Troubled Program Gains Momentum Towards 2010 EIS

The first production VH-71 presidential replacement helicopter has arrived at Naval Air Station Patuxent River by US Air Force C-17 cargo plane from helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland.

The helicopter, called pilot production one (PP-1), will undergo two months of ground vibration testing before flying to prime contractor Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY, for installation of the mission systems, communications suite, and presidential interior and exterior livery.

"This is a watershed event in the execution of this program," said Jeff Bantle, Lockheed Martin VH-71 vice president and general manager. "It's the fifth VH-71 helicopter to join the program, and a significant milestone because it's the first of five pilot production aircraft to begin testing. These pilot production aircraft will be delivered to the HMX-1 squadron after completion of a comprehensive test program.

"The first production presidential helicopter demonstrates the success of a proven platform transformed into the most capable and safe helicopter for the presidential mission," said Stephen C. Moss, chief executive officer of AgustaWestland North America. "PP-1's performance was superb during the initial test and evaluation with 11.3 hours of ground runs and 6.6 flight hours, and we look forward to the VH-71 entering service."

Four test aircraft are now part of the VH-71 presidential helicopter program's first phase, or Increment One. Two of these test helicopters are in flight testing with an integrated test team, made up of Navy, Marine Corps and industry pilots, while the other two are being integrated with mission systems. Four more pilot production helicopters are expected to arrive over the next six months.

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... but such "excellence" has arguably been lacking from the VH-71, as the program has run significantly over-budget, and first deliveries have been delayed several times. As ANN reported, the program was rumored to be near outright cancellation earlier this year.

The first VH-71 slated to be delivered to the Marines in 2010 -- the helicopter that just joined the flight test program -- will be a year late, and lacking several capabilities originally planned for production-grade VH-71s.

FMI: www.teamus101.com/index.cfm