The CH-53E Super Stallion has begun initial testing/development of a new low speed precision control (LSPC) system to provide aircraft stabilization in a degraded visual environment (DVE).

The LSPC system will improve safety and prevent damage or loss of aircraft. It provides flight control augmentation to reduce the workload on the aircrew in landings and external lift evolutions during brownout environments – the most difficult flight regimes.

Maj. Clayton Wade Piersall, training lead for the Marine Corps’ CH-53K program, earned Admiral Merlin O’Neill Officer of the Year during a ceremony in January at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

NAS Patuxent River and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division leadership give the annual Adm. Merlin O’Neill Officer of the Year award to a junior officer assigned to activities onboard NAS Patuxent River who demonstrates superior performance and leadership, with an emphasis on volunteer activities and involvement in the community.

The first Navy CMV-22B Osprey arrived at Patuxent River Feb. 2 after completing its ferry flight from Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas.

This is the first of two CMV-22B aircraft assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21, the squadron leading the developmental test efforts for the program.

Industry and government engineers have mitigated an ongoing engine integration issue for the CH-53K King Stallion – the new heavy-lift helicopter from Sikorsky for the United States Marine Corps.  

This “tiger team” of experts from a variety of engineering backgrounds came together to find and optimize aircraft modifications using state-of-the-art computational modeling methodologies, risk management, flight test data and Systems Engineering tools.

The Navy’s C-40 fleet  has undergone some major changes in the last few months - adding two airplanes, one squadron and completing its current planned aircraft procurements.

The Tactical Airlift Program Office (PMA-207) took delivery of the Navy’s 16^th aircraft in June and 17^th aircraft on September 26. The Navy’s latest C-40A aircraft will be assigned to U.S. Naval Reserve Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 57.