Feature story Operational Update: UH-72As begin operational missions

August 21, 2007

UH-72A Lakotas have begun performing operational missions with the U.S. Army, including medical evacuation flights and support for a recent landing of NASA's Space Shuttle.

The initial six UH-72As are assigned to the National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment at Ft. Irwin, California. These helicopters are outfitted with an externally-mounted rescue hoist and are configured to carry litters.

Their first MEDEVAC missions were flown in mid July at Ft. Irwin, evacuating one patient who had complained of chest pain and another with a fractured ankle.

On June 22, a UH-72A deployed to Edwards Air Force, California, where it provided standby medical airlift support for the touchdown of Space Shuttle Atlantis after a 14-day mission.

(In the photograph at right, the Space Shuttle Atlantis touches down at Edwards Air Force base as a UH-72A Lakota stands ready to provide medical airlift support).

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