Leonardo TH-73 US Navy

[chopper2004]

Congratulations to Leonardo as Us Navy selects the AW119Ke as the new US Navy Advance Helicopter Training System replacing the legacy Bell TH-57C Sea Ranger.

https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Navy-awards-contract-new-Advanced-Helicopter-Training-System/Mon-01132020-1723From Program Executive Office Tactical Aircraft Programs Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy announced on Jan. 13, 2020 that AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation (Leonardo) was awarded a contract for $176.5M for the production of 32 TH-73A helicopters in support of the Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) program.

“Today marks a great team effort to procure and deliver a helicopter trainer for the next generation of helicopter and tilt-rotor pilots for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard,” said James F. Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. “I’m proud of the aggressive work the team did to leverage the commercial industrial base to get this capability to the warfighters, and our nation, at the best value to the taxpayer. This effort is key to ensure the readiness of our Naval Aviators for decades to come.”

Five proposals were submitted for the contract. The new firm fixed price TH-73A contract was awarded on a best-value tradeoff basis with a base and three one-year options. The base year contract is for $176.5M for 32 aircraft. The total contract value is $648.1M for the procurement of 130 aircraft. Helicopter deliveries are scheduled to begin in calendar year 2020 and continue through calendar year 2024.

The new helicopter will meet advanced rotary wing and intermediate tilt-rotor training requirements for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard through 2050. The TH-73A will be manufactured in United States with assembly taking place, through FAA Airworthiness certification, in the contractor’s FAA Part 21 facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[rrekn]

A wonder what they will name it? Koala may be un-bearable...

[Lurching]

The new helicopter will meet advanced rotary wing and intermediate tilt-rotor training requirements for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard through 2050.

How does that work?

[Bravo73]

Is the ‘intermediate section’ of tilt-rotor training teaching fixed-wing pilots how to hover?

[tottigol]

How does that work?
The DoD NAVY buys 130 helicopters, trains the instructors and the instructors train the students.
The whole package is turnkey and includes FSTDs.

[tottigol]

Is the ‘intermediate section’ of tilt-rotor training teaching fixed-wing pilots how to hover?
Have to start somewhere, however it's easier to make a hybrid pilot out of a helicopter pilot rather than from a fixed wing one.

[Self loading bear]

A wonder what they will name it? Koala may be un-bearable...

Marsupial?

[Aussierob]

Marsupial?

Yes it is.

[rrekn]

Drop-bear perhaps?

[SimFlightTest]

The DoD NAVY buys 130 helicopters, trains the instructors and the instructors train the students.
The whole package is turnkey and includes FSTDs.
The FSTDs are actually part of a separate bid. The provider for the training services has yet to be determined.

[S76Heavy]

A wonder what they will name it? Koala may be un-bearable...
That would be a Sea Koala, then..

[SimFlightTest]

Does anybody know what autopilot Leonardo stuffed into the 119 to get it IFR. Is it the old analog SHZ-109A or SP-711?

[Self loading bear]

That would be a Sea Koala, then..

So a she-bear?

or (as it is no bear) a cloaca?

[ECL_FTE]

Does anybody know what autopilot Leonardo stuffed into the 119 to get it IFR. Is it the old analog SHZ-109A or SP-711?

It's the Genesys avionics system. https://www.advancedhelicoptertrainer.com/full-spectrum-training/

[tottigol]

So a she-bear?

or (as it is no bear) a cloaca?
We prefer to use cloaca for all Airbus products.

[PDFDAviator]

The avionics (displays) are from Genesys. The only autopilot they (Genesys) has that is certified for IFR is the one used for the EC145e IFR certification with Metro Aviation using Genyses displays. I believe the autopilot used (and I could be wrong) for the Navy contract is the same one used for the 109 Trekker (don't have the model number) ...which also uses the same Genesys displays.

[Copter Appreciator00]

the helicopter may be un-kaola-fied for the program after all.

[Copter Appreciator00]

I was wondering what about the AW119 made it the choice? in what regards did it outduel the H135 and the bell 407? I suspect the open cabin forward-facing bench seat arrangement had something to do with it, as the 407 has the first pair of passanger seats facing rear. What else may have come into play in favor of the AW119?

[havick]

I was wondering what about the AW119 made it the choice? in what regards did it outduel the H135 and the bell 407? I suspect the open cabin forward-facing bench seat arrangement had something to do with it, as the 407 has the first pair of passanger seats facing rear. What else may have come into play in favor of the AW119?

SPIFR single engine with a PT6, decent cabin, good performance, cost effective.

Personal opinion, I think it was a wise choice.

[rrekn]

I was wondering what about the AW119 made it the choice? in what regards did it outduel the H135 and the bell 407? I suspect the open cabin forward-facing bench seat arrangement had something to do with it, as the 407 has the first pair of passanger seats facing rear. What else may have come into play in favor of the AW119?

The EC135 has won many similar training contracts (UK, Germany, Australia) due to the fact it's a twin, but that also brings increased costs (and complexities for a student pilot), I think the combination of IFR capability combined with the low running costs of a single won the day.

