themselves.  Hitachi and Mitsubishi will merge some of their businesses that are involved with energy and environment, to create a new company.

This continues a trend between the two companies.  They’ve already created a joint rail transportation company.  Analysts say eventually the two companies will fully merge.

Fukushima, Technology

Nuclear & natural disasters inspire Mitsubishi to make a car you can cook with

Mitsubishi announced their new electric car can keep you from starving after a major disaster.

They claim that in case of major power loss to your home you can use the electric car to power your home appliances.  Supposedly the batteries in the car can hold enough power to run your house for one and a half days.

Well, I guess they weren’t thinking of a really big natural disaster, like what happened on 11 March 2011.  But getting through the first day after such a disaster is critical.

What we really need is someone to come up with a portable solar panel that’s powerful enough to cook with, and charge up the batteries on your electric car.  Then who needs utility companies?

Mitsubishi plans to start selling their electric survival car in 2012.

Fukushima

Daimler halts truck production in Japan

Daimler (known for Mercedes-Benz) shut down its Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus plant, in Kawasaki, Japan.  The shut down came after the March 11 disasters.

As other vehicle makers have said, Daimler says supply of parts will be a continuous problem from here on out. The German company hopes to start production on April 20.

Daimler owns 89.29% of Mitsubishi Fuso.