WionDrive News Desk 
Piasecki Aircraft has secured a new collaboration for its ‘Heliplex’ facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. They have signed an agreement with Columbia Helicopters to upgrade Model 107 tandem-rotor helicopters to a more fuel-efficient standard.
Columbia Helicopters, based in Aurora, Oregon, specializes in converting surplus military tandem-rotor helicopters such as the Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-47 Chinook into commercial platforms for firefighting, emergency response, and forestry missions. They hold FAA type certificates for the civil variants of these helicopters, known as the Model 107 and Model 234, acquired from Boeing.
While Columbia operates its own upgrade and production facilities, they have chosen Piasecki to modernize in-service Model 107-IIs and ex-US military CH-46s, previously used by the US Navy and Marine Corps. This upgrade will bring these helicopters up to the enhanced -III standard, which includes fitting a new variant of GE Aerospace CT58 engines to increase power by 25% and reduce fuel consumption by 15%.
Additional improvements to the drivetrain involve installing upgraded seals, bearings, and coatings to enhance reliability and reduce maintenance requirements. Future enhancements may include incorporating the Foresight MX health and usage monitoring system from GPMS International, and improved flight-control systems featuring a fully coupled autopilot in subsequent Model 107-III iterations.
The upgrade work, including testing, will be conducted at Piasecki’s 20,300 sq m Heliplex facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Piasecki acquired this facility from Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky in 2023 after the closure of the S-76 and S-92 production lines at the site. Operations have already commenced, with ground tests for the upgraded Model 107-III completed and flight testing set to begin soon. Initial deliveries are expected later this year.
In addition to serving as the upgrade site for Columbia Helicopters, the Heliplex facility will become Columbia’s new field service site and will house an FAA Part 145 repair station.
John Piasecki, CEO of Piasecki Aircraft, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Columbia Helicopters, highlighting their shared heritage in tandem-rotor helicopter technology and commitment to innovation in the rotorcraft industry.
Piasecki Aircraft’s involvement in the Model 107 programme represents a return to its roots. The original Piasecki Helicopter, before rebranding as Vertol and later being acquired by Boeing, pioneered tandem-rotor technology with designs like the H-21 Shawnee for the US Army, which laid the groundwork for helicopters like the Chinook and Sea Knight.
Beyond their work with Columbia Helicopters, Piasecki plans to leverage the Coatesville site for research and development related to their own vertical take-off and landing platforms, including the upcoming fuel cell-powered PA-890 helicopter.
