COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
Special to the Dispatch
Saturday, September 15, 2007
MISSISSIPPI FIRST TO GET NEW HELICOPTERS MADE IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
The Mississippi National Guard will be the first to receive the locally assembled UH-72A Lakota helicopter.
The Lakota is a product of American Eurocopter's plant near Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Lowndes County.
Gov. Haley Barbour and Maj. Gen. Harold A. Cross, the adjutant general for Mississippi's National Guard, announced Friday the Mississippi Guard will be the first in the nation to receive the new Lakota helicopters into its inventory.
“It is significant and historic that the Mississippi National Guard will be the first in the country to receive this very capable new aircraft, which is manufactured in Mississippi,” Barbour said. “I am very proud of the men and women whose skills are helping build such a versatile helicopter and contributing to our growing economy.”
“Having these new aircraft will enable us to respond to security missions, disaster relief, search and rescue, medical evacuations, counter-drug and other missions,” said Cross.
For the full story, go to the Commercial Dispatch website:
http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2007/09/15/local_news/area_news/area04.txt