Hot new helicopter/rotorcraft news

[Meyerkord]

The MH-60R continues its run... South Korea to get 24 more.

US clears $4.2bn MH-60R, Apache helicopter package for South Korea

The US Department of State has authorised two possible Foreign Military Sales to the Republic of Korea, valued at a combined total of $4.2bn.

www.naval-technology.com

Sounds like a pretty cool PEP tour

 

[Randy Daytona]

Clearly Army and SOF are thinking about a world where a FARP is not available

Would certainly give a flight of V-280’s some extra range in the Pacific. Now that the A-10’s have refueling probes, it would be funny to see an airplane tank behind a helicopter.

 

[ChuckMK23]

It appears the Navy COPT-R program had their first mishap with the R-66 - 27 MAY 2026. No details - only this pic from scene.

 

[hscs]

Tough week for CNATRA.

 

[Griz882]

Here’s a snippet of news. Fortunately it appears both crew members are alive but transported to a hospital.

MSN

 

[Flash]

It appears the Navy COPT-R program had their first mishap with the R-66 - 27 MAY 2026. No details - only this pic from scene.

View attachment 45040

That looks even more like a toy than an Robinson usually does.

 

[ChuckMK23]

- Behold - delivery of Canada's military pilot training helo.... "CT-153 Juno". Perhaps IP gig for @Gatordev ?

Airbus delivers first H135 for Canada’s Future Aircrew Training program

Airbus has delivered the first H135 helicopter for Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

www.airbus.com

'

 

[Gatordev]

Sure...as long as I don't have to live in Canada.

 

[Llarry]

Sounds like a pretty cool PEP tour

Yeah, but a year-long course at the Defense Language Institute would likely be a prerequisite. I was a Chinese linguist, but when I did a staff tour at DLI, it seemed to me that the Korean course was a butt-kicker.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Air Centre and their Super Pumas continue work with MSC...

Air Center Helicopters awarded $82.8M US Navy vertrep contract - HeliHub.com

Air Center Helicopters Inc.* Burleson, Texas, was awarded an $82,842,593 firm-fixed-price contract (N3220526C1236) to provide Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) services. The Detachment will be forward deployed worldwide for extensive periods at sea. It is anticipated that the detachment will be...

www.helihub.com

 

[ChuckMK23]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2072091199742017955

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

Looking at the original pics on X, it appears to be an off-field emergency/precautionary landing in high grass/crops. Not a hard landing. Looking at FlightRadar it looks like they may have had an issue, made and abrupt turn and set up for an off-field landing.

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information.

www.flightradar24.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/2072091199742017955

 

[ChuckMK23]

We just finished hosting 25 CAP cadets though an AF Helo UPT event with the 23rd FTS at Ft Rucker/Cairnes AAF.

Cadets got a mini ground school, Helo aero, CPT and SIM events during the week.

And then the cadets got dedicated incentive flights and ride along on student syllabus events in the cabin of the mighty TH-1H Huey. Included were low-level events with doors open!

The TH-1H hit IOC in 2009, and in 2026, is a little long in tooth. But IPs and Students alike rave about high availability and spotless cleanliness of these Hueys.

At this point most AF students are coming from the Bell 505.

Pics attached.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

The TH-1H hit IOC in 2009, and in 2026, is a little long in tooth. But IPs and Students alike rave about high availability and spotless cleanliness of these Hueys.

One of the best aircraft ever built.
I personally think the Huey is one of the best helicopters one can ever fly, other than the Phrog of ccourse!
And the slick Huey UH/TH-1 even flies better than the AH-1S, again, in my opinion only.

 

[ChuckMK23]

One of the best aircraft ever built.
I personally think the Huey is one of the best helicopters one can ever fly, other than the Phrog of ccourse!
And the slick Huey UH/TH-1 even flies better than the AH-1S, again, in my opinion only.

The AF developed the TH-1H to address its next gen helo advanced trainer requirement in 2005 ish. A non developmental low risk approach was mandated (AF students were already trained in UH-1H.

Clean/corrosion free and the best structurally sound UH-1’s were cherry picked and put through Bell/Textron Huey II upgrade - marrying 212 dynamics, drive train, tail boom with all new plumbing/wiring, systems and digital FMS/PFD/MFD. @phrogdriver can probably speak to the program.

IOC was 2009 ish and no replacement is in sight. But support is strong.

Also you will note in the low-level pic the Stratus ADS-B IN puck which all TH-1Hs are equipped with - to provide “own ship” on ForeFlight/iPad and wx and FIS-B services (graphical radar and ADS-B traffic, SIGMETs, etc)