In mid-August 2022, the U.S. Air Drive accepted possession of 4 MH-139A Gray Wolf check plane – mere weeks after Boeing accomplished the ultimate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Kind Certification required for the MH-139A to attain its Navy Flight Launch. Previous to possession, the plane went by way of rigorous acceptance check carried out by Air Drive World Strike Command Detachment 7 and 413th Flight Take a look at Squadron pilots. These accomplishments enable the Air Drive to conduct testing of important army capabilities of the MH-139A as this system progresses in direction of Milestone C.

“Leonardo’s 139 helicopter has a powerful pedigree of efficiency in a number of missions within the civil, public, and army domains. The built-in system redundancies and bodily efficiency of the plane present nice potential for enhancing on the myriad of missions which were coated by the venerable Huey for thus lengthy. We’re excited to get it into check and discover out what it will possibly actually do,” stated Lt. Col. Josh Hallford, Chief, MH-139 Standardization and Evaluations MH-139 Take a look at Detachment 7.

Commercial

An MH-139A Gray Wolf, the Air Drive’s latest helicopter, lifts off from the flightline for its first mixed check flight at Eglin Air Drive Base, Fla., Feb. 11, 2020. The Gray Wolf is about to exchange the Air Drive’s growing old UH-1N Huey fleet. Joint Base Andrews, Md. was lately chosen because the fourth location to host the plane. (Photograph by U.S. Air Drive)

The MH-139A Gray Wolf will change the Air Drive fleet of UH-1N plane, providing a big functionality improve in pace, vary, endurance, payload, and survivability. The U.S. Air Drive will purchase 80 MH-139A helicopters, coaching units, and related assist tools. The MH-139A will present vertical airlift and assist to 4 Air Drive Main Instructions and different working businesses together with Air Drive World Strike Command, Air Schooling and Coaching Command, Air Drive Materiel Command, Air Drive Reserve Command, and the Air Drive District of Washington (AFDW).

The MH-139A is the army model of the business Leonardo AW139 twin-engined, medium-sized helicopter. Constructed at Leonardo’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility, the helicopter’s army parts are added by prime contractor Boeing after preliminary meeting. The MH-139A Gray Wolf will present vertical airlift and assist the necessities of 5 Air Drive main instructions and working businesses: Air Drive World Strike Command, Air Drive District of Washington, Air Schooling and Coaching Command, Air Drive Materiel Command and Pacific Air Forces. Air Drive World Strike Command is the lead command and operational functionality necessities sponsor.

Two of the four newly acquired MH-139A Grey Wolf Helicopters pictured at Duke Field, Fla. poised to begin developmental testing as the program marks significant progress towards Milestone C. The aircraft is set to replace the U.S Airforce’s UH-1N Huey aircraft fleet.
Two of the 4 newly acquired MH-139A Gray Wolf Helicopters pictured at Duke Area, Fla. poised to start developmental testing as this system marks vital progress in direction of Milestone C. The plane is about to exchange the united statesAirforce’s UH-1N Huey plane fleet. (Photograph by U.S. Air Drive)