The AgustaWestland EH101 (AW101 from June 2007) is a medium-lift helicopter for military applications but also marketed for civil use. The helicopter was developed as a joint venture between Westland Aircraft in the UK and Agusta in Italy (now merged as AgustaWestland). Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 419 KB) Summary AgustaWestland Merlin HC3 of the Royal Air Force at Shoreham Airport, England in August 2006 Photograph by Self Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document... An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... AgustaWestland is a helicopter design and manufacturing company based in Italy and the United Kingdom. ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Marina Militare naval jack Marina Militare (the Italian Navy) is one of the four branches of the military forces of Italy. ... RAF redirects here. ... The Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) is the air force of Portugal. ... The AgustaWestland EH101 is a medium-lift helicopter originally developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy for military applications but also marketed for civil use. ... The VH-71 Kestrel is a variant of the AgustaWestland EH101 which is being developed to replace the United States Marine Corps Marine One Presidential transport fleet. ... For other uses, see Helicopter (disambiguation). ... Westland Aircraft was a British aircraft manufacturer located in Yeovil in Somerset, formed just before the start of World War II. During the war the company produced a number of generally unsuccessful designs, but their Lysander would serve as an important liaison aircraft with the RAF. After the war the... A South African Air Force A109LUH Agusta (now part of AgustaWestland) is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. ... AgustaWestland is a helicopter design and manufacturing company based in Italy and the United Kingdom. ...

The designation "EH101" is a typographical error that stuck: the aircraft was originally designated EHI (European Helicopter Industries) - 01. The aircraft is manufactured at the AgustaWestland factories in Yeovil, England and Vergiate in Italy. , Yeovil is a town in south Somerset, England, on the A30 and A37. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Country Italy Region Lombardy Province Province of Varese (VA) Mayor Elevation 270 m Area 21. ...

Development

In spring 1977, the UK Ministry of Defence issued a requirement for an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter to replace the Royal Navy's Westland Sea Kings. Westland responded with a design designated the WG.34 that was then approved for development. Meanwhile, the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) was also seeking a replacement for its (Agusta-built) Sea Kings, leading Agusta to discussions with Westland about the possibility of a joint development. This culminated in the joint venture being finalised in November 1979 and a new company (EH Industries Limited [EHI], based in London) being formed in June the following year to manage the project. As the design studies progressed, EHI became aware of a broader market for an aircraft with the same capabilities as those required by the British and Italian navies. On 12 June 1981, the UK confirmed their participation, with an initial budget of £20 billion to develop nine pre-series examples.^[1] At the 1985 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, Agusta showed a mock-up of a utility version of the new helicopter, leading to a more generalised design that could be customised. After a lengthy development, the first prototype flew on October 9 1987. EHI was renamed AgustaWestland International Limited in January 2004 when parent companies merged. Consequently, in June 2007, the EH101 was re-branded as the AW101.^[2] This is a list of aviation-related events from 1977: // January 15 – A Skyline Sweden Vickers Viscount 838 crashes in Kälvesta, Sweden just outside Stockholm killing all 22 on board. ... Main Building - The Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, Westminster, London Tri-service badge of the UK armed forces The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the UK military. ... “A/S” redirects here. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... For the original Viking use of the name, see Sea-King. ... Marina Militare naval jack Marina Militare (the Italian Navy) is one of the four branches of the military forces of Italy. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1979: // January 12 - Pilatus Aircraft acquires Britten-Norman February 26 - Production of the A-4 Skyhawk ends after 26 years, with the delivery of the 2,690th and final aircraft to the United States Marine Corps. ... is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... A Mirage 2000-5 at the Paris Air Show The Paris Air Show (Salon International de lAéronautique et de lEspace, Paris-Le Bourget) is an international trade fair for the aerospace business. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1987: Events January January 1 - US Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphins and US Navy H-3 Sea Kings help rescue people trapped inside the Dupont Plaza hotel Puerto Rico after a fire there on New Years Eve January 7 - French...

