The US Army has selected the Robinson R66 as the proposed training helicopter for its Flight School Next (FSN) program at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The Army intends to award the contract to M1 Support Services, which will operate the training program under a Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated model.
The R66 will be used for the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary-Wing (IERW) training program, replacing the existing training fleet. The selection followed a four-phase evaluation of industry proposals for modernizing the Army’s rotary-wing pilot training system.
M1’s proposed solution combines the R66 with flight training, simulation, and other instructional systems. The company will be responsible for operating the training enterprise and supporting the aircraft fleet.
George Krivo, Chairman and CEO of M1, said, “We are honored to be entrusted with this vital mission. M1 will deliver a fully integrated, innovation-rich training solution designed to develop more proficient Army Aviators on time and on-budget.”
The R66 is a single-engine turbine helicopter powered by the Rolls-Royce RR300 engine. Robinson said the aircraft has accumulated more than 2.5 million flight hours without an engine failure and is supported by an OEM-operated parts warehouse near Fort Rucker.
David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, said, “This decision gives the Army a proven training platform that truly prepares Army aviators, made in America, and ready to fly today. Reliable and cost-effective, it is built to deliver readiness at a fraction of the cost of current platforms. Together, Robinson and Team M1 deliver the aircraft, the experience, and the infrastructure the Army needs to train the next generation of Army Aviators on day one.”
The R66 is equipped with Garmin G500H TXi and GTN750 avionics, a three-axis autopilot, and night-vision-goggle compatibility. Its configuration also includes a cockpit camera for instructor monitoring and flight debriefing.
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Under the proposed program, M1 will provide training and simulation capabilities alongside aircraft operations. Its Flight School First system includes adaptive learning, simulation, and proficiency-based training.
For Robinson, the program would expand its role in military aircraft training, parts support, and sustainment.
