Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

The U.S. Department of Defense has exercised its option for a fourth lot of Leonardo TH-73A “Thrasher” training helicopters for the Navy. The $110.5 million modification of a previously-awarded contract covers 26 helicopters that will be produced at Leonardo’s Philadelphia plant and delivered by December 2024.&nbsp;
In January 2020, Leonardo was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $176 million for the production and delivery of an initial lot of 32 TH-73As along with spares, support, dedicated equipment, and specific pilot/maintenance training services. In November 2020, the second lot of 36 aircraft was ordered through a $171 million contract modification, and in December 2021, the third lot of 36 aircraft was ordered through a $159.4 million contract modification.&nbsp;
The TH-73A is a militarized version of the AW119Kx and is replacing&nbsp;the Navy’s training fleet of Bell TH-57 Sea Rangers for basic and advanced IFR rotorcraft training. It features a digital cockpit similar to the one in the Navy’s T-6B Texan II fixed-wing turboprop.&nbsp;
Student aviators from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard began training on the TH-73A in <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2022-09-27/first-navy-class-begins-training-leonardo-th-73a" target="_blank">September 2022</a> and the first students completed their inaugural solo flights in November. The&nbsp;38-week advanced training course&nbsp;includes&nbsp;substantial ground instruction, virtual reality, and simulators that prepare graduates to fly fleet rotorcraft including the TH-73A, H-60, H-53, and AH-1.&nbsp;

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Navy Orders Fourth Lot of Leonardo TH-73A Trainers

The U.S. Navy is adding more TH-73A training helicopters to its fleet, replacing its Bell TH-57 Sea Rangers. 

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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