Agustawestland and Boeing join forces for VXX proposal

Deja Vu - the AW101 is back in the running for the presidential VXX helicopter program - this time with a new US partner Boeing instead of the original VH-71 partnership with Lockheed Martin.

The official Agustawestland press release starts....

Finmeccanica Announces AgustaWestland Agreement with Boeing for U.S. President’s Helicopter

Today, Finmeccanica announced an AgustaWestland agreement with the Boeing Company for the
U.S. Navy’s Marine One presidential helicopter program (VXX). Boeing secured the rights to use AgustaWestland intellectual property, data and production rights to integrate the AW101 into a Boeing product for the VXX program. AgustaWestland will keep a role in developing the programme and will be awarded a significant part of the basic helicopter production.

The birth of the "Boeing 101"

See official Agustawestland press release relating to Boeing and VXX


Steve

Boeing offers the AW101 for VXX

In a strange twist Boeing have announced today 7th June 2010 that it has secured all rights to the Agustawestland AW101 design  - this design was of course used by the Lockheed Martin / Agustawestland VH-71 project.

A press statement from Boeing starts,

RIDLEY PARK, Pa., June 7, 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that it will secure a license from AgustaWestland for U.S. production of the AW101 medium-lift helicopter as an entry into the U.S. Navy VXX Presidential Helicopter Program. This license will give Boeing full intellectual property, data and production rights for the aircraft in support of the VXX program. Because of this arrangement, the aircraft will be a Boeing aircraft, built by Boeing personnel at one of its U.S. facilities. The company will submit information regarding this aircraft in response to the Navy's current Request for Information by the June 18 deadline.

Click here to read the full Boeing press release on the AW101

So what the existing VH-71 helicopters already built by Agustawestland whilst partnered to Lockheed Martin - will these exisitng airframes be acquired by Boeing to assist the re-development of the AW101 from the VH-71 to the VXX ?

Or will these nine low hour airfames linger and gather dust in the darkened corner of  hangers at Patuxant River & Owego ??

I would welcome any update that can be provided on the current status and whereabouts  of the VH-71 development aircraft, TV-2 through TV-5 and PP-1 through PP-5 - thank you.
 

VH-71 - current status ?

Where are the nine VH-71A airframes currently - with the project in limbo pending further progress with the new VXX program aircraft TV-2 through TV-5 and PP-1 through PP-5 are believed to be currently stored.

A report from the US suggests that approx 6 VH-71 airframes are stored with Lockheed Martin at Owego in NY state - I would assume that the balance of the fleet are hangared at NAS Patuxent River.


If you can provide any more details on the current disposition of the nine VH-71 airframes then please let me know - thank you.

New VXX competition reveals changes for US presidential helicopter

Feb 2010


Flightglobal report - New VXX competition reveals changes for US presidential helicopter


For their take on this latest news see the link below for more details


http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/02/18/338540/new-vxx-competition-reveals-changes-for-us-presidential.html

USN issues a new request for the VXX

Feb 2010 - US Navy issues a new request for the VXX program - the search begins again to find a replacement for the ageing VH-3D and VH-60N fleet.



Presidential Vertical Lift Platform Analysis of Alternatives Request For Information


This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for planning purposes. This is NOT a Request for Proposals. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. The Initial Capability Document (ICD) for Presidential Vertical Lift Platform(s) (VXX), 6 August 2009 established a requirement for a vertical lift capability to support the Office of the President of the United States, replacing the existing fleet of VH-3D/VH-60N aircraft. This new capability should have an IOC in the 2017-2023 timeframe and will require support through the anticipated life cycle.


For access to the full complete RFI document please follow the link below

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=4bd6e1c2422175c7727cd28f30361736&tab=core&_cview=0

VH-71 News

LATEST NEWS - December 2009


16.12.09 - $100 million to fund development related to future Presidential helicopter request - maybe some R&D work for the VH-71 airframes ?



Final funding decision on VH-71 still awaited - expect new VXX competition in 2010 ? - take a read


Very good VH-71A report published by AIN Online in September 2009 - take a read


Read Senator Schumer supports VH-71 revivial - Key Date 1st October 2009



NEWS - 17th July 2009

Read Congressman Hinchey views on VH-71 revivial



16th JULY 2009

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense has approved $485.2 million in funding to put five VH-71 presidential helicopters into operation.

But the fight to keep the program alive is not over. “There are several legislative steps that the bill needs to go through before the funding for the helicopter is officially allocated,” said the office of U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley.
For instance, the Senate needs to take up its own version of the Defense Appropriations bill and the president would have to sign the legislation. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he will work to have the funding matched in the Senate.


More details via this news LINK

The VH-71 Kestrel - Test Airframes

The VH-71 Kestrel - The Test Airframes



The VH-71 program has used a number of helicopter airframes for testing and development.

Five Test Vehicle helicopters ( TV-1 to TV-5 ) and five Pilot Production helicopters ( PP-1 to PP-5 ) have been delivered to the US.

In addition some related testing has used the AgustaWestland US-101 development airframe known as "G-17-510" at Yeovil, UK.


Below are brief details of each individual helicopter built

Test Vehicle 1 - EH-101 "TV-1"

TV-1 was quickly acquired after the VH-71 bid had won the contract in early 2005. TV-1 was built in Italy as an EH-101 Series 410 TTH helicopter destined for the Italian Navy as serial MM81495.

It arrived at the Lockheed Martin plant at Owego, New York in June 2005 painted in a light grey colour scheme. It soon accquired "VH-71 TV-1" titles and moved on to NAVAIR at NAS Patuxent River in November 2005.

TV-1 acted as a template with similar shape, size, capacity and dimensions as the VH-71 itself and allowed VH-71 contractors and US military to gain some familiarity with the basic core design before the purpose built VH-71 aircraft arrived.

