HH-65 Aircraft Program Office
Grand Prairie, Texas
Original Location:
Aerospatiale plant, Grand Prairie, Texas
Current Location:
N/A
Date of Commission:
1979
Fate:
Office closed
Historical Remarks:
During 1977 an acquisition program was launched to
provide the Coast Guard with a new Short-Range-Recovery (SRR) helicopter by
early 1980. A Request for Technical Proposals (RFTP) was issued in
September of 1977 with a Coast Guard decision on the new machine planned for
August of 1978.
The Coast Guard Plant Office for the SRR contract was established soon after
the contract was awarded in 1979. CDR Dave Young was the original
Commanding Officer. Aerospatiale’s original facilities were located
at the Vought Helicopter Corporation which operated for a short period as a
licensee of Aerospatiale. In late 1980 Aerospatiale built its own
plant facilities at Grand Prairie, Texas. The unit functioned as the
Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) for the program and
was provided dedicated space. The assigned personnel were involved
from the beginning, attending not only the formal program reviews but
visiting Aerospatiale Helicopter Division in France, Lycoming, Rockwell
Collins, and the FAA lead region for helicopter certification. The
formal reviews consisted of a post award meeting, a Preliminary Design
Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR) and monthly program/progress
reviews.
In an effort to gain early Coast Guard approval of the proposed
configuration, Aerospatiale fabricated a full-sized mockup for use at the
CDR. The cockpit was fairly well designed and was modified by inputs
received during reviews at Rockwell Collins and the PDR. In addition,
various equipment such as the litter, rescue basket, trail line, float
lights, and pumps were utilized to allow crew members to work through the
necessary cabin operation scenarios. The interface between the hoist
operator and his various controls received considerable input that was
incorporated into the final configuration. The use of the mockup
enabled the contractor and major vendors to rapidly move out with prototype
builds. Three helicopters were used in flight tests. Two were
flown to obtain certification in France and then through reciprocity the FAA
certification. The third was used in the United States to prove the
avionics installation. Eventually all three were flown out of Grand Prairie.
As the program progressed, personnel became involved in component
development, testing, and conformity to specification as the aircraft went
down the production line. Coast Guard aviators eventually took over
the test program. The Coast Guard enlisted personnel participated in
all phases as well. They went through maintenance procedures and
manuals and performed ground tests on all aircraft and support equipment.
The first of ninety-six HH-65s was delivered to the Coast Guard in November
of 1985.
Sources:
Aérospatiale HH-65A Aircraft Subject Files, U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office.
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