Design

The modular aluminium-lithium alloy fuselage structure is damage and crash resistant, with multiple primary and secondary load paths. Active vibration control of the structural response (ACSR) uses a vibration-cancelling technique to reduce the stress on the airframe. The EH101 is rated to operate in temperatures ranging from -40 to +50 °C. High flotation tyres permit operation from soft or rough terrain. The main rotor blades are a derivative of the BERP blade design, which improves the aerodynamic efficiency at the blade tips, as well as reducing the blade's noise signature.^[3] Al-Li alloys are a series of alloys of aluminium and lithium, often also including copper and zirconium. ...

The cockpit is fitted with armoured seats for the crew, and can withstand an impact velocity of over 10 m/s. Dual flight controls are provided, though the EH-101 can be flown by a single person. The pilot's instrument displays include six full colour high-definition screens and an optional mission display. A digital map and Forward-Looking Infrared system display can also be installed.

Propulsion

The military version of the EH101 is powered by either three Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshafts (UK, Japan, Denmark and Portugal), or three 1,491 kW General Electric CT7-6 turboshafts (Italy, Canada, Japan TMP). Engine inlet particle separator systems provide protection when operating in sandy environments. Each engine is supplied by a separate 1,074 litre self-sealing fuel tank using dual booster pumps. A fourth tank acts as a reservoir supply, topping up the main tanks during flight; while a fifth transfer tank can be added to increase range, as can airborne refuelling. The engines power an 18.59 metre diameter five-bladed main rotor. The rotor blades are constructed from carbon/glass with nomex honeycomb and rohacell foam, edged with titanium alloy. Computer control of the engines allows the EH101 to hover reliably in winds of over 80 km/h. This article is about the aircraft engine company. ... Schematic diagram showing the operation of a simplified turboshaft engine. ... “GE” redirects here. ... NOMEX® is the brand name of a flame retardant meta-aramid material marketed and first discovered by DuPont in the 1970s. ... General Name, symbol, number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ...

Weapons

A chin FLIR is fitted to some variants. The EH101 is equipped with chaff and flare dispensers, directed infrared countermeasures, infrared jammers, missile approach warners, and a laser detection and warning system. It has two hard points for weapon carriers, on which the HM Mk1 model can carry four Sting Ray torpedoes or Mk 11 Mod 3 depth charges, though at present cannot use the Sea Skua missile. A forward looking infrared (FLIR) system is a television camera that takes pictures in infrared. ... Chaff is the seed casings and other inedible plant matter harvested with cereal grains such as wheat. ... Infrared countermeasures (IRCM) are devices designed to protect aircraft from infrared homing (heat seeking) missiles by confusing the missiles infrared guidance system so that they will miss their target. ... The Sting Ray torpedo is a British acoustic homing light-weight torpedo (LWT) manufactured by BAE Systems. ... Depth Charge used by U.S. Navy later in World War II The depth charge is the oldest anti-submarine weapon. ... Sea Skua Type air-to-surface Nationality United Kingdom Era 1980-Present Launch platform Helicopted launched Target shipping History Builder British Aerospace Dynamics (now MBDA) Date of design Production period Service duration Operators UK, Brazil, Germany, Malaysia Variants ? Number built ? Specifications Type anti-shipping Diameter 0. ...

Cargo Systems

EH101 fuselage has a volume of 31.91 m² and the cargo compartment is 6.5 m in length, 2.3 m wide and 1.91 m high. The military version of the EH101 can accommodate up to 24 seated or 45 standing combat troops and their equipment. Alternative loads include a medical team and 16 stretchers, and cargo pallets. The cabin floor and rear ramp are fitted with flush tie-down points, a roller conveyor for palletized freight and a cargo winch. The ramp (1.91x2.3 m) can take a 3,050 kg load, allowing it to carry vehicles such as Land Rovers. A cargo hook under the fuselage can carry external loads of 5,440 kg. A rescue hoist and a hover trim controller are fitted at the cargo door. Land Rover was the name of one of the first British civilian all-terrain utility vehicles, first produced by Rover in 1947. ...

Avionics

The navigation system includes a GPS and inertial navigation system, VHF Omnidirectional Radio range (VOR) instrument landing system (ILS), tactical air navigation (TACAN) and automatic direction finding. The EH101 is equipped with helicopter management, avionics and mission systems linked by two 1553B multiplex databuses. A Smiths Industries OMI SEP 20 automatic flight control system provides dual redundant digital control, giving autostabilisation and four-axis auto-pilot operation.

