Wed, Jan 14, 2009
Will Join Four Test Aircraft, Two Other Production-Spec
Helos
The VH-71 presidential helicopter program reached another
milestone with the maiden flight of the third pilot production
helicopter Tuesday. This is the seventh presidential helicopter
built for the program by manufacturer AgustaWestland under prime
contractor Lockheed Martin.
After completion of required acceptance testing, the pilot
production helicopter will be shipped to Lockheed Martin Systems
Integration, Owego, NY for its final production and systems
integration phases. It will then become part of the aircraft fleet
used for operational testing and "Marine One" deployment by the
HMX-1 squadron.
Over the past four years, the program's accelerated schedule has
produced four test aircraft and three production aircraft. The
helicopter that flew this week and two remaining pilot production
aircraft will arrive in the US over the next four months to undergo
mission systems integration and flight testing. To date, the
program has recorded more than 800 combined flight test hours.
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego is the prime
contractor and systems integrator for the VH-71 program with
overall responsibility for the program and aircraft system.
AgustaWestland, the principal subcontractor, has responsibility for
the basic air vehicle design, production build, and basic air
vehicle support functions.
Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland have partnered for more than
17 years with a worldwide record of excellence dating back to the
Royal Navy's EH101 Merlin Mk1 program.
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