Lakota Light Utility Helicopter Debuts at Fort Indiantown gap

    HARRISBURG, Pa., July 17 /EMWNews/ -- The Eastern Army

National Guard Aviation Training Site introduced the Lakota Light Utility

Helicopter to the public today for the first time at Fort Indiantown Gap.



    Fort Indiantown Gap will be home to the only Army aviation training

site in the country that's designed specifically to train the Lakota

(UH-72A) aviators and crew members.



    The UH-72A is designed to conduct light general support operations in

non-combat environments, like civil search and rescue, personnel recovery,

evacuation, counter-drug and limited civil command and control operations

for Homeland Security.



    "The two Lakotas are the first in Pennsylvania and at the training

site," said Col. Timothy Hilty, commander of the Eastern Army National

Guard Aviation Training Site. "Two more are due to arrive by the end of the

year and the school house is expected to receive a total of eight by 2012."



    Instructors from Fort Rucker and Fort Indiantown Gap are already

leading the first training course.



    Pennsylvania's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, said

locating the new school house for training pilots will benefit

Pennsylvanians in more ways than one.



    "Our training site has a history of providing excellent training and

those who will operate the Lakota are sure to receive the best training

possible," said Wright. "We will also have the ability to use the aircraft

during emergencies, and the additional soldiers training here are sure to

have an economic impact in the state."



    CONTACT: Capt. Cory P. Angell



    (717) 861-8829