Wed, Jul 22, 2009
First Of Type To Be Based Outside of Continental United
States
The first two EADS North
America-built UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters to be based
outside of the continental United States have been delivered to the
U.S. Army for operations in Puerto Rico.
The UH-72A is a derivative of Eurocopter's proven EC145
multi-role helicopter, and is produced at a state-of-the-art
facility in Columbus, MS, that is operated by American Eurocopter,
an EADS North America company.
These rotary-wing aircraft were the 66th and 67th UH-72As
delivered to U.S. Army and Army National Guard units by EADS North
America, and they continued the company's track record of on-time
deliveries for the service's new Light Utility Helicopter. Both
Lakota helicopters are now located at San Juan's Isla Grande
Airport, and are operated by Detachment B/1-114AV of the Puerto
Rico National Guard. They are equipped for general aviation support
missions.
"These latest deliveries expand the UH-72A's area of operations
and underscore the Lakota's ability to serve in a full range of
climates and conditions," said EADS North America Chairman and CEO
Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. "With an operational availability rate higher
than 90 percent, the UH-72A continues to demonstrate its mission
readiness in support of our warfighters and for America's homeland
security."
To date, 128 UH-72As have been ordered from EADS North America
for U.S. Army and National Guard service, with plans to acquire a
total of 345 of the twin-engine helicopters through 2016. Five
aircraft in the H-72A configuration also are on contract for use by
the U.S. Navy in test pilot training at Patuxent River Naval Air
Station, MD.
Phase-in of the UH-72A fleet is enabling the National Guard to
retire its aging OH-58 and UH-1 rotary-wing aircraft, while Lakota
deliveries to the active component of the Army free up UH-60 Black
Hawks for combat missions. In addition to their basing in the
continental United States and Puerto Rico, future overseas
deployments of UH-72As are planned to Europe.
A variant of the UH-72A is being proposed by EADS North America
as a new armed scout helicopter for the U.S. Army -- the Armed
Scout 645.
More News
States That Current Process is Damaging National Aerospace Development US Senator Jerry Morgan is pushing the FAA to speed up the process for rocket launch licensing. He argues tha>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Edition): Model Aviator Aims For Full-Scale Career While at the 2015 Indoor Electric RC Festival, referred to as eFest, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell>[...]
Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]
Aero Linx: Cardinal Flyers Online The Cardinal Flyers Online Web site was created and is maintained by me, Keith Peterson. My wife Debbie and I have owned a 1976 RG since 1985. Wit>[...]
Clearance Void If Not Off By (Time) Used by ATC to advise an aircraft that the departure release is automatically canceled if takeoff is not made prior to a specified time. The exp>[...]