ZH-82 Sparrow
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ZH-82 Sparrow
Fahr Kohlmann ZH-82 Sparrow
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| Utility/attack Tiltrotor | |||||
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| National Origin | Zokesia | ||||
| Production History | |||||
| Produced | |||||
| 2202 - Present | |||||
| Designer | Fahr Kohlmann | ||||
| Unit Cost | 17,037(√) | ||||
| Number Built | 165 | ||||
| Service History | |||||
| Used By | The Confederacy, Imperial Union | ||||
The Fahr Kohlmann ZH-82 Sparrow is a twin-engined utility tiltrotor developed and manufactured by the Zokesian rotorcraft manufacturer Fahr Kohlmann. It replaced the ZH-66 Greyhawk II in army special forces and ZAH-1 Python in marine units, on account of its high speed and cargo capacity compared to traditional helicopters.
Design
Developed in the early 2200s as a case study for miniaturizing the tiltrotor design of the MZ-22 Albatross, design 602 was drawn up at Fahr Kohlmann over a span of two years. Engineers started with the body of a ZH-66 Greyhawk II, a reliable and stalwart airframe, and attached large folding wings to the area vacated by the transmission. The powerplants were moved outboard and tilt mechanisms were placed inside the wing spar on the ends to facilitate rigid operation in flight. The first ZH-82 prototype flew in 2203.
Further refinements came about after flight testing phase came to a conclusion in 2204, after the Zokesian Royal Navy rejected the design, quite ironically, for being too unproven compared to conventional helicopters, despite the widespread use of tiltrotors for COD delivery in the Albatross. The Confederate Coast Guard purchased a handful, but were plagued with issues for years untill design improvements solved many flight characteristic anomalies, leading to several crashes.
Variants
Further refinement of the controls were brought about to make transition easier, a new autopilot (nicknamed AOTO) was installed, easing pilot workload during horizontal flight, and allowed the Sparrow to perform well in the Close Air Support and ASW role. With the ZH-82A finally entering mass production for the Zokesian Armed Forces in 2212, it was further refined with exterior pylons for ground attack, and a refueling probe was fitted at the request of the Zokesian Army.
Operational History
The Imperial Union took first orders of ZH-82s in 2205, with around 40 being delivered.
In 2213, after nearly a decade of teething troubles, the Zokesian Royal Navy and Confederate Coast Guard accepted the ZH-82 into service, replacing the ZH-66 Greyhawk IIs that had served for decades. The Zokesian Marine Corps would follow, purchasing 20 to replace their ZAH-1 Python attack helicopters.
Gallery
ZH-82 in Coast Guard service
Navalized Sparrows are used as ASW helos in the Zokesian Royal Navy
Z-82As of the Zokesian Army in formation
ZH-82 refuels from a Marine MZ-22 Albatross
The Sparrow's folding wing allows it to fit into roughly the same parking space as a ZH-66 Greyhawk II, saving vital space aboard ships.
ZAH-82D in Marine service.
