thedrifter
07-06-07, 06:35 AM
New Marine One helo closer to taking off
By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jul 5, 2007 18:27:06 EDT
Whoever the next president will be, he just got one step closer to flying in high style as the new “Marine One” VH-71 helicopter successfully completed its test flight in the United Kingdom this week.
The helicopter, built by AgustaWestland and Lockheed Martin, completed its 40-minute maiden flight Tuesday, in which pilots tested its avionics and handling. The helicopter was built at AgustaWestland’s plant in Yeovil, England, the first test aircraft for the VH-71 Presidential Helicopters Program, the manufacturer said in a statement Thursday.
Additional test aircraft are due by the first of the year, said Steven Moss, president of AgustaWestland North America.
Tuesday’s flight indicates the aircraft is on track for an on-time delivery, one Lockheed official said.
“This marks the formal start of the VH-71 flight test program, and positions the team to deliver production aircraft capable of flying the president in October 2009,” said Jeff Bantle, VH-71 vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, in a statement.
Before completion, the VH-71 program will produce four test aircraft, as well as five pilot production aircraft, the manufacturers said.
The VH-71 is slated to replace the current fleet of helicopters used to transport the president, operated by the Corps’ Marine Helicopter Squadron One. The call sign “Marine One” is used whenever the president is on board one of the HMX-1 helicopters, the White House’s Web site said. The VH-71 will replace the current presidential helicopter, the VH-3D Sea King.
Ellie
By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jul 5, 2007 18:27:06 EDT
Whoever the next president will be, he just got one step closer to flying in high style as the new “Marine One” VH-71 helicopter successfully completed its test flight in the United Kingdom this week.
The helicopter, built by AgustaWestland and Lockheed Martin, completed its 40-minute maiden flight Tuesday, in which pilots tested its avionics and handling. The helicopter was built at AgustaWestland’s plant in Yeovil, England, the first test aircraft for the VH-71 Presidential Helicopters Program, the manufacturer said in a statement Thursday.
Additional test aircraft are due by the first of the year, said Steven Moss, president of AgustaWestland North America.
Tuesday’s flight indicates the aircraft is on track for an on-time delivery, one Lockheed official said.
“This marks the formal start of the VH-71 flight test program, and positions the team to deliver production aircraft capable of flying the president in October 2009,” said Jeff Bantle, VH-71 vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, in a statement.
Before completion, the VH-71 program will produce four test aircraft, as well as five pilot production aircraft, the manufacturers said.
The VH-71 is slated to replace the current fleet of helicopters used to transport the president, operated by the Corps’ Marine Helicopter Squadron One. The call sign “Marine One” is used whenever the president is on board one of the HMX-1 helicopters, the White House’s Web site said. The VH-71 will replace the current presidential helicopter, the VH-3D Sea King.
Ellie