Hot new helicopter/rotorcraft news

[ChuckMK23]

I was told recently that the Army has a statutory limit on the number of fixed wings aircraft it owns. Turns out that's false, but there are agreements with USAF limiting Army's FW capabilities. So, I bet you'll never catch a general admitting that tiltrotors are VTOL FW aircraft.

From the Google:
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The head of the Army's Fixed Wing procurement directorate was visiting in my office a few weeks ago. (he's a War College buddy of my boss). He had some interesting insights. Fixed Wing aircraft aren't going away in the Army anytime soon. And there is plenty of constructive debate going on regarding the current transformation in Army Aviation.

 

[phrogdriver]

So it's basically the Robinson R-66 versus Bell and the 505.


Army moves 3 companies to Phase III of Flight School Next competition - Breaking Defense https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02...-phase-iii-of-flight-school-next-competition/

So the 119 is out?

The Army is definitely going for the el cheapo model of flight training.

 

[ChuckMK23]

So the 119 is out?

The Army is definitely going for the el cheapo model of flight training.

The way I read the article M1, LM and Bell made the cut.

M1 and LM both are partnering with Robinson on R66.

 

[phrogdriver]

The way I read the article M1, LM and Bell made the cut.

M1 and LM both are partnering with Robinson on R66.

That's aligned with what I was saying. Leonardo's T119 is out, then. As much as I don't like that aircraft compared to comparable platforms, it's much more like a operational military helicopter than the 505 or R66. The Army is clearly going "lowest cost, technically acceptable" (LCTA), which I think is a great way to get people killed.