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First VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Production Aircraft Takes Flight

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

September 22, 2008

thomas

   
AgustaWestland Logo. (PRNewsFoto/AgustaWestland North America)

WASHINGTON, DC UNITED STATES
   

YEOVIL, England, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ — The VH-71 presidential
helicopter program achieved another major milestone today when the first
operational pilot production helicopter (PP-1) completed its maiden flight
at AgustaWestland’s facility in Yeovil, England.

“We’re seeing real progress and execution on this program,” said U.S.
Navy VH-71 program manager Capt. Donald Gaddis. “With agreement on the way
forward and a more realistic schedule, we can build on the momentum we have
generated as we deliver the increment one helicopters to the Marine Corps
and White House and move into the increment two phase.”

A U.S. Air Force crew will transport the helicopter aboard a C-17 cargo
aircraft to U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD, in early October.

“The maiden flight of PP-1 is a tremendous accomplishment for the VH-71
program — as expected it performed exceptionally during its 40-minute
flight,” said Stephen C. Moss, CEO of AgustaWestland North America. “It is
a great honor to design and build the next presidential helicopter and I
look forward to adding it to the U.S. Department of Defense inventory.”

“Every aircraft that flies brings us a step closer to fielding
helicopters that will serve the office of the president,” said Jeff Bantle,
Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the VH-71 program.
“We’ve got systems integration laboratories online, helicopters in flight
test and more in production for final command and control systems
integration. It’s crucial now for us to leverage what we’ve accomplished in
the last few years and charge ahead to complete this phase and continue
into the next phase.”

PP-1 is the first of five VH-71 production aircraft that will complete
the initial phase, or increment one, of the presidential helicopter
replacement program, designed to meet an urgent need for new helicopters.

Increment two will provide 23 operational helicopters with increased
range and upgraded navigation and communications systems that fulfill White
House requirements to maintain continuity of government and allow the
president to carry out the duties of the office. Some of the current
presidential helicopters have been flying since the 1970s, and are
scheduled to begin phasing out of operational service at a rate of three
per year beginning in 2017.

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 to Lockheed Martin, has responsibility for the basic air
vehicle design, production build, and basic air vehicle support functions.
More than 200 suppliers in 41 states support the VH-71 program.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global security
company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally
engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment

of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation
reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is the global leader in
designing, manufacturing and supporting the world’s most technologically
advanced helicopters. With more than 100 years of experience in the
aerospace industry, AgustaWestland provides a full range of rotorcraft for
every commercial, government and military application, and an unrivalled
capability in training and support solutions.

SOURCE AgustaWestland

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