Leonardo TH-73A US Navy Advance Helicopter Training
 

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/Nav...-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.

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

How does that work?

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

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

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.

Marsupial?

Yes it is.

Drop-bear perhaps?

The FSTDs are actually part of a separate bid. The provider for the training services has yet to be determined.

That would be a Sea Koala, then..

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

So a she-bear?

or (as it is no bear) a cloaca?

It's the Genesys avionics system. https://www.advancedhelicoptertraine...trum-training/

We prefer to use cloaca for all Airbus products.

Autopilot
 

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.

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

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.

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!

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?

TH-119 demo flight
 

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....e36e9e266.jpeg
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Airbus is formally protesting the selection of the TH-119 over their H135.

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

https://www.janes.com/article/94133/...rd-to-leonardo

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

Exercise options for 36 airframes
 

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/p...3a-helicopters

First Th-73A delivered
 

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....6e7e44b8c.jpeg

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….?

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

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

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

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Ne...copter-system/

https://media.defense.gov/2022/Sep/2...QD784-0001.JPG