MH-139A Grey Wolf to replace USAF UH-1Ns

[Grey Havoc]

Production Delays For Boeing's MH-139A: Air Force - Breaking Defense

While there are no "major technical hurdles," an Air Force officer said a redesign for a sensor faring is needed.

breakingdefense.com

 

[TomS]

A bit of delay to get FAA certification for the specially modified model. Some slight redesign needed:

Boeing is also having to redesign one of the sensor fairings on the front half of the aircraft, which have been discovered to impact the airflow to the helicopter’s pitot tubes — potentially leading to incorrect airspeed readings that can trigger a crash.
“There’s pitot tubes on both sides of the aircraft, so in certain conditions, the pitot tubes would not have the same airspeed readings,” Rogers said. “Boeing is right now in the process of testing the redesign. They have a couple of options and they’re doing the company testing now.”

Air Force to delay production of Grey Wolf helicopter

It's taking longer than expected for the Boeing-made helicopter to move through FAA airworthiness testing.

www.defensenews.com

Boeing and pitot tubes...

 

[yasotay]

Is the AW139 not FAA approved?

 

[TomS]

Is the AW139 not FAA approved?

It is, but the extent of the mods done for the MH-139 apparently required an updated certification.

MH-139A Cut From 2022 Budget Due to FAA Delay | Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Air Force did not request any money to purchase the MH-139A Grey Wolf in the 2022 budget as Boeing faces a delay in FAA certification.

www.airforcemag.com

Given the extent of the cruft they've hung on the nose, I'm not shocked they are seeing an issue with the pitot tubes. I mean, look at this:

 

[yasotay]

I guess the USAF thought a FAA certification would be cheaper than a military one?

It would appear that the USMC is the only element of the DoD competent with rotorcraft requirements and specifications.

 

[TomS]

I guess the USAF thought a FAA certification would be cheaper than a military one?

It would appear that the USMC is the only element of the DoD competent with rotorcraft requirements and specifications.

Are you sure about that?

Marines Ditch MUX Ship-Based Drone to Pursue Large Land-Based UAS, Smaller Shipboard Vehicle - USNI News

The Marines have ditched their plan to field a very large drone on amphibious ships, instead breaking the four-year-old MUX program into a family of systems that will include a very large land-based unmanned aerial vehicle and a medium-sized one for shipboard operations. Deputy Commandant of the...

news.usni.org

 

[yasotay]

I guess the USAF thought a FAA certification would be cheaper than a military one?

It would appear that the USMC is the only element of the DoD competent with rotorcraft requirements and specifications.

Are you sure about that?

Marines Ditch MUX Ship-Based Drone to Pursue Large Land-Based UAS, Smaller Shipboard Vehicle - USNI News

The Marines have ditched their plan to field a very large drone on amphibious ships, instead breaking the four-year-old MUX program into a family of systems that will include a very large land-based unmanned aerial vehicle and a medium-sized one for shipboard operations. Deputy Commandant of the...

news.usni.org

Well the requirements were good right up to the time the Commandant changed the entire direction of the the USMC. The US Army and Air Force just seem to do three stogies on a far more regular basis.

 

[Stovepipe]

Welcome MH-139 Grey Wolf the latest USAF helo.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1207715232421949440

View attachment 623513

When a name was first suggested for the AW 139, The Irish Air Corps, as new operators of the 139, suggested Wolfhound. It wasn't taken up.

 

[TomS]

Welcome MH-139 Grey Wolf the latest USAF helo.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1207715232421949440

View attachment 623513

When a name was first suggested for the AW 139, The Irish Air Corps, as new operators of the 139, suggested Wolfhound. It wasn't taken up.

Would make sense with the Irish connection. Unfortunately, the US already has a Wolfhound, the C-146A (Dornier 328) transport.

C-146A Wolfhound

The C-146A is a twin-engine, high-wing aircraft equipped with a configurable cabin capable of various passenger and cargo combinations, as well as casualty evacuation missions.

www.af.mil

 

[Stovepipe]

One point to note about 139s is that the skinny tyres are no good for any kind of soft ground operations so the Irish 139s routinely fly with "snowshoes" on the gear, so they can only fly with gear extended, if they plan to land on a football pitch or open ground. I hope Leonardo learned all the lessons from feedback from the Irish and other operators. Another "gotcha" was floors cracking, as they were never designed to cope with heavily loaded soldiers.

 

[RavenOne]

First Four MH-139A delivered

Leonardo and Boeing Deliver First Four MH-139A Helicopters to U.S. Air Force

www.leonardo.com

 

[RavenOne]

First four delivered

Leonardo and Boeing Deliver First Four MH-139A Helicopters to U.S. Air Force

www.leonardo.com

 

[yasotay]

MH-139, Behind Schedule, Now Risks Failing Requirements, DOD Says | Air & Space Forces Magazine

A report from the Office of the Director of Operational Test & Evaluation details new and existing deficiencies with the MH-139 Grey Wolf.

www.airandspaceforces.com

Boeing goes "boing", ...again.

