Wow, I am looking at this topic, with HeavyArty, Cobrahistorian, and myself all signed into it at once, and we are all probably typing the same things, lol. Can't say you won't get a quick response in the helicopter forum!!!
The Academy and Italeri kits are the same bird, just boxed differently. The Academy kit comes with decals for the training squadron, HMT-303, while the Italeri box includes markings for two fleet squadrons, HML/A-169 and -369. Usually, the Italeri kit is a few dollars more expensive. Either way, the model itself is pretty darned accurate and a good build. Good luck.