Leonardo Helicopters delivered the first of an eventual 130 TH-73A trainers to the US Navy at a ceremony at the AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp. (Leonardo) plant in Philadelphia. The aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., following final DoD inspections. Leonardo has so far received 68 orders via two fixed-price contracts worth $177 million and $171 million, placed in January and November 2020, respectively. Deliveries of all 130 trainers are due to conclude in 2024, with the total programme of record worth $648 million. The TH-73A is replacing the current fleet of Bell TH-57B/C Sea Rangers. Leonardo Helicopters plans to construct a new support center at Whiting Aviation Park, adjacent to NAS Whiting Field.(Source: Multiple, including FlightGlobal, 06/10/21, Mirage News, 06/11/21)
NEWS: A digest of aerospace, defense and technology news from the Gulf Coast I-10 region