 

[aonestudio]

Boeing Begins MH-139A Grey Wolf Production

PHILADELPHIA, March 7, 2023 - Boeing [NYSE: BA] will begin production on the first 13 MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, following the award of a $285 million U.S. Air Force contract for aircraft,...

boeing.mediaroom.com

 

[aonestudio]

Boeing Begins MH-139A Grey Wolf Production

PHILADELPHIA, March 7, 2023 - Boeing [NYSE: BA] will begin production on the first 13 MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, following the award of a $285 million U.S. Air Force contract for aircraft,...

boeing.mediaroom.com

 

[RavenOne]

Photos: Grey Wolf strides through production

The first MH-139A production aircraft for the U.S. Air Force reaches final assembly.

onfirstup.com

cheers

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1704574985514135801

View: https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/1704574985514135801?s=20

 

[Scott Kenny]

Surprised that it didn't get an in-sequence H-74 number, but it's about time the USAF stopped flying Hueys.

 

[Moose]

Surprised that it didn't get an in-sequence H-74 number, but it's about time the USAF stopped flying Hueys.

A recent habit of the DoD when they buy off-the-shelf. I don't love it, but so far it's not been a real issue.

 

[RavenOne]

malstrom afb gearing up for





deliveries this year

Boeing expects Grey Wolf helicopter deliveries to Air Force this year

The Air Force plans to buy up to 80 of these helicopters to replace their fleet of Vietnam-era Hueys and patrol nuclear missile fields.

www.airforcetimes.com

cheers

 

[aim9xray]

Gadzooks! Who wrote the copy for that brochure???

 

[TomS]

Gadzooks! Who wrote the copy for that brochure???

Someone with way too much experience writing fitreps.


"vastly comparable"? "absolutely inherent"?

 

[Hydroman]

Someone with way too much experience writing fitreps.


"vastly comparable"? "absolutely inherent"?

Another Fun Fact, the Grey Wolf inverted can mow up to 5 acres of tall grass per hour and with additional special ops liquid dispensing tanks for marking it's territory, beware enemy, urine trouble now....

 

[aim9xray]

... with additional special ops liquid dispensing tanks for marking it's territory, beware enemy, urine trouble now....

Grey Wolf CCCChem Trails??? Gee whiz!

 

[Forest Green]

Wasn't that one of Airwolf's enemies?

 

[yasotay]

Geez guys! It's only a silly helicopter. Not a real aircraft. - USAF Spokesman

 

[TomS]

Geez guys! It's only a silly helicopter. Not a real aircraft. - USAF Spokesman

The real payload issue is whether it will carry a foursome with their golf clubs and a cooler full of beer. And maybe a tactical golf cart.

 

[RavenOne]

Maxwell AFB welcomes first active duty flying training unit since end of WW2 with the Detachment 3 of the 58th Special Operations Wing

Maxwell welcomes first active-duty flying training unit since 1945

The 908th Airlift Wing has an active-duty associate mission partner on Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama for the first time.Detachment 3 of the 58th Operations Group had an official activation ceremony

www.kirtland.af.mil

 

[Stargazer]

I have a question that has little to do with aerospace matters, but why would the USAF call a new type "Grey Wolf", with the adjective "grey" spelt the British way, when the American spelling has always been "gray"?! I'm sure some will say it has something to do with it being originally a European type, but what we have here is a helicopter marketed by Boeing in America for a branch of the U.S. military, so I really can't see the logic here...

 

[aim9xray]

Occam's Razor. They don't know how to speel.

 

[riggerrob]

Occam's Razor. They don't know how to speel.

Try applying Hanlon’s Razor which forces you to chose between malice and stupidity when trying to understand someone’s motives for doing something that hurts you.
Most of the time the answer is “stupidity.”

 

[BAROBA]

An Italian helicopter build by Boeing?
*Grabs popcorn* This is going to be a wild ride

 

[RavenOne]

Another 7 on order

Boeing Awarded Contract for Seven Additional MH-139A Helicopters

PHILADELPHIA, April 29, 2024 – The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $178M contract to produce seven MH-139A aircraft and provide sustainment and training support. This order brings the total...

boeing.mediaroom.com

Cheers

 

[aonestudio]

MH-139 Suffers ‘Critical’ Cost Breach; Sentinel ‘Halfway’ Through Its Review

The Air Force has declared a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach for its MH-139 helicopter, as planned cuts caused the price per aircraft to rise.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[BlackBat242]

That's what happens when you cut production numbers "to save money"!

 

[Forest Green]

Air Force to add back over a dozen MH-139 helos in FY26, averting 'critical' cost breach - Breaking Defense

The service is partially reversing course on a planned cut of 38 aircraft, and plans to add back in 14 Grey Wolf helicopters in its upcoming budget request for a fleet size of “at least” 56.

breakingdefense.com

 

[aonestudio]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1844749024638710136

View: https://x.com/BoeingDefense/status/1844749024638710136

 

[Grey Havoc]

Saw one of the Irish Air Corps examples en route somewhere a few days ago.

EDIT: Perhaps I should have said cousins.

 

[RavenOne]

Saw one of the Irish Air Corps examples en route somewhere a few days ago.

EDIT: Perhaps I should have said cousins.

USAF GSC crews exchanging visits between IAC

U.S., Irish Air Corps Forge New Training Partnership

A delegation of Airmen from Twentieth Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command visited the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, Dublin to coordinate a training partnership agreement, June 22-29,

www.malmstrom.af.mil

First time I saw IAC AW139 was at Royal International Air Tattoo 2007 so my photos here








cheers

 

[TomcatViP]

Interestingly:

TXT business segment, Bell, recently secured a $37.7 million contract to supply Bell 412 EPX helicopter. The work related to this contract will be carried out in Fort Worth, TX.

The deal is projected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2025. The contract has been offered by the Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/textrons-arm-secures-army-contract-145200695.html