Because of their ability to take off vertically, hover in position, and travel at low speeds, rotary-wing aircraft—helicopters—are an indispensable part of the U.S. Navy’s aviation assets: As of 2015, 55 percent of naval aviators are helicopter pilots.
Just what type of rotary-wing asset an Aviation Machinist’s Mate (AD) who pursues the “Helo” strand will be working on can range from venerable workhorses like the MH-53E Sea Dragon—entering its 30th year of service in 2016 as the Navy’s only heavy-lift chopper and proven mine-countermeasure aircraft—to the unmanned MQ-8 Fire Scout, slated for deployment on the Navy’s new line of Littoral Combat Ships. Other time-tested rotary-wing platforms include the SH-60F Seahawk (the main antisubmarine warfare aircraft in a carrier battle group), the HH-60H (combat search-and-rescue missions, anti-surface warfare, naval special warfare), and MH-60S and MH-60R (multirole aircraft).
Aviation Machinist’s Mates chosen to work on the next generation of Naval helicopters are likely to find themselves stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, home of the HX-21 “Blackjack” squadron. HX-21 is responsible for the testing and evaluation of rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft, airborne systems, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Among the helicopters stationed there are the UH-1Y, first deployed in 2009 by the Marine Corps to replace the ageing UH-1N Twin Huey, and the Bell AH-1Z Viper, designed to take the place of the USMC’s AH-1W Super Cobra.
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