Little giant

Frontiers May 2016 Issue

Little GIANT Given its pedigree, Little Bird looks to have a big future BY ERIC FETTERS-WALP oeing’s newest attack helicopter is known by its nickname and smaller size compared B with the AH-64 Apache—but those attributes don’t define the AH-6 “Little Bird.” The light attack and reconnaissance helicopter has a pedigreed background. U.S. Special Forces have used a variant of the AH-6 model for years, and the model’s heritage can be traced back to a helicopter first developed in the 1960s. The Little Birds that Boeing is building now may look similar to their predecessors, but today’s version is substantially more capable. The AH-6 flies higher, goes faster, and carries more payload, said Josie Woody, AH-6 program manager. “There’s a significant payload capacity, and it can be used as a lightattack aircraft, for reconnaissance, search and rescue,” Woody said. “It was built for the mission, with a lot of technology, flexibility and affordability.” Todd Brown, chief test pilot for the AH-6 program, said the helicopter boasts the highest power-to-weight ratio in its class, making it well-suited for a variety of uses, from direct combat actions to security and escort flights. “It’s very agile. It has a very powerful 34 | BOEING FRONTIERS engine, so it’s very maneuverable and quick,” Brown said. That helps when providing close-range support for ground troops and operating in crowded urban settings. The AH-6 also performs well in hot and high-altitude locations, according to program officials. Those demonstrated capabilities already have attracted customers, and a production line is up and running at Boeing’s rotorcraft assembly factory in Mesa, Ariz. The first production AH-6, one of 24 ordered by a Middle Eastern ally, is expected to fly soon. David Renteria, Final Assembly manager for the AH-6 program, has plenty of experience building the Apache helicopter. He said lessons he and others learned from assembling the AH-64E model have been invaluable on the new Little Bird line. “We’re learning on a daily basis,” Renteria said. “This is a totally different build process, but we can implement best practices and Lean initiatives learned on the Apache line and apply them to this new production line.” The production line team, which is running two shifts at present, recruited talent from the Apache line and took other steps to start strong. “They have done everything possible to make it


Frontiers May 2016 Issue
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