Helicopters

With AURA Program the USMC is taking advantage of all the work manufacturers are already doing for the US Army’s FRLAA which aims to replace the Black Hawk.

On Sep. 16, 2019, the US Marine Corps (USMC) issued a Request for Information (RoI) to the industry for a next-generation aircraft to replace the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters.

With the Attack Utility Replacement Aircraft (AURA) program, the USMC is planning for a “concept advancement contract” with multiple manufacturers between 2020 and 2023, with a full replacement of the Viper and Venom by the Attack Utility Replacement Aircraft (AURA) around 2030.

As explained by Helis.com, with AURA the USMC is taking advantage of all the work manufacturers are already doing for the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FRLAA) which aims to replace the Black Hawk.

Noteworthy, the Marines are pushing forward the Army request with a combat radius without refueling of 450 nautical miles (830 kilometers) and a cruise speed of 295 knots (540 km/h). As pointed out by Lieutenant General Steven Rudder, USMC Aviation deputy commandant, these higher requirements are to allow the new aircraft to keep up with the MV-22B Osprey currently in use by the service.

Another important part of the request is for both the attack and utility variants to have much commonality (the current AH-1Z and UH-1Y share more than 80% of the parts).

The Industry responses for the RoI are scheduled for December this year and the main candidates are supposed to be based on the Bell V-280 Valor and the 1 Defiant.

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is the USMC/Navy agency in charge of the future acquisition.

Photo by U.S. Marine Corps, Bell, Sikorsky/Boeing

Among 1st Air Cavalry Brigade helicopters involved in this deployment, there are CH-47 Chinooks, UH-60 Black Hawks, HH-60 Black Hawks, and AH-64 Apaches

Taken at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium, the incredible photos in this article show 1st Air Cavalry Brigade “Air Cav” helicopters staged and ready to move in Germany.

Noteworthy the aircraft arrived in Europe to support Operation Atlantic Resolve.

As you can see by looking at the pictures, among the helicopters involved in this deployment there are CH-47 Chinooks, UH-60 Black Hawks, HH-60 Black Hawks, and AH-64 Apaches.

The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade’s mission is to deploy by sea, air, or land to any part of the world on short notice and once engaged with the threat to destroy, neutralize, or suppress the enemy.

Atlantic Resolve is a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO allies and partners of America’s dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region in light of the Russian intervention in Ukraine.

Since April 2014, Army Europe has led land forces efforts on behalf of the U.S. military, by conducting continuous, enhanced multinational training and security cooperation activities with allies and partners in eastern Europe.

These multinational training and security cooperation activities are taking place in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. These training events improve interoperability, strengthen relationships and trust among allied armies, contribute to regional stability, and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.

Atlantic Resolve demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the security of NATO allies on air, land, and at sea. To ensure its own security, NATO must have strong, committed, and capable allies, which is why the United States has fought, exercised and trained with our European allies for the past 70 years. The U.S.-European strategic partnership is built on a foundation of shared values, experiences, and commitment to a Europe that is stable and prosperous.

Photo by U.S. Army

No injuries were reported among the seven crewmembers aboard the CH-53

On Oct. 11, 2017, a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) CH-53 helicopter from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462) made an emergency landing in an empty field near Higashi village, Okinawa, after having experienced an in-flight engine fire.

According to The Japan Times, no injuries were reported among the seven crew members aboard the helicopter.

In the following YouTube video taken on the crash site, you can see another CH-53 attempting to put out the fire using a helibucket.

Japanese authorities asked the U.S. military to provide a full report and take steps to prevent similar accidents.

To quickly address these concerns the USMC in Japan announced a four-day operational halt for the CH-53 transport helicopters stationed in Okinawa.

As reported by Kyodo News the accident site was found to have been about 300 meters away from residential houses.

“Accidents by the U.S. Marine Corps are continuing. We want to communicate to the U.S. side that we demand safe operations,” Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters.

In December, five crew members aboard a USMC MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor were injured in what the Pentagon described as a “mishap” resulting in the plane landing in shallow water off Okinawa.

After that incident, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said it was “very regrettable” that a “serious accident” had occurred and stressed that being able to operate safely was a “prerequisite” for the aircraft to be based in Japan.

A series of accidents in other countries involving the hybrid aircraft prompted protests by residents in Okinawa after its deployment there.

In August, U.S. Marines were forced to mount a major search and rescue mission after an MV-22 Osprey crashed off the east coast of Australia.

They were able to rescue 23 out of the 26 personnel on board the aircraft.

More recently another USMC MV-22 crashed on a coalition base in Syria. Two U.S. service members were injured during the incident.

noteworthy more than half the approximately 47,000 American troops in Japan under a decades-long security alliance are stationed on Okinawa, the site of a major World War II battle that was followed by a 27-year U.S. occupation of the island.

The HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and other equipment were projected to remain at Lakenheath until the beginning of June 2018

The relocation of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters belonging to the 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons from RAF Lakenheath to Aviano Air Base (AB), Italy, was slated to be completed by the end of June 2018.