Operational history

A Royal Navy Merlin HM1 at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2009x1384, 575 KB) Royal Navy AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin HM.1 helicopter at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2009x1384, 575 KB) Royal Navy AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin HM.1 helicopter at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. ...

Royal Navy

The RN's final order was for 44 ASW machines, originally designated Merlin HAS.1 but soon changed to Merlin HM1. The first fully operational Merlin was delivered on May 17 1997, entering service on June 2 2000. All aircraft were delivered by the end of 2002, and are operated by five Fleet Air Arm squadrons, all based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall: 814 NAS, 820 NAS, 824 NAS, 829 NAS, and 700M NAS. is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1997: Events March 17–May 28 Linda Finch, pilot, aviation historian, and San Antonio, Texas businesswoman, flying a restored and specially equipped 62-year-old Lockheed Electra 10E, recreates the 1937 Amelia Earhart flight to circumnavigate the globe solo. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 2000: // January 30 - Kenya Airways Flight 431 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean, killing 169. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 2002: Events American Airlines and British Airways drop plans to introduce codesharing on transatlantic flights after U.S. regulators demand that other American carriers be given access to London Heathrow Airport. ... The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), based in Cornwall, has three major roles: serving the Fleet Air Arms front line squadrons; providing search and rescue for the South West region; and training specialists for the Royal Navy. ... 700 Naval Air Squadron of The Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. ...

In March 2004 RN Merlins were grounded following an incident at RNAS Culdrose when the tail rotor failed on one of them. Investigations later revealed that this was due to tail rotor hub manufacturing defects.^[4] Flights resumed the following year.

To date, eight Type 23 frigates have been refitted to accept the Merlin HM1: HM Ships Somerset, Lancaster, Monmouth, Westminster, Northumberland, Kent, Richmond, and Portland, although the squadron that operates Merlins from frigates, 829 NAS, currently only has six individual 'flights'. The Merlin HM1 has also been cleared to operate from the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and a number of RFA vessels including the Fort Victoria Class. The UK is considering the Merlin as a replacement for the Westland Sea King ASaC7 in the Airborne Early Warning (AEW) role. The Type 23 frigate is a class of warship serving with the Royal Navy, also known as the Duke class. ... HMS Somerset (F82) is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. ... Hangar for 3 Merlin. ... The Westland Sea King ASaC7 is a Royal Navy helicopter operated in the Airborne Surveillance and Area Control (ASaC) role, previously the Airborne Early Warning (AEW) role. ...

Royal Air Force

A British Merlin in Iraq during 2005

RAF Merlin testing flares

RAF ordered 22 transport helicopters designated Merlin HC3, the first of which entered service on December 11 2000. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 490 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,000 × 1,836 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 490 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,000 × 1,836 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 341 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (455 × 800 pixels, file size: 47 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Composite photo of a RAF Merlin helicopter testing flares. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 341 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (455 × 800 pixels, file size: 47 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Composite photo of a RAF Merlin helicopter testing flares. ... is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Merlin HC3 is operated by No. 28 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Benson. The type is equipped with extended-range fuel tanks and is capable of air-to-air refuelling; however, due to the lack of a suitable UK tanker aircraft, this capability has not been cleared for use. It also differs from the Royal Navy version by having double-wheel main landing gear, where as the RN version only has a single wheel on each of the main gears. No. ... RAF Benson (IATA: BEX, ICAO: EGUB) is a Royal Air Force station near Benson in Oxfordshire, England. ...

The first operational deployment was to the Balkans in early 2003. They are currently deployed to southern Iraq as part of Operation Telic. Balkan redirects here. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Operation (or Op) TELIC is the codename under which all British operations of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and after are being conducted. ...

To alleviate a shortfall in operational helicopters the British Ministry of Defence acquired six Merlins from Denmark in 2007. The first two helicopters are undergoing British modifications by AgustaWestland at Yeovil and will be delivered to the RAF as the Merlin HC3A. As part of the deal, the UK Ministry of Defence has ordered six new-build replacements for the Royal Danish Air Force. AgustaWestland is a helicopter design and manufacturing company based in Italy and the United Kingdom. ...

