Photo: Boeing
The Bell UH-1N Huey helicopter has been around for more than half a century now, being used for a variety of tasks, most of them military in nature. Like many other machines this old, it could probably continue to perform its duties for years to come. Even so, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) decided to replace it. And the replacement's name is MH-139A Grey Wolf.
The machine is the USAF's first acquisitioned helicopter. Produced by Boeing using the AgustaWestland AW139 as a base, it will soon be deployed in the hands of America's pilots to serve as a tool for "protecting intercontinental ballistic missiles" but also "transporting VIP and security personnel."
We first got word of the helo being close to ready for action back in the summer of last year, when an USAF-only crew climbed on board one of these aircraft and flew it for the first time. Now, more than a year later, the development program for the helicopter reached a new important stage.
Boeing said this week it is ready to start "low-rate initial production of the MH-139A Grey Wolf." The milestone comes after the program's research, development, test, and evaluation stage was successfully completed, and no less than six test aircraft have been delivered to the USAF (the final one was shipped last month).
Even if the actual testing of the aircraft is not yet complete, the aerospace company will move to making production versions of the Grey Wolf thanks to a USAF contract that requires it to make 13 of them for future uses in the immediate future. An additional number of Grey Wolves will be added over the coming years, until the fleet grows to a total of about 80 units in the service of the Air Force.
The exact specifications of the helicopter are not known, but we do get hints of its capabilities in the details Boeing has already shared. We know, for instance, it should be 50 percent faster and will be able to fly 50 percent further than similar legacy platforms.
The AgustaWestland helicopter it is based on is equipped with a pair of Pratt & Whitney engines capable of developing 1,531 hp each. The helo can fly at speeds of 193 mph (310 kph) and for as much as 659 miles (1,061 km). The highest it can go is 20,000 feet (6,000 meters).
On the Grey Wolf's engines have been upgraded to come with independent inputs to the gearbox, side-facing intakes to reduce the risk of foreign objects being drawn in, and reduced infrared signatures.
As per Boeing, the bird also comes with "full autopilot capability to reduce pilot workload," and should cost less to operate than other machines of its kind.
We first got word of the helo being close to ready for action back in the summer of last year, when an USAF-only crew climbed on board one of these aircraft and flew it for the first time. Now, more than a year later, the development program for the helicopter reached a new important stage.
Boeing said this week it is ready to start "low-rate initial production of the MH-139A Grey Wolf." The milestone comes after the program's research, development, test, and evaluation stage was successfully completed, and no less than six test aircraft have been delivered to the USAF (the final one was shipped last month).
Even if the actual testing of the aircraft is not yet complete, the aerospace company will move to making production versions of the Grey Wolf thanks to a USAF contract that requires it to make 13 of them for future uses in the immediate future. An additional number of Grey Wolves will be added over the coming years, until the fleet grows to a total of about 80 units in the service of the Air Force.
The exact specifications of the helicopter are not known, but we do get hints of its capabilities in the details Boeing has already shared. We know, for instance, it should be 50 percent faster and will be able to fly 50 percent further than similar legacy platforms.
The AgustaWestland helicopter it is based on is equipped with a pair of Pratt & Whitney engines capable of developing 1,531 hp each. The helo can fly at speeds of 193 mph (310 kph) and for as much as 659 miles (1,061 km). The highest it can go is 20,000 feet (6,000 meters).
On the Grey Wolf's engines have been upgraded to come with independent inputs to the gearbox, side-facing intakes to reduce the risk of foreign objects being drawn in, and reduced infrared signatures.
As per Boeing, the bird also comes with "full autopilot capability to reduce pilot workload," and should cost less to operate than other machines of its kind.
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