Farewell to a Training Icon: US Navy Retires the Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger

After 57 years of dedicated service, the United States Navy has officially retired its fleet of Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters — marking the end of an era in naval aviation training. Since entering service in the late 1960s, the Sea Ranger has been a mainstay in shaping generations of rotary-wing aviators for the US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard, and allied nations.

By Jarryd Sinovich

Final Flight at NAS Whiting Field

On 19 September 2025, the final TH-57C Sea Ranger — BuNo 162668 (E-106) — completed its last flight from Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida, home of Training Air Wing (TAW) Five. This aircraft has now taken its place at the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, where it will serve as a permanent tribute to the thousands of aviators who trained on the type.

Another TH-57C from TAW-5, BuNo 162684 (E-122), has been transferred to the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi, Texas, preserving its legacy for future generations.

A New Generation Takes Flight

TAW-5 oversees Helicopter Training Squadrons HT-8 “Eight Ballers,” HT-18 “Vigilant Eagles,” HT-28 “Hellions,” and the Helicopter Instructor Training Unit (HITU) “Blade Runner.” These units have now fully transitioned to the AgustaWestland/Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher, the Navy’s next-generation training helicopter designed to meet modern operational demands.

A Legacy of Service

Throughout its operational history, the Navy employed 40 TH-57As, 51 TH-57Bs, and 89 TH-57Cs, forming the backbone of military helicopter training for decades. Though the majority have now been retired, two TH-57Cs — BuNos 162013 and 162016 — remain in limited service with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 “Blackjack” at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, conducting readiness flights.

A New Chapter Abroad

As previously reported, eight TH-57Cs are expected to be transferred to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) to replace some of its aging Bell JetRanger fleet. The deliveries were anticipated for early 2025, although official confirmation has yet to be released.

End of an Era

For over half a century, the Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger was the trusted training platform that took countless student pilots from their first hover to operational service. Its retirement marks not only the close of a remarkable chapter in US naval aviation but also the beginning of a new era of advanced training with the TH-73A Thrasher.

Farewell, Sea Ranger — and thank you for 57 years of service.