In October 2007 it was announced that a second Merlin squadron (78 Squadron) will be formed.^[5] No. ...

Italian Navy

The Italian Government ordered 20 EH101 helicopters with four options for the Italian Navy in the following variants [1]:

• 8 anti-surface and anti-submarine (ASW)
• 4 (+2) early-warning (AEW)
• 4 utility aircraft
• 4 (+2) ASH (Amphibious Support Helicopter)

The first Italian Navy production helicopter (MM81480) was first flown on 4 October 1999 and was officially presented to the Press on 6 December 1999 at the Agusta factory. Deliveries to the Italian Navy started at the beginning of 2001 and were completed by 2006. Italian EH101s operate from major surface units, aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

Canadian Forces

Main article: CH-149 Cormorant

In 1998, the Canadian government announced that their CH-113s would be replaced by a new search-and-rescue variant of the EH101, carrying the designation CH-149 Cormorant. Unlike the Petrel/Chimo contract, these 15 aircraft were to be built entirely in Europe. The first two aircraft arrived in Canada in September 2001 and entered service the following year. The AgustaWestland EH101 is a medium-lift helicopter originally developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy for military applications but also marketed for civil use. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1998: Events Cirrus Aircraft successfully flight-tests the CAPS ballistic emergency aircraft parachute. ... A CH-113 Labrador practising an airlift from a Canadian Coast Guard cutter. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 2001: Events April: The unmanned aircraft Global Hawk flies automatically from Edwards AFB in the US to Australia non-stop and unrefuelled. ...

Royal Danish Air Force

In 2001, the Royal Danish Air Force announced the purchase of eight EH101s for SAR duties and six tactical troop transports. The last of the 14 EH101s was delivered March 1st 2007 and the first SAR EH101s became operational in late April 2007. The Danish Mk 512s have a MTOW of 15,600 kg.^[6] Danish Air Forces F-16 MLU at Radom Air Show 2005 History The Danish armed forces received 38 Supermarine Spitfire H. F. Mk. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft can achieve flight. ...

In 2007 the British Ministry of Defence acquired the six troop transport Merlins to alleviate a shortfall in British operational helicopters. In exchange the British have ordered six new-build helicopters from AgustaWestland as replacements for the Royal Danish Air Force.

United States Marine Corps

Main article: VH-71 Kestrel

In 2001 AgustaWestland signed a deal with Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter Textron to market the aircraft in the US under the designation US101. It competed for and won the VIP and "Marine One" Presidential transport roles currently carried out by H-3 Sea King or the smaller VH-60 White Hawk. In doing so, it beat the Sikorsky H-92 Super Hawk, and became the first non-Sikorsky helicopter to fulfill the Marine One role since 1957.^{[verification needed]} The order is for 23 aircraft, to equip the Marine One squadron, HMX-1. The US101 will be built in the United States and fitted with largely American systems and equipment, plus the General Electric turboshafts as used on the Italian variants. These aircraft will be given the military designation VH-71A Kestrel.^[7] The VH-71 Kestrel is a variant of the AgustaWestland EH101 which is being developed to replace the United States Marine Corps Marine One Presidential transport fleet. ... Lockheed/BAE/Northrop F-35 Lockheed Trident missile C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is an aerospace manufacturer formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... Bell Helicopter Textron is an American helicopter and tiltrotor manufacturer headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Marine One lifting off of the White House south lawn. ... The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (company designation S-61) is a twin-engined anti-submarine warfare (ASW)helicopter. ... For other uses of Blackhawk/Black Hawk, see Black Hawk. ... Sikorsky is an American aircraft and helicopter manufacturer. ... The Sikorsky S-92 is a medium-lift twin-engine helicopter. ... Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), The Nighthawks, based at Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, Virginia, is responsible for the helicopter transportation of the President of the United States, Vice President, Cabinet members and VIPs. ... General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE) is the top supplier of aircraft engines in the world and offers engines for the majority of commercial aircraft. ... The VH-71 Kestrel is a variant of the AgustaWestland EH101 which is being developed to replace the United States Marine Corps Marine One Presidential transport fleet. ...

