Even with the future of the program
very much in doubt, Lockheed Martin is
pressing on with testing of the first VH-71 presidential
helicopters. The first production aircraft recently completed
initial ground vibration testing on schedule at the end of January
at the Navy's Presidential Helicopter Support Facility in Patuxent
River, MD.
Art Nalls is an amazing guy -- one who has given the FAA some
interesting tasks... such as administering a checkride last October
-- to fly the Harrier! Art says that, "The examiner required me to
demonstrate the various takeoffs and landing for VSTOL aircraft, as
he was totally unfamiliar with the Harrier, so we discussed the
various takeoffs and landings and the appropriate use for each. The
examiner was pleased with my flying and granted me the
type-rating."
If EADS hoped to receive a bailout of its own, on the
delay-plagued and massively overbudget Airbus Military A400M
turboprop... it had better think again.
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