One Hundred and One 101s
(Source: AgustaWestland; issued Apr. 22, 2005)
VERGIATE, Italy --- The 101st production EH101 was accepted on 15 April by the Portuguese Air Force at AgustaWestland's Vergiate plant in Italy.
The ferry flight from Vergiate to the Portuguese Air Force Base at Montijo (Lisbon) took place on Thursday 21 April.
The 101st aircraft is the fourth search and rescue aircraft from an order of 12 aircraft placed by the Portuguese Air Force for SAR, Combat SAR and Fishery Protection (SIFICAP - Sistema de Fiscalização e Controlo das Actividades da Pesca) configured aircraft.
The EH101 fleet has now flown over 60,000 hours performing search and rescue, utility, troop transport and various maritime roles. Royal Air Force EH101 Merlins have deployed to Bosnia and Iraq to perform peacekeeping duties while Royal Navy Merlins were deployed to the Arabian Gulf during the initial phase of Operation Telic in 2003 and are currently deployed in the Arabian Gulf performing maritime surveillance duties.
In Canada the EH101 Cormorant has achieved many outstanding rescues since it entered service in July 2002. The Cormorant has also achieved an icing clearance unmatched by any other helicopter allowing it to operate in the severest of weather conditions.
The Italian Navy now has three variants of the EH101 in service. The first to enter service was the combined anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare variant, eight of which have been delivered. Both airborne early warning and amphibious support variants have followed.
In Japan the Tokyo Metropolitan Police have made extensive use of its single EH101 performing transport, SAR and relief flights. Additionally the aircraft has been used as a VIP transport for His Majesty the Emperor Akihito and Her Majesty Empress Michiko.
A further 45 aircraft are on order for the Royal Danish Air Force, Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, Italian Navy and Portuguese Air Force.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
On 28th January the U.S. Navy selected the US101, an American variant of the EH101, for a new fleet of "Marine One" helicopters for the President of the United States. The 101 was selected based on its proven capabilities, superior cabin space and excellent safety. The selection of the US101 came after an extensive evaluation alongside the competing helicopter.
The EH101 has also won competitions against its nearest competitor in Denmark, Portugal and Japan highlighting its clear advantage in capability and value for money. When its greater payload and longer-range capability are combined with a cabin more than 30% larger than its nearest competitor, the EH101 provides a capability that makes it the new benchmark helicopter in its class.
Orders for 146 EH101 have been placed to date by seven customers around the world comprising the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Italian Navy, Canadian Forces, Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Portuguese Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.
The EH101 has been ordered in a range of variants to perform many diversified roles including troop transport, logistic support, search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, maritime patrol, combat SAR, airborne early warning, amphibious support, airborne mine countermeasures and head of state transport, demonstrating its multi-role capabilities.
Certified by military and civil authorities around the world the EH101 meets or exceeds the most stringent safety and certification requirements. The EH101 is powered by three General Electric or Rolls-Royce Turbomeca engines, that provide superior one-engine inoperative performance over twin-engine designs, giving it a reassuring safety advantage. Additionally many critical systems are duplicated or triplicated giving the EH101 a large level of system redundancy and safety margin, something which is especially important when operating in hostile environments.
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is one of the largest helicopter companies in the world. The company offers an unrivaled range of helicopters to satisfy the requirements of civil and military customers. AgustaWestland has its primary operations in Italy, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
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