Maxwell Air Force Base prepares for the arrival of the MH-139 helicopters
Construction to convert the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Airforce Base from flying missions with airplanes to training and flying helicopters is underway. This transition has been in the works for the past several years, and we now have a glimpse of what it would feel like to sit in the cockpit of a helicopter similar to the MH-139. Some young, innovative airmen came up with a great idea to build a virtual reality simulator to help pilots bridge the gap until the real simulators arrive in January. It may look like a video game, but this Virtual Reality Trainer is helping pilots in the 908th Airlift Wing learn how to fly the state of the art avionics system in the MH-139 helicopters that will arrive at Maxwell Air Force Base around March of 2024. Major Kyle Wamser will be one of the pilots flying the helicopters. “The MH-139 is replacing helicopters that go back to the Vietnam era. This aircraft is going from very old, reliable but old technology up to very advanced modern aircraft,” Wamser said.
But before the Grey Wolfs arrive, a 35 million dollar construction project is underway, and part of that is converting three aircraft hangers that used to be home to the C-130 airplanes. One hanger will become a special training facility with flight simulators that are being made in Italy; the other two hangers will house up to ten MH-139 helicopters. Because the C130 airplanes were AC powered and the MH-139 are DC powered, the hangers must also be completely rewired. SMSGT Adam Childers says, “Some of the differences that come from switching from the different platforms is the style of training we’ll be accomplishing. So before you would get new air crew members in and we would just train them to do the local mission. Now we’re training people to go out and be the operators in the real world mission out there, so one difference is the type of training we’ll be doing.
The arrival of the helicopters will also mean some changes residents may notice in the River Region. Todd Taylor is the Director of the Program Integration Office, and he says, “You’re going to see helicopters flying over the treetops in your communities. Most of our training will not be to other airports and runways. Our students will be navigating 20 and 30 minutes out from Maxwell and then landing in fields to practice unimproved landing areas.” One of the unique characteristics of the helicopter is that it is not noisy like you would expect. They are supposed to be as quiet as a modern dishwasher. There are only six of these helicopters in existence right now. Two will arrive in the Capitol City in March or April, and four will be headed to a base in Montana. The U.S. Air Force will eventually own 84 of the MH-139 helicopters. Construction on the entire project at Maxwell Air Force Base is expected to be completed in the beginning of 2025
