Firm: USN favors single engine helo

The U.S. Navy posted its Request for Proposals on Jan. 28 asking for 130 helicopters to replace its legacy fleet of Bell single-engine TH-57B/C Sea Ranger training helicopters that are used for primary aviation training at NAS Whiting Field, Fla. In response, the Italian aircraft manufacturer Leonardo says its AgustaWestland AW119 commercial helicopter’s simple design and single engine makes the most practical and cost efficient aircraft for training U.S. naval aviators. “If you look at the aircraft the Navy does undergraduate training with now, it’s the single-engine T-45 (NAS Meridian/NAS Pensacola), the single-engine TH-57 (NAS Whiting Field), the single-engine T-6 (NAS Whiting Field/NASP), and the most-expensive jet on the planet (F-35) is a single-engine aircraft,” he says. “I think they see the benefit in keeping it simple.” Leonardo’s TH-119 trainer’s likely competition for the Navy trainer contract includes the single-engine Bell 407GXi and Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss.’s twin-engine H135. The contract award is anticipated in the first quarter of FY 2020. (Source: Flight Global 01/30/19)