The Navy relocated a UH-1 Yankee helicopter flight training device (FTD) to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, N.C. this winter.

The trainer, a full-size replica of the UH-1 Yankee cockpit, was originally located at MCAS Camp Pendleton, Calif. It was moved to provide simulation training capability to East Coast UH-1 Yankee squadrons. It is currently the only UH-1 Yankee FTD outside the California area.

The dual-seat pilot trainer simulates multiple training and readiness events to include vertical take-off and landing, weapon systems simulation, avionics, reconnaissance and aircraft procedures for mission preparedness and proficiency.

“Because the UH-1Y helicopter delivery schedule has been accelerated, we needed to place a device at MCAS New River to ensure timely pilot proficiency training,” said Capt. John Feeney, Naval Aviation Training Systems program manager (PMA-205). “Our team has done a fantastic job in meeting this requirement in record time and under budget.” He also said, once in place, the simulator will receive new configuration upgrades to provide concurrency with the latest aircraft software and hardware.

The device, developed by PMA-205, Patuxent River, Md., Naval Aircraft Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla. and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, will be connected to the Aviation Distributed Virtual Training Environment for participation in Navy and Marine virtual training. Pilots can practice scenarios by virtually “flying” with other Navy and Marine Corps trainers linked to the network.

“Yankee pilots have logged over 2,000 hours of simulator training, with missions ranging from basic aircraft and systems familiarization to close air support flown with night vision goggles,” said Maj. Phillip “Duke” Tucker, Marine Aviation Training Systems Site officer in charge, MCAS Camp Pendleton. “The Yankee FTD affords those pilots the opportunity to hone their skills while saving valuable fleet aircraft assets for real-world training.”

The UH-1 Yankee is a twin-engine, medium size utility helicopter which supports Marine Corps mission requirements such as command and control, assault support, escort, reconnaissance, troop transport, medical evacuation and close air support under day, night and adverse weather conditions.

The simulator is scheduled to be ready for training with the current configuration this spring. Pilots will train in the morning and improvements will be performed in the evening. All upgrades are scheduled for completion by early summer.

Tucker also said the FTD is an invaluable asset to the Marine Corps’ UH-1 Yankee pilots and will continue to afford generations the opportunity to perform and perfect skills used to accomplish their missions in training and combat operations.

NAVAIR press release