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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
    EH101 Mk.110     ASW/ASuW variant for Italian Navy
    EH101 Mk.112     AEW variant for Italian Navy
    EH101 Mk.410     TTH Transport variant for Italian Navy
    EH101 Mk.413     ASH Amphibious Support Helicopter for Italian Navy
    EH101 Mk.510     Civil transport variant, two built
    EH101 Mk.512     Search and Rescue (SAR) and Transport variant for Royal Danish Air Force
    EH101 Mk.514     Search and Rescue (SAR) for Portugese Air Force
    EH101 Mk.515     Fisheries Protection variant for Portugese Air Force
    EH101 Mk.516     Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) variant for Portugese Air Force
    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 fitted Merlin flew in January 1997 -Firs ...
Manufacturer designation Mk.111
    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 Search and Rescue (SAR) variant for Canada. Manufacturer designation Mk.511
    EH101 Mk.518     2005 MCH-101 variant for Japan assembled by Kawasaki
    KHI Merlin MCH-101     2006 Mk.518 variant for Japan assembled by Kawasaki
    VH-71 Kestrel     2006 The new US president's aircraft to replace the Sea King
On May 15th 2009 NAVAIR instructed Lockheed Martin Systems Integration to stop work on the VH-71.
On June 1st 2009 the US Navy announced the termination of the VH-71 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program contract for the convenien ...
    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     Del'd Units (bold=current)Bases/Heliports
2001/now15 Canadian Armed Forces
    424 squadron     CH-149 Cormorant
    442 squadron     CH-149 Cormorant
    413 squadron     CH-149 Cormorant
    103 squadron     CH-149 Cormorant
2005/now15 flyvevåbnet
    Eskadrille 724Flyvestation Karup 2003/now
2005/now     Eskadrille 722Flyvestation Karup 1965/now
2001/now21 marina militare italiana
2001/now     1° gruppo elicotteriMariStaEli Sarzana - Luni Bortolomeo Arrigoni
2006/now1 japanese maritime self defence force
2006/now     111 Kokutai     EH101 Mk.518 Iwakuni
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/now6 Royal Air Force
2007/now     78 squadron     EH101 Mk.512 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
1999/now1 japanese metropolitan police
2006/now4 japanese maritime self defence force     kawasaki heavy industries Merlin MCH-101
1986/now westland

Construction Numbers on database of eh.101 merlin or its versions
6private owner/unknown
15Canadian Armed Forces
15flyvevåbnet         - royal danish air force
21marina militare italiana         - italian navy
1japanese maritime self defence force         - japanese navy
1japanese metropolitan police
12Força Aérea Portuguesa         - Portuguese Air Force
44Fleet Air Arm
28Royal Air Force
14westland


Construction Numbers of this Model: Help Us    

C/NVersionBuiltHistory
    PP-1     vh-71 2008 westland G-17-101 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n PP-1, ff 22Sep08; dpt Yeovilton via C-17 24Nov08; arr NATC Pax River as VH-71A Kestrel, 02Dec08.
    PP-2     vh-71 2008 westland G-17-102 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n PP-2, ff?; status unk.
    PP-3     vh-71 2008 westland G-17-103 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n PP-3, ff 29Nov08; del NATC Pax River as VH-71A Kestrel, unk.
    PP-4     vh-71 2009 westland G-17-104 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n PP-4, ff 13Jan09; del NATC Pax River as VH-71A Kestrel, unk.
    PP-5     vh-71 2009 westland G-17-105 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n PP-5, ff 28Apr09; del NATC Pax River as VH-71A Kestrel, unk.
    TV-2     vh-71 2007 westland G-17-002 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n TV-2, ff 03Jul07; del to NATC Pax River as VH-71A Kestrel, Nov07.
    TV-3     vh-71 2008 westland G-17-003 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n TV-3, ff 27Feb08; del via C-17 to NATC Pax River as VH-71A Kestrel, 27Mar08.
    TV-4     vh-71 2008 westland G-17-004 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n TV-4, ff 19Mar08; retained Yeovil?
    TV-5     vh-71 2007 westland G-17-005 : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Mk.519, c/n TV-5, ff 11Dec07; del via C-17 to NATC Pax River as VH-71A Kestrel, 19Dec07.
    50001 1987 PP1 agustawestland: First british development aircraft first flight 9 Oct 1987 held military serial ZF641
    50002 1987 PP2 agustawestland: I-RAIA MM600 - 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.