Was TV-1 issued with a US Navy six digit Bureau Number tail registration while operating in the US ?

TV-1 was returned to AgustaWestlands in Italy during 2008 having completed its role in the VH-71 project - upon return to Italy it has been operating serialled as CSX81495.



Test Vehicle 2 - VH-71A TV-2

TV-2 was the first purpose built VH-71 airframe. It was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. TV-2 first flew on 3rd July 2007. It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-002. Before delivery to the US it was painted in an olive green colour. In November 2007 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 95-0105 callsign REACH 278 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA.

A LM report states that TV-2 has flown over 50 flight hours

It is likely that this and all other VH-71 test helicopters would have been issued with a US Navy six digit "Bureau Number", a tail serial registration number - this number is unknown to me

TV-2 was assigned to the US Navy for trials - current location is unknown but maybe at Pax River ?



Test Vehicle 3 - VH-71A TV-3

TV-3 was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. TV-3 first flew on 27th February 2008. It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-003. Before delivery to the US it was painted in an olive green colour. In March 2008 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 01-0195 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA.

TV-3 was assigned to Lockheed Martin at their Owego, New York site - it was the first airframe to be fitted with mission systems to validate inflight data. Used to test the Presidential communications suite.

TV-3 - US Navy tail serial number unknown ?

TV-3 current location unknown but maybe at Owego, NY ?


Test Vehicle 4 - VH-71A TV-4

TV-4 was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. TV-4 first flew on 19th March 2008. It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-004. Before delivery to the US it was painted in an olive green colour. In April 2008 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 94-0069 callsign REACH 484 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA.

TV-4 was assigned to Lockheed Martin at their Owego, New York site to join TV-3

TV-4 - US Navy tail serial number unknown ?

TV-4 current location unknown but maybe at Owego, NY ?


Test Vehicle 5 - VH-71A TV-5

TV-5 was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. TV-5 first flew on 11th December 2007. It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-005. Before delivery to the US it was painted in an olive green colour. In December 2007 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 01-0194 callsign REACH 489 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA.

A LM report states that TV-5 has flown over 51 flight hours

TV-5 was assigned to the US Navy for trials - current location is unknown but maybe at Pax River ?

TV-5 - US Navy tail serial number unknown ?



Pilot Production 1 - VH-71A PP-1

PP-1 was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. PP-1 first flew on 22nd September 2008. It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-101.

In November 2008 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 89-1191 callsign REACH 360 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA. It is believed it left the UK painted only in a yellow primer colour scheme. LM announced that this aircraft would undergo a two month ground based vibration test prior to flying to Owego for the installation of mission systems, communications suite, Presidential interior and exterior livery

PP-1 - US Navy tail serial number unknown ?

PP-1 current location unknown ?


Pilot Production 2 - VH-71A PP-2

PP-2 was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. PP-2 first flew in February 2008 ( do you know that f/f date please ? ) . It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-102.

In March 2008 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 96-0005 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA using the callsign REACH 285. It is believed it left the UK painted only in a yellow primer colour scheme.


PP-2 - US Navy tail serial number unknown ?

PP-2 current location unknown ?


Pilot Production 3 - VH-71A PP-3

PP-3 was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. PP-3 first flew on 29th November 2008. It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-103.

In December 2008 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 96-0002 callsign REACH 292 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA. It is believed it left the UK painted only in a yellow primer colour scheme.

PP-3 - US Navy tail serial number unknown ?

PP-3 current location unknown ?



Pilot Production 4 - VH-71A PP-4


PP-4 was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. PP-4 first flew on 13th January 2009. It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-104.

In February 2009 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 96-0065 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA. It is believed it left the UK painted only in a yellow primer colour scheme.

PP-4 - US Navy tail serial number unknown ?

PP-4 current location unknown ?



Pilot Production 5 - VH-71A PP-5

PP-5 was constructed by AgustaWestlands at their Yeovil factory in Somerset, England, UK. PP-5 first flew on 2009. It was operated in the UK using the British B Class registration of G-17-105.

In April 2009 it was flown to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton and loaded on to a USAF C-17 transporter serial 97-0048 for airfreighting to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, USA. It is believed it left the UK painted only in a yellow primer colour scheme.

PP-5 - US Navy tail serial number unknown ?

PP-5 current location unknown ?




US 101 - G-17-510

AgustaWestlands own aircraft used for the VXX sales bid as the "US-101" - this first flew on 26th September 2006 - by 2009 it was operating marked as "AW-101".

Olive green colours. Used for a variety of manufacturers tests and trials including the uprated GE CT7-8E engine.

During 2008 it operated from the GE facility at Victorville, California testing the hot & high performance of this new engine model. The cockpit has also been updated to include 5 10" x 8" LCD colour displays.

In early 2009 it was seen in the US undergoing inflight icing trials - flying behind a CH-47 Chinook fitted with water spraying gear at altitude to test the formation of ice on the AW-101 / VH-71 in flight - great photo on Flicker - take a look via

LINK to Flicker photo of Icing Trails


In April 2009 it was seen operating at Baltimore, Maryland with several engine panels painted light grey plus red panels on the rear boom.

By 2009 it was testing the revised and strengthened Articulated Tail Rotor - shown at the Paris Air Show with green engine panels in June 2009.

On 30th June 2009 G-17-510 made a precautionary landing in a farmers field in Devon, England about 15 miles away from its home base at Yeovil, Somerset.

Click on the photo below to read a short local news article on this incident



Increment 2 Aircraft - these upgraded VH-71B helicopters should in theory if funding and project go-ahead can be resurrected be built by Bell Helicopters in Texas, USA.