58 LUHs In Service With Army, ANG

After a somewhat difficult gestation process, it appears the US Army's growing fleet of UH-72A Lakota helicopters is coming into its own. Those Light Utility Helicopters recently passed the 10,000 flight-hour milestone in military service, according to manufacturer EADS North America.

Fifty-eight UH-72As have been delivered to the US Army and Army National Guard for missions including homeland security, medical evacuation, logistics and VIP flights.

"Day after day, the UH-72A program is fulfilling a key role in the modernization of the US Army's helicopter assets," said EADS North America Chairman and CEO Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. "All Lakotas have been delivered on time or ahead of schedule, and we remain committed to providing America's warfighters with the very best equipment to accomplish their important missions."

The UH-72A is based on the Eurocopter EC145 commercial helicopter.  As part of EADS North America's expansion of its US industrial presence, a full-scale Lakota production capability in Columbus, MS facility and pilot training in Grand Prairie, TX are components of the American Eurocopter business unit.

EADS says Lakotas are in service coast-to-coast, in operations ranging from support and medical evacuation missions at the Army's National Training Center in Ft. Irwin, CA to multi-role airlift flights in the nation's capital area. Lakotas also participated in disaster relief and coordination missions for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in the southern US last September.

Current basing and operating locations for the UH-72A fleet include the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site in Fort Indiantown Gap, PA; Fort Eustis and Fort Belvoir, VA; Fort Polk, LA; Fort Irwin, CA; Jacksonville, FL; Morrisville, NC; Pineville, LA; Tupelo, MS; the US Military Academy at West Point, NY, and Washington, DC.

To date, 128 Lakotas have been ordered by the Army, with the military service planning to acquire a total of 345 UH-72As through 2016. In addition, five Light Utility Helicopters have been ordered by the US Navy for pilot training at the Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, MD.

FMI: www.eadsnorthamerica.com