As told by By Staff Reports, 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, in the article 56th, 57th RQS relocation underway, the move, initially announced in November 2015, aims to establish a more strategically and economically suited location for the rescue squadrons.

Over the next several months, the rescue squadrons prepared to send their five HH-60G Pave Hawks, Guardian Angel Weapons Systems, and nearly 350 personnel to their new duty station.

A small detachment at Aviano AB to ensure a smooth transition was established by the squadrons.

More personnel began transitioning in February 2018, with the main body movement occurring between April and early June. Additionally, incoming RQS Airmen went directly to Italy.

The HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and other equipment were projected to remain at Lakenheath until the beginning of June 2018, at which point they traveled to their new duty station.

According to both RQS commanders, the move brought new training opportunities and positioned the squadrons closer to the current theater of operations.

“We are definitely going to miss RAF Lakenheath and all things the local community offers,” said Lt. Col. Jose Cabrera, 57th RQS commander.

“On the other hand, we’re looking forward to the Aviano move because it will improve our ability to respond to contingencies in Northern Africa and in the European continent,” he said.

“So far this year, we conducted three separate training weeks in Italy working with our Italian counterparts,” Cabrera said. “These events enhanced our relationship with the host nation and increased our access to training ranges in Italy.”

“We found ourselves already feeling at home amongst like-minded coalition training partners,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Dugan, 56th RQS commander. “This is a unique opportunity to build upon our 48th Fighter Wing legacy.”

Airmen from the 57th RQS recently participated in Ares Shadow at Aviano, Aug. 8-11, a 48th Fighter Wing-led personnel recovery exercise, which also involved Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing, the 352nd Special Operations Wing, and members of the Italian armed forces.

Members of the 56th RQS also visited their future host wing to establish procedures and routines and engaged with regional partner nation armed forces.

Photo by Senior Airman Tiffany M. Grigg, Airman 1st Class Eli Chevalier / U.S. Air Force

The V-280 Valor will undergo a series of functional tests running all aircraft systems and flight controls, in preparation for first flight this fall

The interesting video in this post features the Bell V-280 Valor prototype aircraft beginning its restrained ground run test operations. The aircraft will continue ground run testing at the Bell Helicopter Amarillo Assembly Center where it will undergo a series of functional tests running all aircraft systems and flight controls in preparation for the first flight this fall.

The V-280 Valor is a third-generation tiltrotor aircraft being developed by Bell Helicopter for the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.

The V-280 is a clean sheet next-generation tiltrotor – applying lessons learned from nearly six decades of tiltrotor expertise to create groundbreaking simplicity and deliver transformational, affordable technology to alter the course of vertical flight.

Safe and survivable, the design features integrated cabin armor, fly-by-wire component redundancy, state-of-the-art countermeasures, and performance. Advanced tiltrotor speed and range provide commanders access not currently available. With more than twice the speed and range of current helicopter platforms, the V-280 provides access to get to the objective while providing superior agility at the objective. Airborne battle boards bring fused data and mission updates to the cabin for real-time tracking.

Special emphasis has been placed on reducing the weight of the V-280 in comparison to the V-22, which in turn would reduce cost. To do this, composites are used extensively in the wing, fuselage, and tail. Wing skins and ribs are made of a honeycomb-stiffened “sandwich” construction with large-cell carbon cores for fewer, larger, and lighter parts. Skins and ribs are paste-bonded together to eliminate fasteners. With these measures, costs are reduced by over 30 percent compared to a scaled V-22 wing. Bell expects the V-280 to cost around the same as an AH-64E or MH-60M. While the Osprey has a higher disk loading and lower hover efficiency than a helicopter, the V-280 will have a lower disk loading and longer wing for greater hover and cruise efficiency.

This CH-53 Super Stallion formation flight was performed to celebrate attaining the unit’s training requirements for this fiscal year

Taken on Sep. 22, 2017, the impressive pictures in this post show CH-53 Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 (HMHT-302) conducting a formation flight at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina.

As explained by Pfc. Nicholas Guevara, II Marine Expeditionary Force, in the article Riding the stallion: HMHT-302 conducts formation flight, the flight was performed to celebrate attaining the unit’s training requirements for this fiscal year.

“We launched eight CH-53 Super Stallions as a visualization of all the hard work we have put in this year,” said Lt. Col. Enrique Azenon, the commanding officer of the unit. “You usually don’t see this many aircraft flying at one time unless it’s during an operation, so it’s a sight to see.”

Noteworthy, the Marines celebrated by flying to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, and then flying back to MCAS New River. One of the pilots also received a special qualification after the flight for leading the formation.

“One of our pilots was qualifying for their Assault Flight Lead Check Flight,” said Azenon. “We are trying to put some more training into our instructor pilots for their proficiency and their job advancement.”

Because the Marines were able to reach all of their fiscal year requirements, the training enabled Marines to be proficient enough as a team to make the formation happen at such a large magnitude.