Portuguese Air Force

The Portuguese Air Force has operated EH101s since 24 February 2005, in transport, search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR), fisheries surveillance (SIFICAP) and maritime surveillance missions. The 12 aircraft, in three versions, gradually replaced the Aérospatiale Puma in those roles. Only Portuguese Merlins are painted in a tactical green and brown camouflage. The Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) is the air force of Portugal. ... is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Aerospatiale Puma is a medium-sized twin-engined transport/utility helicopter originally manufactured by Aerospatiale of France. ...

The main role of the Portuguese EH101 is search and rescue in Portugal's expansive maritime zone. EH-101s are on constant alert at three bases: Montijo (near Lisbon, Portugal), Lajes (Azores) and Porto Santo (Madeira). Motto (Portuguese for Rather die free than in peace subjugated) Anthem  (national)  (local) Capital Ponta Delgada1 Angra do Heroísmo2 Horta3 Largest city Ponta Delgada Official languages Portuguese Government Autonomous region  -  President Carlos César Establishment  -  Settled 1439   -  Autonomy 1976  Area  -  Total 2,333 km² (n/a) 911 sq mi... For other uses, see Madeira (disambiguation). ...

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ordered 14 aircraft in 2003 to use in both the MCM (Mine Clearing Mission) and transport roles. The MCH-101 will replace the S-80-M-1 (MH-53E) for MCM, and the Sikorsky S-61 in a support role for Japanese Antarctic observations. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ), or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II.[1] The force is based strictly on defensive armament, largely lacking... The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion (Sikorsky S-80E), is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military. ... For the original Viking use of the name, see Sea-King. ...

Algeria

Reports have appeared in Air Forces Monthly and various other sources [2] that Algeria has signed a contract for 6 AW101 helicopters and 4 Super Lynx 300. This means that the AW101 has it's future secured for the time being with orders for the RAF, Algeria, the USA and Japan being processed on the assembly line in Yeovil, United Kingdom. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2009 to Algeria, with further orders possible. Air Forces Monthly is a military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing, based in Stamford, United Kingdom. ...

Operators

Canadian CH-149 Cormorant

Rescue 09 a Danish Air Force Search and Rescue EH101

Japanese MCH-101

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department EH101

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x767, 518 KB)CH-149 Cormorant  Â©  NOTE: The following conditions may not include terms which restrict usage to educational or not-for-profit purposes. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x767, 518 KB)CH-149 Cormorant  Â©  NOTE: The following conditions may not include terms which restrict usage to educational or not-for-profit purposes. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 575 KB) Summary Royal Danish Air Force AgustaWestland EH101 at RIAT RAF Fairford, England in July 2006 Photograph by Self Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 575 KB) Summary Royal Danish Air Force AgustaWestland EH101 at RIAT RAF Fairford, England in July 2006 Photograph by Self Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Military operators

 Canada

• Canadian Forces
  • 103 Search and Rescue Squadron
  • 413 Squadron
  • 424 Squadron
  • 442 Squadron

 Denmark

• Royal Danish Air Force
  • Eskadrille 722 (Squadron 722)

 Italy

• Italian Navy
  • 1°Gruppo Elicotteri

 Japan

• Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

 Portugal

• Portuguese Air Force
  • Squadron 751 "Pumas"

 United Kingdom

• Royal Navy
  • 700M Naval Air Squadron (Operational Evalution Unit)
  • 814 Naval Air Squadron
  • 824 Naval Air Squadron
  • 829 Naval Air Squadron
• Royal Air Force
  • No. 28 Squadron RAF, RAF Benson

 United States

• United States Marine Corps (on order).
  • HMX-1 Marine One Squadron

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Canadian Forces (CF) (French: Forces canadiennes (FC)) are the unified armed forces of Canada, governed by the National Defence Act, which states: The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces. ... 103 Search and Rescue Squadron of the Canadian Forces Air Command currently operates the CH-149 Cormorant from CFB 9 Wing Gander, Newfoundland. ... No. ... 442 City of Vancouver Squadron is a Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Danish Air Forces F-16 MLU at Radom Air Show 2005 History The Danish armed forces received 38 Supermarine Spitfire H. F. Mk. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Marina Militare naval jack Marina Militare (the Italian Navy) is one of the four branches of the military forces of Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ), or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II.[1] The force is based strictly on defensive armament, largely lacking... Image File history File links Flag_of_Portugal. ... The Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) is the air force of Portugal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... RAF redirects here. ... No. ... RAF Benson (IATA: BEX, ICAO: EGUB) is a Royal Air Force station near Benson in Oxfordshire, England. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), The Nighthawks, based at Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, Virginia, is responsible for the helicopter transportation of the President of the United States, Vice President, Cabinet members and VIPs. ...