    50010     mk110 marina militare italiana MM81480 : Marina 2-01. 110001. ff 04oct99. press 06dec99
    50011     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH821 : 50011/RN01. Yeovil AgustaWestland
    50012     mk510 westland I-AGWH : CIV01/510001/50012. G-17-510. To USA Oct04 for Team US101 VXX submission
    50013     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH822 : 50013/RN02
    50014     mk510 1999 japanese metropolitan police JA01MP : CIV02/510002. This aircraft was built at the Agusta plant at Vergiate, Milan then final out fitting was carried out by Kawasaki before being handed over on 25mar99. The EH 101 is known locally as Ozara Ichigo
    50016     mk110 marina militare italiana MM81481 : Marina 2-02. 110002
    50017     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH823 : 50017/RN03
    50020     mk110 marina militare italiana MM81482 : Marina 2-03. 110003
    50021     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH824 : 50021/RN04. 829 sqd
    50024     mk110 marina militare italiana MM81483 : Marina 2-04. 110004
    50025     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH825 : 50025/RN05
    50028     mk110 marina militare italiana MM81484 : Marina 2-05. 110005
    50029     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH826 : 50029/RN06. xfer AgustaWestland conv HM.2
    50032     mk110 marina militare italiana MM81485 : Marina 2-06. 110006
    50033     hc.3 1998 Royal Air Force ZJ117 : RAF 50033/RAF01 in 1999 on Le Bourget air show code /H301
    50036     mk110 marina militare italiana MM81486 : Marina 2-07. 110007
    50037     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH827 : 50037/RN07. 824 sqn
    50039     mk110 marina militare italiana MM81487 : Marina 2-08. 110008
    50040     hm.1 1998 Fleet Air Arm ZH828 : RN from 1999 50040/RN08 in 2004 /CU-013 820Sqn. ; 2006 /CU-013 820Sqn. ; October 2008 /CU 829Sqn. ; December 2008 /CU MDMF (merlin depth maintenance flight).
    50043     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH829 : 50043/RN09. 829 sqn
    50044     mk112 marina militare italiana MM81488 : Marina 2-09. 112001
    50049     hc.3 1999 Royal Air Force ZJ118 :
    50051     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH830 : 50051/RN10
    50053     hm.1 1999 Fleet Air Arm ZH831 : RN 50053/RN11. in 2007 /14 820Sqn. ; 2008 /14 814Sqn. ; 2009 /11 814Sqn.
    50054     ch-149 2000 Canadian Armed Forces 149901 : CSH01/511001. f/f 31may00. d/d CFB Comox 03May02
    50057     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH832 : 50057/RN12. 820 sqd
    50058     ch-149 2001 Canadian Armed Forces 149902 : CSH02/511002. d/d CFB Comox 7feb02
    50061     hm.1 1997 Fleet Air Arm ZH833 : 50061/RN13. Allocated to 829 NAS HQ 2004 - ?
    50065     hm.1 1999 Fleet Air Arm ZH834 : 50065/RN14 d/d 2002. 2009 /86 824Sqn.
    50067     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH835 : 50067/RN15. 814 sqd
    50070     mk112 marina militare italiana MM81489 : Marina 2-10. 112002
    50071     ch-149 Canadian Armed Forces 149903 : CSH03/511003.  d/d CAF 08jul02
    50072     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH836 : 50072/RN16. 824 sqd
    50074     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH837 : 50074/RN17
    50075     hc.3 1999 Royal Air Force ZJ119 :
    50076     ch-149 2001 Canadian Armed Forces 149904 : CSH04/511004. d/d 20oct01
    50077     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH838 : 50077/RN18
    50080     ch-149 2001 Canadian Armed Forces 149905 : CSH05/511005. d/d 20oct01
    50081     hm.1 1999 Fleet Air Arm ZH839 : 50081/RN19 d/d 2000. 2009 /83 824Sqn.
    50083     hc.3 2000 Royal Air Force ZJ120 :
    50084     mk112 marina militare italiana MM81490 : Marina 2-11. 112003
    50085     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH840 : 50085/RN20. 2006/09 Royal Navy/NL-38 829Sqn.
    50086     ch-149 2002 Canadian Armed Forces 149906 : CSH06/511006
    50087     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH841 : 50087/RN21. 824 sqn. ; 2004 /CU-012 820Sqn.
