Army Flight School Next: A new way to train the next generation of aviators - Breaking Defense
An innovative program to draw on industry resources to train helicopter pilots in a different way.
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Hot new helicopter/rotorcraft news
- Thread starter Randy Daytona
- Start date
I guess I missed the industry news...what happened with the S-92?
Sikorsky/LM supply chain fail - left many if not most of S-92 fleet grounded around the world post COVID. And really only now starting to recover.
Worth noting, Aviation Branch has never successfully brought a program to a finished product since it was created in the US Army.
And it was widely agreed that the 505 was the right choice but here we are…
I agree, the 505 is the solid choice for the army…far superior to the Robby.
They need a capable and complex aircraft that can teach tactics and IFR. The Lakota is a good aircraft, but if you want a single, a 407 or something similar (would say 125, but for the CW head).
Unfortunately, the Army is cheaping out on this. They also need to start planning for a hybrid helo/fixed wing course for the MV-75, but they’re already behind the curve.
Modern fleet aircraft need more capable primary trainers to precede them, not less. The Army is determined to learn things the hardest possible way.
The 407 would be a good trainer, and I wonder if the powers that be might not just force the Thrasher on the army. Actually, I’m surprised some corporation isn’t exploring the idea of a light, four seat, tilt rotor as a kind of intermediate to advanced trainer.
I predict Leonardo is simply waiting for the landscape to shake out a bit. But my guess is the requirements would make the Thrasher too complex for what Army envisions on an ab initio training aircraft. Which is why the 505 has gotten so much juice. Remember that even when UH-1 and TH-67 were in service for primary training, old heads were clamoring for the TH-55.