Law enforcement operators

 Japan

• Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department became the first civil customer for the type when they purchased a single example in 1998.

Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... The headquarters building of the Keishicho stands beyond the historic Ministry of Justice headquarters. ...

Accidents and incidents

Five Merlins have been written-off and one damaged in accidents, of which three have been due to problems with the tail rotor hub cracking.

• 21 January 1993 - Italian development Merlin PP2 (MMX600) crashed near Novara-Cameri airfield in Italy after an uncommanded application of the rotor brake in flight - four killed.

• 17 April 1995 - British development Merlin PP4 (ZF644) crashed near Chard in Dorset, England.

• 20 August 1996 - Italian development Merlin PP7 (I-HIOI) was damaged in an accident when it turned over after the tail rotor drive failed on landing. The helicopter was repaired.^[8]

• 27 October 2000 - British Royal Navy Merlin (ZH844) ditched near the Isle of Skye, Scotland after a hydraulic fire caused by the rotor brake being partially engaged.

• 30 March 2004 - British Royal Navy Merlin (ZH859) crashed on take-off from RNAS Culdrose due to tail rotor hub cracking.

• In June 2007, during an airshow in the Irish city of Galway, a door detached from a hovering RAF Merlin and fell into the crowd of spectators below injuring three people.^[9] Investigators have concluded "...that a member(s) of the public had tampered with an emergency door handle, while the helicopter was being viewed at the static display park".^[10]

• 15 November 2007 - During a medical evacuation in the island of São Jorge, Açores, Portugal, a Portuguese Air Force Merlin caused injuries to five people when it suddenly and unexpectedly climbed by one meter in the middle of the embarking procedures. The pilot was then able to recover the control of the helicopter minimizing the damages. According to the air force spokesperson, this kind of incident is unheard of.^[11]

is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), based in Cornwall, has three major roles: serving the Fleet Air Arms front line squadrons; providing search and rescue for the South West region; and training specialists for the Royal Navy. ... For the navigational aid displayed to airline passengers, see In-flight Entertainment. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference M300256 Statistics Province: Connacht County: Dáil Éireann: Galway West European Parliament: North-West Dialling Code: 091 Postal District(s): G Area: 50. ... The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) is part of the Department of Transport of the Republic of Ireland, and is responsible for the investigation of aircraft accidents and serious incidents within the Irish Republic and in some cases to Irish registered aircraft elsewhere. ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... São Jorge (also known in English as San Jorge) is an island in the central part of the Azores. ... Flag of Azores Shaded relief map of the Azores from 1975 The Azores (Portuguese: Açores) are an archipelago of Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisbon and about 3,900 km from the east coast of North America. ... The Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) is the air force of Portugal. ...

Specifications (Merlin HM1)

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Capacity:
  
  • 24 seated troops or
  • 45 standing troops or
  • 16 stretchers with medics
• Length: 74 ft 10 in (22.81 m)
• Rotor diameter: 61 ft 0 in (18.59 m)
• Height: 21 ft 10 in (6.65 m)
• Disc area: 2,992 ft² (271 m²)
• Empty weight: 23,150 lb (10,500 kg)
• Useful load: 12,000 lb (5,443 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 32,188 lb (15,600 kg)
• Powerplant: 3× Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM322-01 turboshafts, 2,312 shp (1,725 kW) each

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 167 knots (192 mph, 309 km/h)
• Range: 750 nm (863 mi, 1389 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,000ft (4575 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10.2 m/s)
• Disc loading: 53.8 kg/m² (11.01 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.174 shp/lb (284.9 W/kg)

Armament

• Guns: 3× general purpose machine guns
• Bombs: 2,116 lb (960 kg) of anti-ship missiles (up to 2), homing torpedoes (up to 4), depth charges and rockets

