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agustawestland eh.101 merlin

   

   

1997        


Model History:

Designed as a replacement for the Sea King, the EH-101 (named Merlin inRoyal Navy service), is a joint venture between Westland (UK) who developed theoriginal WG34 design on which the EH-101 is based and Agusta (Italy). A newcompany called E.H.I. was established between the two partners in 1980 tomanage the project. The HM1 is an anti-submarine variant intended to replacethe Sea King HAS 6, and the Lynx HAS 3 & HMA 8 on suitably equippedfrigates. Other versions will replace Sea Kings in transport roles in both theRN and RAF and an airborne-early-warning version is planned.  A US101 version was developed in 2003 to compete toreplace the United StatesPresidential helo, flown by US Marine squadron HMX-1. The winner will be dubbedthe VHX.  EHI officially becameAgustaWestland International Limited (AWIL) in 2004, recognising the transferof control over Westland Helicopters Limited to Agusta Helicopters of Italy.

The EH-101 was originally to be known as the EHL-01, but a clerical error in re-typing caused the lower case letter  l  of European Helicopter Ltd to be misread as a one. The rest, as they say, is history.

Derivatives and Versions of this model:

ModelYearHistory
    merlin hm.1     1998 The UK MoD placed an initial order for 44 Merlin HM.1 airframes in Sep 1991.
 Major Milestones:
  • First flight by a production Merlin was on 6 December 1995
  • First mission system fit ...
    merlin hc.3     2001 The UK MoD placed an initial order for 22 Merlin HC.3 airframes in Mar 1995.
All of the Merlin HC3's are operated by 28 Sqn based at RAF Benson.  Their first operational tour was in Bosnia which started in April 2 ...
    ch-149 cormorant     2002
    vh-71     2006 The new US president's aircraft to replace the Sea King
    merlin hc.3a     2007 Due to the shortage of Support helicopters within the UK armed forces the UK MOD agreed to purchase the 6 Joint Supporter model Merlins from the ...


Organisations / Units with this Model:

    Organisation     Qty UnitsBases/Heliports
2004/now reparti aerei marina militare (aviazione navale)
2005/now     1° gruppo elicotteriMariStaEli Sarzana - Luni Bortolomeo Arrigoni
2005/now12 força aérea portuguesa
2005/now     esquadra de busca y salvamento 751Montijo
2001/now22 royal air force
2001/now     28 (ac) squadron     merlin hc.3 RAF Benson 2001/now
2005/now     1419 flight     merlin hc.3
2007/now     78 squadron     merlin hc.3a RAF Benson 2007/now
RAF Mount Pleasant 1986/07
1998/now44 fleet air arm
1998/now     700 squadron     merlin hm.1 RNAS Culdrose 1998/now
2000/now     824 squadron     merlin hm.1 RNAS Culdrose 2000/now
2001/now     814 squadron     merlin hm.1 RNAS Culdrose 1976/now
2003/now     820 squadron     merlin hm.1 RNAS Culdrose 1964/now
2004/now     829 squadron     merlin hm.1 RNAS Culdrose 2004/now
2005/now14 flyvevåbnet
1999/now1 japanese metropolitan police
2006/now14 japanese maritime self defence force


Construction Numbers of this Model:

C/NVersionBuiltHistory
    50001 1987 PP1 agustawestland: First british development aircraft first flight 9 Oct 1987 held military serial ZF641
    50002 1987 PP2 agustawestland: First Italian systems development aircraft first flew on 26 Nov 1987. Was destroyted in a crash on 21 Jan 1993 nr Cameri in Italy due to a rotor brake failure.
    50003 1988 westland ZH647 G- : PP3 undertook its first flight on 30 Sept 1988, used by westlands as a commercial development airframe.  Can now be seen preserved at the International Helicopter Museum at Weston Super Mare in the UK.  Donated to the musuem on 26  Nov 1999.
    50004 1989 westland PP4 : First flew on 15 June 1989 at Yeovil. Used mainly for overwater navigation system trails and AFCS development. Crashed on 7 April 1995 after a control rod failure. Held military serial of ZF644
    50005 1989 westland PP5 : First standard Naval Merlin used in sea trails on HMS Norfolk and HMS Iron Duke. Carried military serial of ZF649
    50006 1989 PP6 EH Industries: First Italian Navy variant, First flight 26 Aril 1989. Carried serail numbers of MM-X605 and I-RAIA
    50007 1989 PP7 EH Industries: Military utility variant first flew 18 December 1989. Damaged in August 1996 when tail rotor failed, returned to the air 21 January 1999. Carried serials I-RAIC,I-HIOI,I-RAIA and ZK101
    50008 1990 PP8 EH Industries: First flew 24 April 1990. Was fittedout in civil configuration. Carried serials, G-0101 and Zj116.
    50009 1991 PP9 EH Industries: Miltary utility variant with rear ramp. First flew 16 January 1991.
    50033     merlin hc.3 1998 royal air force ZJ117 :
    50049     merlin hc.3 1999 royal air force ZJ118 :
    50075     merlin hc.3 1999 royal air force ZJ119 :
    50083     merlin hc.3 2000 royal air force ZJ120 :
    50089     merlin hc.3a 2003 royal air force ZJ990 : First delivered to the Royal Danish air force as M 501 in Oct 2006. Purchased by the RAF in 2007.
    50099     merlin hc.3 2000 royal air force ZJ121 :
    50106     merlin hc.3a 2005 royal air force ZJ992 : Delivered to RDAF as M-503 in 2006, arrived in UK for conversion 12 Jul 2007.
    50113     merlin hc.3 2000 royal air force ZJ122 :
    50121     merlin hc.3a 2005 royal air force ZJ994 : Delivered to RDAF as M-505 on 2 Feb 2006. Returned to UK for Conversion on 12 Jul 2007.
    50123     merlin hc.3a 2005 royal air force ZJ995 : Delivered to RDAF as M-506 on 29 Apr 2006. Returned to UK on 27 Jul 2007 for conversion.
    50129     merlin hc.3 2000 royal air force ZJ123 :
    50133     merlin hc.3 2000 royal air force ZJ124 :
    50137     merlin hc.3 2000 royal air force ZJ125 :
    50141     merlin hc.3 2000 royal air force ZJ126 :
    50148     merlin hc.3a 2005 royal air force ZJ998 : Delivered to RDAF as M-509.  Returned to UK on 29 Jun 2007 for conversion.
    50149     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ127 :
    50153     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ128 :
    50160     merlin hc.3a 2005 royal air force ZK001 : Delivered to RDAF as M-511.  Returned to the UK on 29 Jun 2007 for conversion.
    50167     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ129 :
    50169     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ130 :
    50173     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ131 :
    50177     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ132 :
    50181     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ133 :
    50183     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ134 :
    50187     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ135 :
    50191     merlin hc.3 2001 royal air force ZJ136 :
    50195     merlin hc.3 2002 royal air force ZJ137 :
    50199     merlin hc.3 2002 royal air force ZJ138 :
    rn 13     merlin hm.1 1997 fleet air arm ZH 833 : Allocated to 829 NAS HQ 2004 - ?
    rn 24     merlin hm.1 1999 fleet air arm ZH 844 : Crashed on an 824 NAS Observer instructor training sortie at RNASCuldrose (N50 05.05 W005 15.50) on Tuesday 30 March 2003 after failureof the tail rotor assembly.  Impacted ground at the edge of main runway with a high rate of yaw from 5 metre hover. No fatalities,1 major injury. Cat 5 damage to aircraft & engines (Beyondcost-effective repair)
    rn 38     merlin hm.1 2000 fleet air arm ZH 858 : Allocated to 829 Monmouth Flight 2002 - April 2005
    510002 1999 japanese metropolitan police JAP01MP : This aircraft was built at the Agusta\'s lant at Vergiate, Milan then final out fitting was carried out by Kawasaki before being handed over on 25 March 1999. The EH 101 is known locally as Ozara Ichigo
    511001     ch-149 cormorant 2000 canadian forces 149901 : First flight on 31 May 2000. Delivered to CFB Comox 03May 2002
    511002     ch-149 cormorant 2001 canadian forces 149902 : Delvered to CFB Comox on 7 Feb 2002
    511003     ch-149 cormorant 1999 canadian forces 149903 : Orginally had the C/n of 50070 when used for manufacturer\'s trials.  Delivered to the Canadian Armed Forces on 08 July 2002
    511004     ch-149 cormorant 2001 canadian forces 149904 : Delivered on 20 Oct 2001
    511005     ch-149 cormorant 2001 canadian forces 149905 : Delivered 20 Oct 2001
    511006     ch-149 cormorant 2002 canadian forces 149906 :
    511007     ch-149 cormorant 2002 canadian forces 149907 :
    511008     ch-149 cormorant 2000 canadian forces 149908 : Orginal C/N of 50098. Delivered to CFB Gander on 08 Jul 2002
    511009     ch-149 cormorant 2002 canadian forces 149909 : Delivered 24 Aug 2002
    511010     ch-149 cormorant 2002 canadian forces 149910 :
    511011     ch-149 cormorant 2002 canadian forces 149911 :
    511012     ch-149 cormorant 2003 canadian forces 149912 :
    511013     ch-149 cormorant 2003 canadian forces 149913 :
    511014     ch-149 cormorant 2003 canadian forces 149914 : Crashed into the sea of Nova Scotia 13 July 2006 with 3 fatalities
    511015     ch-149 cormorant 2003 canadian forces 149915 :
    56 C/N found.




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This page downloaded 29 Aug 2008 23:35:06 MDT
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