Flight Testing the U.S. Air Force MH-139 'GREY WOLF' Helicopter

[@davidmcgrath5814]

Fantastic aircraft the AW139 is, they came here to Ireland to see how we use our AW139 & work with the Irish Air Corps to this day, seeing how the Irish employ it for Military Operations was key to getting this aircraft, the USCG also did the same with the Irish Air Corps when they selected the Casa CN235.

[@jw_610]

Super cool helo, but I don't understand why the HH-60 wasn't the obvious choice vs a brand new platform.

[@malcolmcossar6447]

Good Comment. I feel exactly the same way. USAF could've had most of not all UH 1's replaced by now if they had chosen the HH60 yet they waited decades until fielding the MH39🤦🤷!

[@gregorygaunt9353]

Some General wanted to leave his name in the books. The retired Pavehawk's should've been the aircraft for them. If wanting to have a true MH designation, then there you go. All they'd need to do is remove the probe and the airframe would last 'forever'. And by using the Pavehawk, the aircrew would already be 90% spun up for a follow-on assignment to a combat unit. A total waste of money! I tried to get the SPO to listen, but they didn't.

[@jw_610]

​​@@gregorygaunt9353 By "leave his name in the books" you mean "get a kickback and a future job within the military industrial complex?" 😂

[@86AW11]

@gregorygaunt9353 Greg Gaunt, haven't seen that name since San Vito in 1999

[@hugorodriguez5361]

The USAF felt that the H-60 platform was excessive for the Nuclear Security mission which mainly boils down to patrolling the northern missile fields and escorting the nukes when they get transported by 18-wheelers. The USAF Hueys also perform VIP transport in the DC area and in Japan and the MH-139 has a much roomier cabin for pax even if it can't carry as much stuff as a UH-60. The idea was to modify a COTS platform to ultimately save money since they can take advantage of civilian supply chains, but the USAF recently slashed the purchase order so the MH-139 might ironically end up more expensive than the UH-60. As for the HH-60W program, that came out of the already bungled CSAR-X program and was later killed off early too because the USAF no longer wants 60's as they were geared for a GWOT-style war and wont be able to fulfill long-range CSAR in the Pacific. I'm assuming those HH-60's will be replaced at some point by a V-280 derivative once the Army foots the bill for most of the development.

[@ComePlayWithMeAdventures]

First time seeing a chopper taxi very cool.

[@lorenzoc.5351]

Here in Italy the AW139 is probably the most used chopper along with the H145...The 139 is capble for every kind of mission, from the mountain hems to the sar with the coast guard...Love to see it in USA too!

[@StipTrave]

Super cool helo, understand why the HH-60 wasn't the obvious choice vs a brand new platform.

[@MUSTANG408W]

It's a nice aircraft for sure, but with readily available airframes already sitting at AMARG with parts supplies abundant, the money spent on these was totally unnecessary. Not all the airframes at AMARG were wrapped up because of age and hours, but a lot of Army 60s were put to bed for spending cuts. USAF could have procured some of those airframes just as they did a few years ago for the HH-60G OLR.

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

Fantástic.

[@sjwilloughby-greene8214]

♥️🤍💙 Thank you. 🗽

[@SueEllenInWA]

Beautiful 🫡

[@thaophan1588]

Yes 😊

[@ItsMeMikey998]

This looks to be a really nice helo, but is it good in terms of mission capability and can it eventually replace the UH-60?

[@mediamagikgroup]

Its main purpose is protection of our Nuclear Fields, so not meant to fill the same roles as the Black Hawks.

[@darrinculpepper6579]

I always get a kick out of helicopter pilots snapping on gloves. 12,000 hrs here and my calluses and cuticles are just fine. Girly girls.

[@geraldmarfoe348]

USAF version of the AgustaWestland AW139?

[@justinpaoli]

Same aircraft. Retrofitted by Boeing with military specs for the USAF

[@robertorambelli9618]

@@justinpaoliat 3 times the price.

[@markapollosantamaria4742]

What’s this waste of tax dollars???? Can’t we buy American made Sikorsky has a helicopter that looks the same.

[@robertorambelli9618]

Apparently not.

[@fredtedstedman]

LEONARDO ??

[@lorenzoc.5351]

yes, it's the italian AW139

[@SueEllenInWA]

❤🤍💙🇺🇲🥰🙏❤️🤍💙

[@86AW11]

Chaff/Flare dispensers and missile warning system for a aircraft that will never be deployed. Waste of tax dollars.

[@daveoberle2305]

It will be deployed. If anything your a waste of my tax dollars.

[@86AW11]

@daveoberle2305 lol

[@hellbreaksloose5536]

It guards missile silos. The USAF is not taking a risk.

[@RocketPropelledGuy]

What do you mean? As in it will never see any service at all or will never end up in combat?

[@86AW11]

@@RocketPropelledGuy Won't see any hostilities

[@박인표]

미 육국. Mirety. ㅇhelip capacity. Reea.. oair 8:14