NAVY * AIRCRAFT

Sea Power,  Jan 2004  

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H-3 SEA KING

BRIEFING: The last SH-3H ASW helicopters were retired in 1999 and have been replaced in the fleet by SH-60F and HH-60H aircraft. Two former presidential transports, VH-SAs, support joint and naval commanders in the Atlantic Fleet; another, designated NVH-3A, is used as a test platform for the presidential fleet of 11 VH-3Ds flown by the Marine Corps. There also are 53 UH-3H conversions flown by one active and one reserve helicopter combat support squadron, executive detachments of two other helicopter squadrons, the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, and several air stations in the torpedo recovery, utility, and search-and-rescue roles. Some UH-SHs have been modified as UH-3H (ET) executive transport aircraft to replace the VH-3As. The UH-3Hs will be replaced by MH-60S helicopters.

CONTRACTOR: ...............Sikorsky

HH-1N Iroquois ("Huey")

BRIEFING: HH-IN "Hueys" serve as utility and SAR helicopters in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. In addition to nine used for training Marine Corps pilots to fly the UH-IN, 23 HH-INs are primarily used as air station search-and-rescue aircraft, providing support for downed aviators, and injured, lost, or missing personnel, both military and civilian. (See Marine Corps aircraft section for characteristics.)

CONTRACTOR: ...............Bell Helicopter

TH-57 Sea Ranger

BRIEFING: The mission of the TH-57B/C-an unpressurized fiveplace, side-by-side cockpit, two bladed single-engine helicopter-is to provide primary helicopter flight training and instrument navigation for student pilots at NAS Whiting Field, FIa. The TH-57B/C aircraft were procured as commercial-derivative aircraft certified under a FAA Type Certificate and are commercially maintained at all levels of maintenance, and rely on FAA approved COTS/NDI components and equipment to support airworthiness. Two helicopter training squadrons are equipped with a total of 46 TH-57Bs and 72 TH57Cs. Two TH-57C aircraft are also operated by the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate at NAS Patuxent River, Md.

CONTRACTOR: ...............Bell Helicopter Textron

OTHER HELICOPTER TYPES

The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School operates a small number of two types of Army helicopters-in addition to the UH-60As mentioned above-for training test pilots: six McDonnell Douglas TH-6B Cayuses and three Bell OH-58C Kiowas. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division operates Northrop Grumman RQ-8A Fire Scout vertical takeoff unmanned aerial vehicles for UAV technologies development at China Lake, Calif.

Copyright Navy League of the United States Jan 2004
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