“This flight was definitely a win for the unit and for 2nd Marine Air Wing,” said Azenon. “Everyone collectively doing their part and showing what Marines can do really reflected in today’s flight.”

Built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) the CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military. The less common MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the U.S. Navy’s need for long-range minesweeping or Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) missions and performs heavy-lift duties for the Navy. Further development of the family is the new CH-53K King Stallion, which is equipped with new engines, new composite material rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin.

Photo by Pfc. Nicholas Guevara / U.S. Marine Corps

The VH-92A will enter into service in 2020 and will transport the president and vice president of the United States and other officials

Lockheed Martin has now disclosed that the VH-92A presidential helicopter made its maiden flight on Jul. 28, 2017.

The flight took place at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Connecticut, and signals the start of the 250-hour flight test program, which will take place at Lockheed Martin facilities in Owego, New York.

Two flights were made that day with both sorties being one hour long. Engineering Development Model 1 (EDM-1) made hovering control checks, low-speed flight, and a pass of the airfield.

“This first flight of the VH-92A configured test aircraft is an important milestone for the program,” said Spencer Elani, director VH-92A program at Sikorsky. “Having independently tested the aircraft’s components and subsystems, we are now moving forward to begin full aircraft system qualification via the flight test program.”

As the flight test program proceeds, EDM-1 will be joined by an additional test aircraft (EDM-2) over the course of the 12-month flight test program. EDM-2 is on track for its first flight later this year.

The VH-92A aircraft is based on Sikorsky’s successful and FAA-certified S-92A commercial aircraft, which recently surpassed one million flight hours. The S-92A aircraft, assembled in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, is being modified to include integration of government-defined missions systems and an executive interior.

“With this successful first flight on the books, we look forward to the completion of Sikorsky’s flight test program, operational testing, and production of this aircraft to support the Office of the President of the United States,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert Pridgen, program manager for the Naval Air System Command’s Presidential Helicopter’s Program Office.

The U.S. Navy awarded a $1.24 billion fixed-price incentive Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract with production options to Sikorsky on May 7, 2014. The EMD contract will produce a total of six aircraft: two test aircraft and four production aircraft. The production options for the remaining 17 aircraft will be finalized in FY19.

The VH-92A will enter into service in 2020. The VH-92A will transport the president and vice president of the United States and other officials. The helicopter will feature the distinctive call sign “Marine One” which identifies any United States Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft carrying the President of the United States (while a USMC aircraft carrying the Vice President has the call sign Marine Two).

Sikorsky brings unmatched experience and a proven track record to this mission having flown every U.S. commander-in-chief since President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The VH-92A will continue this legacy for decades to come.

Photo by Sikorsky and NAVAIR

Maj. Jasmin Moghbeli, who has been chosen for the NASA Astronaut Candidate Class of 2017, has flown over 500 missions, 150 of those being combat missions, and logged over 1,200 hours flying the AH-1 Cobra

On Jul. 7, 2017, Maj. Jasmin Moghbeli, who has been chosen for the NASA Astronaut Candidate Class of 2017, performed her last flight in the AH-1 Cobra, her favorite “skid” aircraft, at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Ariz.

But as explained by Lance Cpl. Christian Oliver Cachola, in the article Maj. Moghbeli’s Final Flight, although Moghbeli has flown over 500 missions, 150 of those being combat missions, and logged over 1,200 hours flying the Cobra, flying helicopters was not exactly part of her plan when she sought out to become an astronaut.

Actually, when Moghbeli first joined the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), she wanted to fly jets. She always thought: Who would want to fly helicopters? She believed that becoming a fighter jet pilot would better her chances at becoming an astronaut. The young second lieutenant spent a few hours riding as a passenger in CH-53s during her time at The Basic School in Quantico, Va. but was unamused. However, just a single encounter with an attack helicopter changed her opinion.

Moghbeli distinctly remembers the first time she witnessed a Cobra fly overhead and instantaneously said, “I want that one.”

She began to admire the abilities of tiltrotor aircraft and eventually was selected to fly the Cobra. Years later, she had been through three deployments to Afghanistan with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

“My favorite thing about flying the Cobra,” Moghbeli explained, “is being able to support the Marines on the ground. We’re not too high, we’re not too low; we have great situational awareness with a birds-eye view where we can see exactly what’s going on and pass it on to the guys on the ground.”

Later, Moghbeli would go on to fly and test the Cobra’s operational capabilities with Marine Test and Evaluation Squadron 1, based out of MCAS Yuma.

And although she has finally made her dream come true, Moghbeli will miss flying helicopters.

“It’s a little bittersweet,” she said. “I love flying helicopters; I love flying the Cobra and I know that this is potentially my last flight ever, or at least my last one for a long time, but I’m very excited about what I’m about to go do.”

Moghbeli is scheduled to report to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to begin her two years of astronaut training.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Cachola / U.S. Marine Corps