The first of a series of new helicopters for the U.S. president has made its maiden flight. Designated VH-71, the new helicopter completed a successful 40-minute flight on 3 July 2007. Developed by the European firm AugustaWestland, the VH-71 is produced by a partnership of that firm with Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter Textron.
When the President has embarked, a helicopter has the designation “Marine One.” But no specific VH-71 will be designated as such.
The Marine Corps plans to procure three test aircraft and 23 operational aircraft of this type, based on the now-operational EH.101 helicopter. That aircraft is now flown by the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Italian Navy, and Canadian Forces as well as by agencies of several other governments. More than 130 EH.101s are in operational service.
Initial operational capability of the VH-71 with the Marine Corps is scheduled for late 2009. The helicopters will be flown by Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) 1, based at Quantico, Virginia, with a detachment at the naval station in Anacostia, Washington, D.C. The VH-71 will replace the long-serving VH-3D Sea King, now operated by HMX-1 to transport the President and other senior government executives.
HMX-1 also flies the UH-60A/N helicopters in support of the White House, although the President does not normally fly in those aircraft. The squadron is one of the largest in the U.S. armed forces with about 50 Marine officers and 600 enlisted men, plus a Navy detachment of about four officers and 15 enlisted men. The squadron, which provides test and evaluation services for the Marine Corps, also flies CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters.
During the 40-minute flight on 3 July, AgustaWestland test pilots performed general aircraft handling checks, tested flight characteristics at varying speeds up to 135 knots, and evaluated the on-board avionics systems.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Why can’t the Commander in Chief get his helos made in the USA?
US president must use his country made vehicle.. But if he use this one,, it is shame.
commandor in chief should use his own country made chopers..
This president is willing to let control of our Ports in THIS COUNTRY be controlled by another country, think he’s gonna break his back making sure the Helicopters are Made in USA?
Is all about commercial trade. Our country should have viable ways to encourage trade with friendly nations. Augusta has produced safe and efficient helos for decades as well as the USA, but sometimes the mission profile requires a different approach, why built it, if it is already out there? Besides, if I recall Bell has Augusta built components and helicopters under US license in Italy!
jg asksed: “Why can’t the Commander in Chief get his helos made in the USA?” Here is the truth of it”
This was an outright political payoff to the Italian Premier Berlesconi for supporting Bush on Iraq. He sweated the promise of the contract out of Bush and The White House ordered the Navy to select the chopper within 30 days and exerted heavy pressure on the Navy to pick the European model. Meanwhile Sikorsky, America’s great helicopter builder, was not given a fair shake. Those jobs go to Europe. The socalled “partnership” with an American firm is a sham. The vast majority of jobs associated with the chopper will be in Italy. I could cut off my right hand for ever voting for Bush.
American President American Made. No deals no kissing butt. We should close the ports close the borders; and go back to the way it was prior to World War I.
OK, the president should have American made product! Now, what do you drive? Where do you shop? I stopped at Hobby Lobby the other day and walked out! EVERYTHING WAS CHINESE! We are in the really big hole with trade with that country that drives tanks over their people!
It’s damm’n frustrating at times it’s simple AMERICAN MADE….ALL THE WAY!!!
Who cares where its made. The simple fact is its the best rotorcraft available. Step up America and quit using cheap labor!