Avionics

• Smiths Industries OMI SEP 20 dual-redundant digital automatic flight control system
• Navigation systems:

• BAE Systems LINS 300 ring laser gyro, Litton Italia LISA-4000 strapdown AHRS (naval variants)
• Tactical air navigation (TACAN), VHF Omnidirectional Radio range (VOR), instrument landing system (ILS)

• Radar:

• BAE Systems Blue Kestrel 5000 maritime surveillance radar (ASW RN EH101s)
• Eliradar MM/APS-784 maritime surveillance radar (ASW Italian EH101s)
• Eliradar HEW-784 air/surface surveillance radar (AEW variants)
• Officine Galileo MM/APS-705B search/weather radar (Italian Navy Utility EH101s)
• Telephonics RDR-1600 weather avoidance radar (Royal Danish Air Force EH101s)
• Galileo APS-717 search/surveillance radar (Portuguese Air Force EH101s)

In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... An Advanced turboshaft, the RTM322, produced by Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Ltd. ... Schematic diagram showing the operation of a simplified turboshaft engine. ... An aircrafts Vne is the velocity that should never be exceeded. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... Power-to-weight ratio is a measure commonly used when comparing various vehicles (or engines), including automobiles, motorcycles and aircraft. ... The MG 34 - the first Universelles Maschinengewehr forerunner of the modern GPMG, shown here in two different mountings. ... Image:RBS-15 missile launch. ... The torpedo, historically called a locomotive torpedo, is a self-propelled explosive projectile weapon, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater toward a target, and designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... Depth Charge used by U.S. Navy later in World War II The depth charge is the oldest anti-submarine weapon. ... , BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British defence and aerospace company headquartered at Farnborough, UK, which has worldwide interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. ... A ring laser gyroscope uses interference of laser light within a bulk optic ring to detect changes in orientation and spin. ... Litton Industries was a large defense contractor in the United States, bought by the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2001. ... Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS) are 3-axis sensors that provide heading, attitude and yaw information for aircraft. ... VORTAC TGO (TANGO) Germany TACAN is a contraction of Tactical Air Navigation, which is a navigation system employed by the military of the United States. ... D-VOR (Doppler VOR) ground station, co-located with DME. VOR, short for VHF Omni-directional Radio Range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. ... The Localizer station at Hanover/Langenhagen International Airport in Hanover, Germany. ... For other uses, see Radar (disambiguation). ... , BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British defence and aerospace company headquartered at Farnborough, UK, which has worldwide interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... An Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system is a radar system carried by an aircraft which is designed to detect other aircraft. ... Marina Militare naval jack Marina Militare (the Italian Navy) is one of the four branches of the military forces of Italy. ... History The Danish armed forces received 38 Supermarine Spitfire H. F. Mk. ... The Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) is the air force of Portugal. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• AgustaWestland website
• EH101 VVIP
• EH101 Martime
• EH101 SAR
• EH101 Utility
• US101
• Lockheed-Martin/Augusta-Westland/Bell-Textron Team US101 website
• Lockheed-Martin Official US101 website
• HMS Somerset embarks Merlin
• Royal Navy Merlin HM1 page
• RAF Merlin HC3 page
• Canadian Air Force page
• Portuguese Air Force Official Website
• Area Militar - Unnofficial PALOP Military Website
• EH101 Merlin Close-up Image Gallery

Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ...

Related content

Related development

• CH-149 Cormorant
• VH-71 Kestrel

Comparable aircraft

• NHI NH90
• CH-148 Cyclone
• Sikorsky S-92
• Eurocopter Cougar

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The AgustaWestland EH101 is a medium-lift helicopter originally developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy for military applications but also marketed for civil use. ... The VH-71 Kestrel is a variant of the AgustaWestland EH101 which is being developed to replace the United States Marine Corps Marine One Presidential transport fleet. ... The NHI NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries, a company established by Agusta, Eurocopter and Stork Fokker Aerospace. ... Sikorsky H-92 in filght with camo pattern paint scheme. ... The Sikorsky S-92 is a medium-lift twin-engine helicopter. ... AS 532 Cougar The Eurocopter Cougar is a twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. ...

Related lists

• List of helicopters
• List of active Canadian military aircraft
• List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

See also

• European defence procurement