Chilean Navy inducts new observation aircraft

[Zarvan]

The arrival of the first Vulcanair P68 Observer 2 for the Chilean Navy took place in July, but was not announced by the MoD until September. Source: Chilean Ministry of Defence
The Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile) has received into service the first of seven Vulcanair P68 Observer 2 twin-propeller aircraft, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 1 September.

The first of the Italian-built aircraft (designated Naval Aircraft 321 in Chilean service) arrived at the Naval Air Base at Concon on 1 July, ahead of its induction as a search and rescue, maritime police, medical aero-evacuation, and liaison platform in place of the now retired Cessna O-2 Skymaster.

While the MoD did not disclose when the remaining aircraft will be delivered, it did say that they type will begin operations with VC-1 Squadron in early 2017, flying from Puerto Montt and Iquique initially before being transferred to Talcahuano.

Powered by two Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 engines, the P68 Observer 2 is already in service with a number of military and para-public operators around the world, including the Chilean Army. With operating costs said by the company to be approximately one-fifth that of a single-engined turbine helicopter, the P68 Observer 2 has a cruise speed of 166 kt (compared to 125 kt for a helicopter), and a range of 1,525 n miles (350 n miles for a helicopter). It has an endurance of 10.5 hours.

In Chilean Navy service, the aircraft will be equipped with the UTC Aerospace Systems TASE500 stabilised high-definition (HD) electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor turret for improved situational awareness and increased observational capabilities.

Though owned and operated by the Chilean Navy, the P68 Observer 2s will be controlled by the Chilean Navy's General Directorate for Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (Dirección General del Territorio Marítimo y de Marina Mercante: DIRECTEMAR), which is effectively a coastguard service within the navy.

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http://www.janes.com/article/63400/chilean-navy-inducts-new-observation-aircraft

 

[Penguin]

The arrival of the first Vulcanair P68 Observer 2 for the Chilean Navy took place in July,
http://www.janes.com/article/63400/chilean-navy-inducts-new-observation-aircraft

You'ld almost think the people at Vulcanair took one of those Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, ripped off the rotors, fixed the tail and slapped on a win. Nice congruety of design lines ;-)

As compared to, say ...