Lockheed Martin US101

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. Image File history File links LockheedMartin_US101. ... Image File history File links LockheedMartin_US101. ... AgustaWestland is a helicopter design and manufacturing company based in Italy and the United Kingdom. ... The Bell 206 of Canadian Helicopters Robinson Helicopter Company (USA) R44, a four seat development of the R22 A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors (propellers). ... 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... Agusta (now part of AgustaWestland) is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. ...

Development

In 1977, the UK Ministry of Defence issued a requirement for a new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter to replace the Royal Navy's Westland Sea Kings. Westland responded with a design called the WG.34 that was approved for development. Meanwhile, the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) was also seeking a replacement for its (Agusta-built) Sea Kings, leading Agusta to a series of 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) being formed to manage the project the following year. EH is an abbreviation for Elicottero Helicopter, incorporating both the English and Italian words for "helicopter." As the design studies progressed, EHI became aware of a broader market for an aircraft with the same broad capabilities required by the British and Italian navies, leading to a more generalised design that could be customised for specific customers and applications. After a lengthy development, the first prototype flew on October 9 1987. EH Industries no longer exists, having been incorporated into the parent when the two companies merged. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1977: Events March March 27 - 579 people are killed when two Boeing 747s collide on the runway at Santa Cruz airport, Tenerife. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... The Sea King helicopter is the only helicopter used by the Norwegian rescue service The Westland Sea King is a license-built version of the Sikorsky helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. ... Marina Militare (Italian Navy) is one of the four divisions of the military forces of Italy. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1979: Events January January 12 - Pilatus Aircraft acquires Britten-Norman February 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. ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (283rd in Leap years). ... 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...

The aircraft was manufactured at the AgustaWestland factory in Yeovil. AgustaWestland is a helicopter design and manufacturing company based in Italy and the United Kingdom. ... Map sources for Yeovil at grid reference ST5516 Yeovil is a town in south Somerset, England, on the A30 and A37. ...

Operators

UK

The Royal Navy's final order was for 44 ASW machines, originally designated Merlin HAS Mk.1 but soon changed to Merlin HM Mk.1. 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. May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 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. ... 2 June is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 2000: Events July July 10, EADS is formed by the merger of Aérospatiale-Matra, Dornier, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA), and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA). ... 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 Royal Air Force ordered 22 transport helicopters designated Merlin HC3, the first of which entered service on December 11 2000. The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The RAF Merlin HC3 is a medium support helicopter of the Royal Air Force. ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The UK is considering the Merlin as a replacement for the Westland Sea King ASaC7 in the Airborne Early Warning (AEW) role. 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. ...

Italy

The first Italian Navy production helicopter (M.M.I. 01) was first flown on the 4th October 1999 and it has been officially presented to the Press on the 6th December 1999 at the Agusta factory. The delivery to Italian Navy started at the beginning of 2001. The Italian Government has signed a contract to procure 16 EH101 helicopters that will be delivered to Italian Navy in the following variant: 8 anti-surface and anti-submarine (ASW) aircraft; 4 early-warning (AEW) aircraft; 4 utility aircraft. (see [1])

Canada

Canada has had a troubled history with the EH101. Following the lead of the UK and Italy, the Canadian government placed a $4.4 billion (CAD) order in 1987 for 48 (later 42) EH101s to replace the Canadian Armed Forces's CH-124 Sea Kings and CH-113 Labradors. These were to be assembled in Canada under the designations CH-148 Petrel (33 originally, reduced to 28) and CH-149 Chimo (15) in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and air/sea search and rescue (SAR) roles respectively. The whole programme was cancelled, however, after a change of government in 1993, leading to the payment of $500 Million in cancellation penalties. The dollar (currency code CAD) has been the currency of Canada since 1858. ... 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... The Canadian Forces (CF) (Fr: Forces canadiennes (FC)) are the combined branches of the military of Canada. ... For the original Viking use of the name, see Sea_King. ... CH-113 Labrador A CH-113 Labrador practising an airlift from a Canadian Coast Guard cutter. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1993: Events The 1,000th Boeing 747 comes off the production line 26 years after the first 747 was built. ...

In 1998, the Canadian government announced that the CH-113s would now be replaced by a new search-and-rescue variant of the EH101, carrying the designation CH-149 Cormorant. Unlike the Petrel/Chimo contract, these fifteen aircraft were to be built entirely in Europe. The first two aircraft arrived in Canada in September 2001 and entered service the following year. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1998: Events Cirrus Aircraft successfully flight-tests the CAPS ballistic emergency aircraft parachute. ... 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. ...

The first operational CH-149 flight occured in 2002 when a Cormorant of 442 Squadron performed a medevac from a merchant ship 200 km offshore in Hecate Strait. An even more dramatic demonstration of Cormorant capabilities occurred in late 2002 when a 103 Squadron CH-149 successfully flew a 1,200 km round-trip rescue mission to a container ship off Newfoundland. Two refuelling stops at the Hibernia oil platform were required. The Hecate Strait or Strait of Hecate is the name in English name for a shallow body of water called Seegaay in Haida. ... 103 Search and Rescue Squadron of the Canadian Forces Air Command currently operates the CH-149 Cormorant from CFB 9 Wing Gander, Newfoundland. ... Newfoundland (French: Terre-Neuve; Irish: Talamh an Éisc; Latin: Terra Nova) is a large island off the northeast coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... The Hibernia oil platform. ...