Like all US Defense contracts, I'm sure there was a senator or congressman from Philadelphia that had something to do with it too...

[Autonomous Collectiv]

The EC135 has won many similar training contracts (UK, Germany, Australia) due to the fact it's a twin, but that also brings increased costs (and complexities for a student pilot), I think the combination of IFR capability combined with the low running costs of a single won the day.

Like all US Defense contracts, I'm sure there was a senator or congressman from Philadelphia that had something to do with it too...

In Australia the Military that are operating in a training role and didn't choose it are crying into their beer. It is woefully under-performing and rumour has it to train for hoisting they can't carry enough fuel to leave the confines of Nowra!

[tottigol]

I was wondering what about the AW119 made it the choice? in what regards did it outduel the H135 and the bell 407? I suspect the open cabin forward-facing bench seat arrangement had something to do with it, as the 407 has the first pair of passanger seats facing rear. What else may have come into play in favor of the AW119?
I am not the tallest pilot around, however when going from the 206L to the 407, I found out that the pax cabin was made longer by stealing about 4 inches from the cockpit and that I no longer needed to move the pedals closer.
Small cockpit tends to be an issue when you are training with an LPA over your flight suit.
The 407's broom closet also does not lend itself to visibility and/or accessibility from the rear.
Having flown both aircraft I can say that the 119 vastly outperforms the 407 anyday, even the vibrations are greater.
Last but not least, a fully specd IFR high performing single at less than 5 millions per copy?

[chopper2004]

Thanks to the Leonardo folks who arranged the TH-119 demo flight last week in Anaheim. So here are my photos from that morning...

cheers


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/f186e63a_2e96_485a_91d4_7bcd584d7607_2286642d81323a09519557a 41c523fce36e9e266.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/f37c6bf2_f609_4b46_b18a_083591cbf807_ba488d65954c5091d5075ef 31b2892fef0903c01.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/efad8762_34ab_4c46_a1a1_da3bb1a984ab_c6aa789e107952264fad359 4572af97cabb60cc3.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/efcd848f_9ecb_437d_93cc_adc7aa58334e_34e1c15291583bb7f18ef31 3277198795a4ebbb0.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/938d43c2_db52_45dd_89ee_17aed3acf352_8b47592481fe3c503085bc2 defbfcdaf21ad81ee.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/c9358fb8_d965_4bcf_bbad_c0a4c2de9147_5c0283e6e15a0a614be3ddf 17bf48988269e40cf.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/b8ca0b95_0b98_437c_8555_c9634820624c_3b624b4746d85ef844b9b29 8d7439c14eccdbb0c.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/39068329_8066_4c87_8428_f012974a8116_33d5c626c0cb796bf3487f3 06eee5d128b3c44da.jpeg

[ObeyTheDiode]

Airbus is formally protesting the selection of the TH-119 over their H135.

[chopper2004]

And I spoke too soon as Airbus Helicopters are contesting the decision

https://www.janes.com/article/94133/airbus-helicopters-protests-us-navy-helicopter-trainer-award-to-leonardo

[havick]

And I spoke too soon as Airbus Helicopters are contesting the decision

https://www.janes.com/article/94133/airbus-helicopters-protests-us-navy-helicopter-trainer-award-to-leonardo

The baby has thrown it’s bottle out of the cot.

[chopper2004]

Additional Leonardo TH-73A as the United States Navy exercises options for another thirty six of the new helicopter trainer.

https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/press-release-detail/-/detail/13-11-2020-leonardo-u-s-department-of-defense-exercises-options-for-36-th-73a-helicopters

[chopper2004]

Philadelphia, 10 June 2021 – At a ceremony on its Philadelphia campus and under the backdrop of the Stars and Stripes, Leonardo officially delivered the first TH-73A training helicopter to the U.S. Navy earlier today. The ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, commander of Naval Air Forces and Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; Rear Admiral Gregory Harris, Director of Air Warfare Division (N98); and Captain Holly Shoger, Program Manager of Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program. Also attending the ceremony was Leonardo Helicopters Managing Director Gian Piero Cutillo and members of local, state and federal elected delegations, including Congressman Donald Norcross and Philadelphia Mayor‘
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x665/2482aef4_6d39_4d54_a33a_3becec8c7250_5fa5591051dec54f54b5029 43cf0a086e7e44b8c.jpeg

[Rigga]

In the 70’s Harrier pilots used to do a few hours of helicopter training (in Whirlwinds) before they started their type training - I elieve to get them used to contribute=ogling things in a hover….?

[Rigga]

How does that work?

In the 70’s Harrier pilots got used to hovering a Whirlwind before doing their type training.

[rrekn]

Looks like that paint job is from the '70s...

[SASless]

I would suggest the blinding fast speed of the Whirlwind is what was prepping them for the Harrier.

[chopper2004]

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3168214/first-student-naval-aviators-begin-training-in-new-helicopter-system/fbclid/first-student-naval-aviators-begin-training-in-new-helicopter-system/fbclid/first-student-naval-aviators-begin-training-in-new-helicopter-system/

https://media.defense.gov/2022/Sep/22/2003083663/-1/-1/0/220825-N-QD784-0001.JPG