A select group of Malmstrom Air Force Base airmen made their way to Leonardo Helicopters Academy in Northeast Philadelphia for the first iteration of Grey Wolf Type 1 training, writes Senior Airman Mary Bowers for the Airforce Global Strike Command website.

The 32-day curriculum included 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 major considerations used in the selection process for the Type 1 crew were crew position, experience levels, and time on station.

All participants began their training in the classroom together. After ten days, the pilots and flight engineers separated to focus on their specific job training.

“This training is important, at least to me, because it’s the first of its kind in Global Strike,” said Tech. Sgt. William Sines, 40th HS flight engineer.

Read more about the 32-day pilot and flight engineer training at Leonardo Helicopters Academy in Northeast Philadelphia on the Airforce Global Strike Command website.

More about Leonardo Helicopters Training Academy in Philadelphia.