Foundation for the Future, Today

Foundation for the Future, Today

By LT Zach “PuK” Pennington, USN HT-8 Instructor Pilot

Advanced capabilities are built on advanced foundations. For nearly 55 years, those foundations for naval rotary wing aviation have been formed in the cockpits of Bell TH-57 helicopters. Through all the advancements seen in naval aviation during that time, the training in the Jet Ranger has laid the groundwork for thousands of aviators who have gone on to fly Fleet aircraft in the defense of the U.S. and other allied nations. Change is inevitable, however, and as the world moves deeper into the future, the need to replace these aging platforms has become self-evident in order to continue producing the highest quality war-fighters possible. While the TH-57 has been an incredible workhorse, the time has come to bridge the gap between flight school and the Fleet in how we train students to fly, as well as how they interact with advanced avionics and automatic flight control systems. We need to train in platforms that are more comparable to what they will see once they start flying Fleet aircraft.

On the topic of flight characteristics, the TH-73 Thrasher feels much like the H-1’s and H-60’s many students will see when they leave Whiting Field. This is largely due to the power available, inherent nose-high attitude, fully articulated rotor system, and glass cockpit. In the pattern, the Thrasher feels like a “baby H-1,” according to several Marines instructor pilots who have flown it. For an H-60 driver, it feels like a mix between the TH-57 and a Hawk. While autorotating, this aircraft will teach students better Nr control since its lowinertia rotor system is quick to build and decay Nr–a skillset that will be essential to master their follow-on aircraft. The TH-73 autorotation training will build on what has been taught for years in the TH-57 and turn it into something even more applicable to what students will see at the FRS regarding autorotative properties.

As for the power and range of this aircraft, the world just got a little bit bigger for cross-country and instrument training. Having two hours and forty-five minutes of fuel, coupled with a cruising speed of 120-130 knots, opens the possibility for crews to stretch their legs beyond the usual airfields seen in the local Pensacola TRACON area. This will have several positive effects for both the crews and airspace. For one, having more airfields within reach will result in an

overall reduction of aircraft training in the local area. This will also lead to flexibility for crews in the event of bad weather or timeline shifts by opening more alternate airfield options. On cross countries, the extended range will allow for crews to explore areas that were previously out of reach, thus giving them more options. Adding to the list of airfields attainable for cross countries will give the public the opportunity to witness naval aviation first-hand and interact with crews serving as good ambassadors for the aviation community.

Aside from how the aircraft physically flies, the biggest differences between the Jet Ranger and Thrasher can be seen in how the pilot interfaces with the platform. Moving from a legacy “steam gauge” instrument panel to the glass cockpit found in the TH-73 is a giant leap forward. Students will now have better scan continuity from Primary to Advanced Rotary flight training, which mirrors the majority of the Fleet aircraft. More precise instrumentation leads to more precise basic air work and a well-trained scan allows for higher task-loading in the cockpit. This leads to better air work and higher levels of situational awareness, which allows instructors to start teaching students how to leverage their avionics to benefit them in whatever mission they are performing, much like they will do in the future when they are managing tasks far more complicated than shooting an instrument approach.

Not only is the avionics suite a massive leap forward, so is the automatic flight control system (AFCS). The flight director found in the TH-73 is more like what you would expect to find in a commercial airliner than a military trainer. When used correctly, the aircraft can quite literally fly your flight plan and approach with minimal input from the pilot. While these capabilities are mostly to expose the students to flight director functions, the fact remains that this aircraft is very capable in the IFR environment. The more advanced AFCS and flight director systems allow new training that focuses on the human to system interface and the required crew resource management in ways Advanced Rotary training hasn’t been able to replicate in the past. This training will allow students to be more effective operators in their tactical platforms. As the world moves closer to unmanned weapons systems and automatic functionality, teaching students to be good cockpit task managers versus stick-and-rudder pilots will be key in the years to come.

Avionics Display

The aircraft isn’t the only thing that’s upgrading in the rotary wing advanced training program. Along with the aircraft comes an updated curriculum that is specifically designed to meet the modern needs of the Fleet. This includes the continued use of the electronic kneeboard program as well as a shift to a more socratic method of teaching classroom material. The information itself has also been updated to better reflect what is being taught in the Fleet Replacement Squadrons during missions like search and rescue, logistics, and shipboard operations. While these flights are still presented as exposure for the time being, the premise is that students will be better prepared and can make an easier transition to learning these subjects in their specific communities once they earn their Wings of Gold.

TH-73 Simulator

All-in-all, the TH-73 has the means to be the conduit through which the next generation of rotary wing aviators’ foundations are built. The ability for students to learn fundamental skill sets in an aircraft that is closer in feel and ability to what they will see in the Fleet is instrumental in preparing these Naval Aviators to carry the torch into the future, allowing the United States and her allies to enhance their lethality for whatever lies ahead.