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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Pilots and flight engineers training.Malmstrom AFB pilots, flight engineers attend first Grey Wolf Type 1 training
                    
                    
                    Matt Boffin, Leonardo Helicopter Academy pilot instructor, gives a pre-flight briefing to Senior Airman Stephen Rotton and Tech. Sgt. William Sines, 40th Helicopter Squadron flight engineers, at Leonardo Helicopters Academy, Pennsylvania, Aug. 14, 2023. As part of Type 1 training, all members of the team are required to gain familiarity with the control systems and flying characteristicss of the MH-139A Grey Wolf, as well as gaining experience in the flight simulator. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)
            
            
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Pilots and flight engineers training.An, in production, MH-139 Grey Wolf sits on the assembly line at Leonardo Helicopters, Pennsylvania, Aug. 10, 2023. The Grey Wolf provides the ability to cruise 50% faster and farther than the UH-1N Huey, while also having a 30% larger cabin and capability to lift 5,000 pounds more.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)
            
            
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Pilots and flight engineers training.Malmstrom AFB pilots, flight engineers attend first Grey Wolf Type 1 training
                    
                    
                    Matt Boffin, Leonardo Helicopter Academy pilot instructor, gives a pre-flight briefing to Senior Airman Stephen Rotton and Tech. Sgt. William Sines, 40th Helicopter Squadron flight engineers, at Leonardo Helicopters Academy, Pennsylvania, Aug. 14, 2023. As part of Type 1 training, all members of the team are required to gain familiarity with the control systems and flying characteristicss of the MH-139A Grey Wolf, as well as gaining experience in the flight simulator. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)
            
            
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        Pilots and flight engineers training.An, in production, MH-139 Grey Wolf sits on the assembly line at Leonardo Helicopters, Pennsylvania, Aug. 10, 2023. The Grey Wolf provides the ability to cruise 50% faster and farther than the UH-1N Huey, while also having a 30% larger cabin and capability to lift 5,000 pounds more.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)
            
            
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Malmstrom AFB pilots, flight engineers attend first Grey Wolf Type 1 trainingPublished Sept. 2, 2023
                    
                    By By Senior Airman Mary Bowers
                    
                    
                    341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
            **MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. (AFNS) --**A select group of **Malmstrom Air Force Base** Airmen traveled to Philadelphia last month for the first iteration of **MH-139A Grey Wolf Type 1** training held at Leonardo Helicopters Training Academy. During the 32-day curriculum, students were immersed in the classroom, a cockpit procedural trainer and a state-of-the-art helicopter flight simulator. “I was super excited,” said Capt. Jacques Soto, **40th Helicopter Squadron** pilot. “This is the third aircraft I’ve learned from the Air Force, and I’m really excited about this one because I remember seeing it in pilot training and thinking, ‘I want to get my hands on that,’ and it’s come to fruition.” The selection process for the Type 1 crew was based on a variety of factors but crew position, experience levels, and time on station were some of the major considerations. This selection criteria ensures that the high-performing 40th HS pilots and flight engineers offer a diverse sampling of the force for initial operational test and evaluation and can further support the MH-139A Grey Wolf transition for years to come. Pilots and flight engineers training.Tech . Sgt. William Sines, 40th Helicopter Squadron flight engineer, sits in the pilot seat of an AW-139 helicopter during Type 1 training at Leonardo Helicopters Academy, Pennsylvania, Aug. 14, 2023. The third portion of the Type 1 training  is a full-motion AW-139 simulator, where aircrew put their knowledge of the all the aircraft systems to the test. They practice using the flight management system, auto pilot, flight director, radios, and general cockpit controls. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)
            
            
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“This training is important, at least to me, because it’s the first of its kind in Global Strike,” explained Tech. Sgt. William Sines, 40th HS flight engineer. “We get to be the forefront of this ship; we get to create the techniques and producers for it and adapt what we know currently to develop the future.” The training itself, led by Boeing, lays the groundwork for the Type 1 crew members to work with the newly established 550th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base to create a conversion course syllabus for **UH-1N Huey** aircrew. Eventually, that training will be provided to other **Air Force Global Strike Command** bases. The 550th HS’s goals for the next 18 months include completing their qualification training at Malmstrom AFB, which allows them to move forward with their operational tests and evaluations. Once complete, they will stand up conversion training for the 40th HS air crews and other AFGSC MH-139A units. “For a lot of us Huey air crew that have been around for a while, this is very important because it’s really the first step to getting this [new] aircraft towards initial operational capability,” said Lt Col Williams, 550th HS commander. “To send the first crews through [Type 1] training means that we are moving on the right track.” Pilots and flight engineers training.Members of the 40th and 550th Helicopter Squadrons take notes during their Type 1 classroom training at Leonardo Helicopters Academy in Philadelphia, Aug. 10, 2023. The Type 1 training lasts a total of 32 days, 10 of which are spent in the classroom. Airmen can only move on from the classroom portion after passing a 100-question cumulative exam. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)
            
            
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“The MH-139 is a giant leap in capability, performance, and speed over the UH-1N Huey, so we’re going to be able to perform our missions in the missile field more efficiently,” Williams said. The UH-1N Huey has been used for the last 53 years to support various missions including airlift of emergency security forces, search and rescue, security and surveillance of off-base nuclear weapons convoys and distinguished visitor airlift. Its retirement allows for the transition to a new aircraft that offers vastly improved capabilities combined with proven reliability. In short, the cutting-edge features and design advancements of the Grey Wolf provide substantial improvements over its predecessor. The Grey Wolf provides the ability to cruise 50% faster than the Huey, while having a 30% larger cabin and the capability to lift 5,000 pounds more. The Grey Wolf is slated to replace Malmstrom AFB’s aging Huey fleet by the end of 2024.Malmstrom 



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