The VH-71 (file photos below) presidential helicopter program
has achieved another major milestone with the first operational
pilot production helicopter (PP-1) having 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.
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