AHI delivers Lakota direct to Army

Airbus Helicopters Inc. rolled the first UH-72A Lakota off the assembly line at Columbus, Miss., that would be delivered directly to the Army’s primary helicopter training center at Fort Rucker, Ala. The Army is planning to replace more than 180 TH-67 Creek primary trainers. The first newly-assembled UH-72 joins seven others already delivered to Fort Rucker, says John Burke, Airbus’ president of the UH-72 program, although the Army base currently only uses a handful of “Lakotas” for medical evacuation and emergency transport. The decision to replace the TH-67 with the UH-72 will fill a backlog for the Columbus plant for several more years, with 25 aircraft expected to be delivered in 2015, Burke says. In addition to the original army order, the US Navy and the Thai Royal Air Force have placed follow-on orders for the medium-twin UH-72. (Source: Flight Global 03/25/14)