This week Boeing has released its production numbers for the fourth quarter of 2019, and the full year totals.

In the fourth quarter, the company delivered 10 new helicopters – all Apaches and no Chinooks. That takes the annual total to 37 Apaches and 13 Chinooks.

Included in the annual numbers are the first eight AH-64E Apaches for India, who inducted them into their Air Force inventory in a ceremony at the Pathankot Air Force Station in Punjab in early September. The 125 Helicopter Squadron, known as the ‘Gladiators’, will have 22 Boeing-built Apaches at both this base close to the Pakistan border, and at Jorhat Air Force Station near the border with China. India is the 16th country to receive the Apache.

Boeing also announces how many “remanufacturered” helicopters it delivers in its quarterly press release. Q4 included 18 Apaches and 6 Chinooks which had arrived for upgrading, taking the totals for the year to 74 Apaches and 22 Chinooks.

By comparison to the 10 Apaches produced in the fourth quarter, Boeing delivered just 9 737s. None of these would be 737 Max aircraft, which continue to be grounded for some while yet. The story with this airliner model just gets worse by the week. In a recent report, Boeing documents supplied to House and Senate committees (under their investigation of the design) include one employee describing the 737 Max as “designed by clowns, who in turn are supervised by monkeys.”.  Gonna need some PR to turn that one around…

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com