    50088     mk514 2003 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19601 : FAP Esq751
    50089     mk512 2003 flyvevåbnet M-501 : 50089/DEN01 return to UK as ZJ990
Royal Air Force ZJ990 : First delivered to the Royal Danish air force as M-501 in Oct 2006. Purchased by the RAF in 2007 and converted to HC.3A
    50090     ch-149 2002 Canadian Armed Forces 149907 : CSH07/511007
    50091     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH842 : RN 50091/RN22. in 2009 /CU-88 824Sqn.
    50093     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH843 : 50093/RN23. 814 sqn
    50094     mk514 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19602 : FAP Esq751
    50095     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-502 : 50095/DEN02 - Esk 722 RESCUE 02. ex UK ZJ991
    50096     mk112 marina militare italiana MM81491 : Marina 2-12. 112004
    50098     ch-149 Canadian Armed Forces 149908 : CSH08/511008. d/d CFB Gander 8jul02
    50099     hc.3 2000 Royal Air Force ZJ121 :
    50100     mk515 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19607 : FAP Esq751
    50101     hm.1 1999 Fleet Air Arm ZH844 : 50101/RN24. 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)
Fleet Air Arm ZH844 : 2008 wreck at FSAIU (Yeovilton)
Fleet Air Arm ZH844 : this aircraft did not crash at RNAS Culdrose, this one ditched in the Inner Sound between Applecross in Wester Ross and the island of Raasay, near Skye. its was ZH859 that had a heavy landing on the hardstanding outside 824 NAS, RNAS Culdrose
    50102     ch-149 2002 Canadian Armed Forces 149909 : CSH09/511009. d/d 24aug02
    50104     mk514 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19603 : FAP Esq751
    50105     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH845 : 50105/RN25. 814 sqn
    50106     mk512 2005 flyvevåbnet M-503 : 50106/DEN03 return to UK as ZJ992
Royal Air Force ZJ992 : Delivered to RDAF as M-503 in 2006, arrived in UK for conversion HC.3A 12jul07
Royal Air Force ZJ992 : RAF 50106/DEN03 in June 2009 /AB 28/78Sqn.
    50107     mk514 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19604 : FAP Esq751
    50108     mk410 2003 marina militare italiana MM81492 : Marina 2-13. 410001. ff sep03
    50109     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH846 : 50109/RN26. 824 sqn
    50111     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH847 : 50111/RN27. 2009 /13 824Sqn.
    50112     ch-149 2002 Canadian Armed Forces 149910 : CSH10/511010
    50113     hc.3 2000 Royal Air Force ZJ122 :
    50114     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-504 : 50114/DEN04 - Esk 722 RESCUE 04. ex UK ZJ993
    50115     mk515 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19608 : FAP Esq751
    50116     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH848 : 50116/RN28. 820 sqn. ; 2004 /LA-457 824Sqn.
    50118     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH849 : 50118/RN29
    50119     ch-149 2002 Canadian Armed Forces 149911 : CSH11/511011
    50121     mk512 2005 flyvevåbnet M-505 : 50121/DEN05 return to UK as ZJ994
Royal Air Force ZJ994 : Delivered to RDAF as M-505 on 2 Feb 2006. Returned to UK for Conversion on 12jul07 as HC.3A
    50122     mk516 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19609 : 50122/SAR09/516001. FAP Esq751
    50123     mk512 2005 flyvevåbnet M-506 : 50123/DEN06 return to UK as ZJ995
Royal Air Force ZJ995 : Delivered to RDAF as M-506 on 29 Apr 2006. Returned to UK on 27 Jul 2007 for conversion HC.3A
    50124     ch-149 2003 Canadian Armed Forces 149912 : CSH12/511012
    50125     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH850 : 50125/RN30. 820 sqn
    50126     mk514 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19605 : FAP Esq751
    50127     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH851 : 50127/RN31
    50128     mk514 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19606 : FAP Esq751
    50129     hc.3 2000 Royal Air Force ZJ123 :
    50130     ch-149 2003 Canadian Armed Forces 149913 : CSH13/511013
    50131     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH852 : 50131/RN32. 829 sqn. ; IN 2004 /CU-583 824Sqn.
