14 June 2021
June 10th saw the delivery of the first TH-73A training helicopter to the U.S. Navy, during a ceremony held at our Philadelphia campus, in the presence of high ranking officials of the U.S. Navy, Leonardo Helicopters Managing Director Gian Piero Cutillo, Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo Helicopters in the US William Hunt as well as members of the local, state and federal institutions.
The TH-73A is based on the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) variant of the commercial AW119Kx, certified as the only single engine helicopter in decades to meet current IFR requirements, allowing pilots to operate the aircraft safely in low visibility and challenging weather conditions, thanks to advanced avionics by Genesys Aerosystems and redundant helicopter flight systems.
The TH-73A is extremely flexible and can satisfy every training flight requirement, featuring an adjustable observer seat that provides a complete view of the cockpit, allowing for more effective learning, even when seated in the back.
At the beginning of 2020, Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., was awarded a contract for the production and delivery of 32 TH-73A helicopters, initial spares, support and dedicated equipment, and specific pilot and maintenance training service to be produced at Leonardo’s Philadelphia facility. In late 2020, the US Department of Defense announced the decision to exercise the options for the production and delivery of 36 additional TH-73A aircraft, still to be produced at our site in Philadelphia. The total requirement is for 130 aircraft with delivery to continue through calendar year 2024.
We have quite a few veterans from the Navy working in Philadelphia. Let’s hear their voice and how they feel working on such an innovative and important programme for their former employer, the U.S. Navy, in this video.