MH-139 Begins Air Force Testing

[MIflyer]

The Air Force has began testing of the MH-139 Gray Wolf helicopter. Based on the AgustaWestland AW139, the MH-139 will replace the UH-1N for ICBM support flights.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Great helicopter. My last company is the largest civilian operator of the 139. Our crews loved it.

 

[MIflyer]

I just wonder why we are using so many foreign-designed helicopters. They used to copy ours.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

We been operating A109s and 119 acquired when we bought another company. So far they've been a maintenance nightmare. Don't know yet if it was due to the previous operator.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I just wonder why we are using so many foreign-designed helicopters. They used to copy ours.

It is originally a a Bell Helicopter-Augusta joint US-Italian design. Bell Helicopter just sold off their portion of it. Boeing will be manufacturing the MH version.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

We been operating A109s and 119 acquired when we bought another company. So far they've been a maintenance nightmare. Don't know yet if it was due to the previous operator.

My former company has 109s and 119s as well. They are maintenance nightmares as you have pointed out. The 139 though is very reliable and not overly maintenance intensive.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I have to say though that the problems with our 109s and 119s were environmental because we operated out of the Gulf of Mexico. Moisture was always getting in the avionics. Mechanically they were sound. We did not have the same issues with our 139s for some reason.