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Vertical Mag • Safran Press Release

Safran Helicopter Engines inaugurates new Hamburg-area MRO to expand European helicopter engine support

Safran Helicopter Engines has opened a state-of-the-art maintenance, repair and overhaul facility near Hamburg, designed to expand helicopter engine support and maintenance services across Europe. The company said the new site strengthens its European footprint while enabling more sustainable MRO operations.

2026-04-24T09:44:34.858031-07:00

Vertical Mag

FAA seeks AW139 operator reports on potential main rotor tension link cracks

2026-04-24T09:44:28.989407-07:00

The War Zone

USAF plans to modify HH-60W Jolly Green II for VIP airlift and continuity-of-government “doomsday” evacuation missions, replacin

2026-04-24T12:22:49.827182-07:00

FlightGlobal

Robinson updates fuel-cell system ahead of first flight for hydrogen-powered R66

2026-04-24T08:39:01.493321-07:00

News Timeline

The War Zone

USAF plans to modify HH-60W Jolly Green II for VIP airlift and continuity-of-government “doomsday” evacuation missions, replacin The Air Force will modify its HH-60W Jolly Green II fleet for VIP airlift and continuity-of-government evacuation missions in Washington, D.C., moving away from aging UH-1N Twin Hueys. The change reframes the HH-60W as a broader continuity-of-operations platform, not only combat rescue.

2026-04-24T12:22:49.827182-07:00

USAF plans to modify HH-60W Jolly Green II for VIP airlift and continuity-of-government “doomsday” evacuation missions, replacin

Vertical Mag

Safran Helicopter Engines inaugurates new Hamburg-area MRO to expand European helicopter engine support Safran Helicopter Engines has opened a state-of-the-art maintenance, repair and overhaul facility near Hamburg, designed to expand helicopter engine support and maintenance services across Europe. The company said the new site strengthens its European footprint while enabling more sustainable MRO operations.

2026-04-24T09:44:34.858031-07:00

Safran Helicopter Engines inaugurates new Hamburg-area MRO to expand European helicopter engine support

Vertical Mag

FAA seeks AW139 operator reports on potential main rotor tension link cracks The FAA is asking U.S. Leonardo AW139 operators to contact the regulator if they have found cracks in the main rotor tension links. The request signals heightened scrutiny of a specific component that could affect rotor system integrity and ongoing airworthiness management.

2026-04-24T09:44:28.989407-07:00

FAA seeks AW139 operator reports on potential main rotor tension link cracks

FlightGlobal

Robinson updates fuel-cell system ahead of first flight for hydrogen-powered R66 Robinson is refining the fuel-cell system as part of its initiative to develop a zero-emission variant of its best-selling turbine helicopter, the R66. The update is intended to support the program’s next milestone: the aircraft’s first flight of the hydrogen-powered configuration.

2026-04-24T08:39:01.493321-07:00

Robinson updates fuel-cell system ahead of first flight for hydrogen-powered R66

DefenseNews.com

Textron/Bell turns to Australia after Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack-helo criticism Bell Helicopter international military sales vice president Richard Harris says the company is “keen to pitch” in Australia following reported criticism of Airbus Helicopters’ Tiger attack helicopter. The comments underscore Bell’s intent to convert reputational pressure into new rotary-wing sales opportunities in the Australian defense market.

2026-04-23T07:50:37.705253-07:00

Textron/Bell turns to Australia after Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack-helo criticism

Aviation Today

U.S. Army and Sikorsky use H-60M Black Hawk autonomy testbed to inform MV-75 FLRAA Army and Sikorsky say a new Black Hawk outfitted for autonomous flight is now serving as a testbed to mature autonomy capability targeted for the future MV-75 FLRAA. The effort is positioned as part of the service’s broader approach to integrating autonomy into next-generation rotorcraft concepts.

2026-04-23T07:40:35.446913-07:00

U.S. Army and Sikorsky use H-60M Black Hawk autonomy testbed to inform MV-75 FLRAA

FlightGlobal

KAI completes assembly of locally designed main gearbox for KUH-1 Surion Korea Aerospace Industries says it has completed assembly of a new locally designed main gearbox (MGB) for the KUH-1 Surion helicopter, part of its push to develop an indigenous transmission. The step moves Surion toward greater domestic supply-chain content and reduces reliance on imported gearbox elements.

2026-04-22T21:06:26.646720-07:00

KAI completes assembly of locally designed main gearbox for KUH-1 Surion

DefenseNews.com

Germany Air Force shortlists Sikorsky CH-53K and Boeing CH-47F as CH-53 heavy-lift successors The German armed forces have shortlisted the Sikorsky CH-53K and Boeing CH-47F Chinook as potential successors to its aging CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter fleet, a German Air Force spokesman confirmed. The move sets up an options review for Germany’s next heavy-lift rotorcraft capability.

2026-04-22T17:50:08.096809-07:00

Germany Air Force shortlists Sikorsky CH-53K and Boeing CH-47F as CH-53 heavy-lift successors

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Helicopter News

Safran Helicopter Engines inaugurates new Hamburg-area MRO to expand European helicopter engine support

FAA seeks AW139 operator reports on potential main rotor tension link cracks

USAF plans to modify HH-60W Jolly Green II for VIP airlift and continuity-of-government “doomsday” evacuation missions, replacin

Robinson updates fuel-cell system ahead of first flight for hydrogen-powered R66

News Timeline