When it became obvious that the Sea Kings were in need of immediate replacement, the EH101 was again part of a Canadian competition (the Maritime Helicopter Project), versus the Sikorsky H-92, for a total price tag of $5 billion. The Sikorsky entry won the competition on July 23, 2004; it is to be known as the CH-148 Cyclone. Sikorsky H-92 in filght with camo pattern paint scheme. ... The dollar (currency code CAD) has been the currency of Canada since 1858. ... July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 161 days remaining. ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in...

United States of America

Also in 2001 AgustaWestland signed a deal with Lockheed Martin 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 UH-60 Black Hawk. The US101 will be built in the United States and fitted with largely American systems and equipment, General Electric turboshafts for example. 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. ... Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to present) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York, New York Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government • President  â€¢ Vice President Federal republic... Marine One in front of the White House Presidents George W. Bush and Vicente Fox board Marine One. ... UH-3H Sea King The Sikorsky UH-3 Sea King (also known as Sikorsky S-61) is a twin-engined multi-purpose helicopter. ... For other uses of Blackhawk/Black Hawk, see Black Hawk. ... General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE) is the top supplier of aircraft engines in the world and offers engines for the majority of commercial aircraft. ...

On 28 January 2005, the US101 was announced as the winner of the contest to supply the next Marine One helicopter for the transportation of the President and other VIPs. In doing so, it beat the Super Hawk, Sikorsky's contending entry, and became the first non-Sikorsky helicopter to fulfill the Marine One role since 1957. The order is for 23 aircraft, to equip the Marine One squadron, HMX-1. January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sikorsky H-92 in filght with camo pattern paint scheme. ... Sikorsky is an American aircraft and helicopter manufacturer. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official force name Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 Other names Marine One Branch United States Marine Corps Chain of Command Headquarters Marine Corps Description Direct helicopter support of the White House. ...

Japan

The Tokyo Police became the first civil customer for the type when they purchased a single example in 1998. In 2003, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ordered for 14 aircraft to use in the MCM (Mine Cleaning Mission) and transport role. MCH-101, JMSDF's temporary name, is going to replace MH-53E, for MCM and S-61, for support of the Japanese Antarctic observations. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is the maritime branch of the Japanese Self-Defense Force, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II. The force is based strictly on defensive armament, lacking the offensive weapons...

Portugal

The Portuguese Air Force acquired ^[1] 12 of such aircraft in three different versions: 6 in SAR, 4 in CSAR and 2 in SIFICAP (Fisheries Control) configurations. All versions are NVG capable, the CSAR versions adding a "Defensive Aids Suite" (DAS), weapons carriage and "Air to Air Refueling" (AAR), while the SIFICAP carries the APS-717P radar. The Portuguese Air Force or FAP (Força Aérea Portuguesa) is the air force of Portugal. ...

Others

In 2001 the Denmark announced the purchase of the EH101 for SAR duties.

Specifications (Merlin HM.1)

General characteristics

• Crew: Four
• Capacity: 30 seated or 45 standing troops, or medics and 16 stretchers
• 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)
• Maximum gross takeoff weight: 32,188 lb (14,600 kg)
• Powerplant: 3× Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM322-01 turboshafts, 2,312 shp (1,725 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 192 mph (309 km/h)
• Range: mi (km)
• Service ceiling: ft (m)
• Climb rate: ft/min (m/s)
• Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
• Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)

Armament

• 2x general purpose machine guns
• 960 kg (2,116 lb) of bombs and rockets

A Japan Airlines Boeing 747-400. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft can achieve flight. ... An Advanced turboshaft, the RTM322, produced by Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Ltd. ... Schematic diagram showing the operation of a simplified turboshaft engine. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... Service Ceiling—The maximum density altitude where the best rate-of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet-per-minute climb 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. ... A general purpose machine gun (GPMG) in concept is a compromise weapon, a machine gun intended to fill the role of either a light machine gun or medium machine gun, while at the same time being man-portable. ...

External links

• EH101 VVIP
• EH101 Martime
• EH101 SAR
• EH101 Utility
• US101
• Lockheed-Martin/Augusta-Westland/Bell-Textron Team US101 website
• Lockheed-Martin Official US101 website
• RAF page
• Canadian Air Force page
• Manufacturer website
• Portuguese Air Force Official Website
• Area Militar - Unnofficial PALOP Military Website

References

1. ↑ Portuguese Air Force Merlin helicopters enter service, Wikinews

Related content

Comparable aircraft

NHI NH90 - Sikorsky S-92 The NHI NH90 is a twin-engine, ten-ton multi-role helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries, a company established by Agusta, Eurocopter and Stork Fokker Aerospace. ... Sikorsky H-92 in filght with camo pattern paint scheme. ...

See also

• European defence procurement

// History Modern European defence procurement is making a move from a traditional, postwar, United States sponsored effort towards a more independent and competitive capability. ...