U.S. Army to Replace UH-72 Lakota with Robinson R66 for Pilot Training

The U.S. Army has decided to retire the UH-72 Lakota as its primary training helicopter, citing expense and excessive automation that can hinder fundamental skill development. Under the "Flight School Next" initiative, M1 Support Services will supply Robinson R66 turbine helicopters along with maintenance, simulators, academic and flight instruction, operating under a contractor-owned, contractor-operated model. The contract, potentially worth up to $10 billion over thirty years, will shift responsibility for aircraft availability and upkeep to M1, while the Army retains oversight of training standards.

The R66’s single-engine design and lower operating costs are intended to teach stick-and-rudder basics more economically than the twin-engine Lakota. The transition is expected to take three to four years, after which graduates will move on to aircraft such as the Black Hawk, Apache and Chinook.