Texas-based M1 Support Services has teamed up with Robinson Helicopter Company to propose the R66 rotorcraft for the US Army’s Flight School Next program. The program is designed to integrate modern training helicopters as the service prepares to transition from legacy platforms like the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache. The new aircraft will eventually replace older trainers such as the UH-72 Lakota, which has supported entry-level military aviators since the early 2000s.
M1 revealed that the partnership aims to combine Robinson’s R66 helicopter with advanced learning technologies, including AI-driven virtual training environments, to enhance pilot readiness and accelerate skill development. The company plans to leverage its expertise in aircraft management, utility operations, and maintenance support to ensure round-the-clock helicopter availability. M1 currently maintains the capacity to schedule, launch, recover, and service hundreds of aircraft daily—capabilities that will underpin the proposed training solution.
The Robinson R66 is widely used across both military and civilian training programs, with more than 1,900 units operating globally. The helicopter can carry up to four passengers or external loads of approximately 1,200 pounds (544 kilograms). With a fuselage length of 30 feet (9 meters), a 33-foot (10-meter) rotor, and an empty weight of 1,290 pounds (585 kilograms), the aircraft is built for agility and reliability in training missions.
For enhanced flight training, the R66 features a 4K cockpit video camera, Garmin G500H TXi and GTN750 touchscreen avionics, night-vision-compatible instrumentation, impact-resistant windshields, and crash-resistant fuel tanks. It is powered by a Rolls-Royce RR300 turboshaft producing around 270 horsepower, delivering a maximum speed of 140 knots (259 kilometers per hour), a range of 350 nautical miles (648 kilometers), and an operational ceiling of 14,000 feet (4,267 meters). Robinson manufactures about 85 percent of the helicopter’s components at its Torrance, California facility, ensuring strong domestic production support.