    50132     ch-149 2003 Canadian Armed Forces 149915 : CSH15/511015
    50133     hc.3 2000 Royal Air Force ZJ124 :
    50134     ch-149 2003 Canadian Armed Forces 149914 : CSH14/511014. Crashed into the sea of Nova Scotia 13jul06, 3 fatalities
    50135     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH853 : 50135/RN33. 814 sqn
    50136     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-507 : 50136/DEN07 - Esk 722 RESCUE 07. ex UK ZJ996
    50137     hc.3 2000 Royal Air Force ZJ125 :
    50138     mk518 2005 westland ZK112 : Merlin Mk.518, c/n 50138/KHI01, reg G-17-518, f/f 15/02/2005, temp reg ZK112; transported to Japan 16/06/2005, d/d to JMSDF 03/03/2006 as 8651; xfer 111 Kok.
japanese maritime self defence force KHI01 : Westland built kit c/n 50138
    50139     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH854 : 50139/RN34. 814 sqn. ; 2003 /CU-580 824Sqn. ; 2004 /CU-580 824Sqn.
    50140     mk516 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19610 : 50140/SAR10/516002. FAP Esq751
    50141     hc.3 2000 Royal Air Force ZJ126 :
Royal Air Force ZJ126 : RAF 50141/RAF10 in June 2009 /K 28/78Sqn.
    50143     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH855 : 50143/RN35
    50145     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-508 : 50145/DEN08 - Esk 722 RESCUE 08. ex UK ZJ997
    50146     mk410 marina militare italiana MM81633 : Marina 2-18. 410006
    50147     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH856 : 50147/RN36
    50148     mk512 2005 flyvevåbnet M-509 : 50148/DEN09 return to UK as ZJ998
Royal Air Force ZJ998 : Delivered to RDAF as M-509.  Returned to UK on 29jun07 for conversion HC.3A
    50149     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ127 : RAF 50149/RAF11 in 2003 /L 28Sqn.
    50151     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH857 : 50151/RN37
    50152     mk516 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19611 : FAP Esq751
    50153     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ128 :
Royal Air Force ZJ128 : RAF 50153/RAF12 in 2003 /M 28Sqn.
    50155     hm.1 2000 Fleet Air Arm ZH858 : 50155/RN38. Allocated to 829 Monmouth Flight 2002 - April 2005
    50156     mk410 marina militare italiana MM81636 : Marina 2-21. 410009. d/d 2009
    50157     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-510 : 50157/DEN10 - Esk 722 RESCUE 10. ex UK ZJ999
    50158     mk516 Força Aérea Portuguesa 19612 : FAP Esq751
    50159     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH859 : 50159/RN39. 824 sqn. w/o 30mar04
    50160     mk512 2005 flyvevåbnet M-511 : 50160/DEN11 return to UK as ZK001
Royal Air Force ZK001 : Delivered to RDAF as M-511.  Returned to the UK on 29jun07 for conversion HC.3A
    50161     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-512 : 50161/DEN12 - Esk 722 RESCUE 12. ex UK ZK002
    50162     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-513 : 50162/DEN13 - Esk 722 RESCUE 13. ex UK ZK003
    50164     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH860 : 50164/RN40. 829 sqn
    50165     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-514 : 50165/DEN14 - Esk 722 RESCUE 14. ex UK ZK004. On static display during SAR-Meet 2008 in Kiel-Holtenau
    50167     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ129 :
    50168     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH861 : 50168/RN41. 2009 /84 824Sqn.
    50169     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ130 :
    50171     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH862 : 50171/RN42. in 2004 /CU-010 820Sqn.
    50173     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ131 :
    50175     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH863 : 50175/RN43. 820 sqn
    50177     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ132 :
    50179     hm.1 Fleet Air Arm ZH864 : 50179/RN44. 2004 Royal Navy/CU-011 820Sqn.
    50181     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ133 :
    50183     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ134 :
    50187     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ135 :
    50191     hc.3 2001 Royal Air Force ZJ136 :
    50195     hc.3 2002 Royal Air Force ZJ137 :
    50199     hc.3 2002 Royal Air Force ZJ138 :
    50222     mk512 flyvevåbnet M-515 : 50222/DEN15 delivered in June 2009 to Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF). UK test serial ZK160
    ?it2-14     mk410 marina militare italiana MM81493 : Marina 2-14. 410002
    ?it2-15     mk410 marina militare italiana MM81494 : Marina 2-15. 410003
    ?it2-16     mk410 marina militare italiana MM81495 : Marina 2-16. 410004. 2005 in USA for VH-71 program
    ?it2-17     mk410 marina militare italiana MM81632 : Marina 2-17. 410005
    ?it2-19     mk410 marina militare italiana MM81634 : Marina 2-19. 410007
    ?it2-20     mk410 marina militare italiana MM81635 : Marina 2-20. 410008
    150 C/N found.



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