This blog refers to the VH-71 Kestrel the helicopter that was due to replace the existing US Presidential fleet of VH-3 and VH-60 helicopters.
On June 1st 2009 the VH-71 project was terminated by the US Navy after both cost and time overruns.
Will the project be resurrected ?
All the photos on this page have come from the VH-71 contractors press released images - either AgustaWestland, Lockheed Martin or US Navy NAVAIR.
TV-1
The Italian built EH-101 MM81495 was leased to the US once the VH-71 contract was won and became Test Vehicle -1 TV-1 - seen here landing at LM Owego, New York, USA
TV-1 is shown here taxying at Patuxent River NAS home of the US Navy NAVAIR VH-71 trials.
TV-2
The first purpose built VH-71 was TV-2 shown here on a test flight over Somerset, England, UK in 2007 - note the AgustaWestland flight test registration G-17-002
Official Lockheed Martin / Agustawestland promo video of TV-2 during its first flight
TV-2 G-17-002 shown painted olive green in the UK in November 2007
TV-3
TV-4
TV-5
TV-5 test flying at Yeovil, UK as G-17-005
PP-1
PP-1 on its first test flight at Yeovil, Somerset, UK
PP-2
PP-3
PP-4
PP-4 test flying in the UK as G-17-104 PP-5
US 101 - G-17-510
The US-101 prototype flying over the UK wearing an olive green colour scheme as G-17-510
The following list are places and units associated with the VH-71 Kestrel
Yeovil, Somerset, England, UK
Home to the AgustaWestland helicopter factory where nine VH-71 helicopters were built. This factory built Test Vehicles TV-2 to TV-5 and Pilot Production PP-1 to PP-5.
Yeovil is a large town of approx 42,000 people in mainly rural county. Westlands having been building aircraft here on this site since 1915. During World War 1 they licence built almost 1,100 aircraft and sea planes. Famous types designed and built by Westlands include the World War 2 Westland Whirlwind a twin engined tank buster and the covert special ops Westland Lysander, often used to drop secret agents into Nazi occupied Europa. Westlands also built Spitfire and Seafire fighters under contract to Supermarine during WW2. The Luftwaffe bombed Yeovil and the factory several times. After the war Westlands became Britains premier helicopter manufacturer initially working on their own designs such as the Westland Westminster but soon licence building US designs such as the Westland Bell 47, the Whirlwind ( S-55 deriative ) the Wessex ( S-58 deriative ) and the Sea King ( H-3 ie related to the VH-3 ! ) and most recently with the Westlands AH-64 Apache. They have also built several designs in conjunction with the French firm Aerospatial ( now part of Eurocopter ) such as the Gazelle, Lynx and Puma.
The European Helicopters consortium EH-101 Merlin is built at Westlands from which the VH-71 is derived. Initially a second production line was also in place with Agusta in Italy, however following the merger of Westlands and Agusta in 2001 all "101" production was transferred soley to Yeovil.
Home to Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - LMSI. The town has a population of approx 22,000 people and is in Tioga County about 150 miles North East of New York City.
Each VH-71 has come here to be fitted out with with critical mission systems, communications systems and luxury interiors.
The external photo link below shows a VH-71 undergoing vibration testing at Owego.
Home to the US Navy Naval Air Warfare Center ( NAWC ) a part of NAVAIR located along Chesapeake Bay by the mouth the of Patuxent River. The airfield was build during World War 2.
NAVAIR are ultimate project leaders for the VH-71. Patuxent River is home to many specialised US Navy testing and evaluation units. The VH-71 project team is known as PMA-274 and has the task of bringing this special new helicopter into US service.
HX-21 squadron badge
The actual test flying of the VH-71 will be carried out by the pilots and crew of squadron HX-21 - HX-21 fly many test, development and modified helicopters as part of the Rotary Wing aircraft Team ( RWAT )
Home to HMX-1 - HMX-1 is the USMC helicopter squadron that has the privilege and honour to operate the Presidential helicopter fleet. The USMC first established a base at Quantico back in 1917.
Currently flying the familiar VH-3D and VH-60N from the lawns of the White House the unit also operates several VH-46 and VH-53 helicopters to support this mission.
Promo video from National Geographic TV about HMX-1 visiting New York City
Quantico is also home to the excellent National Museum of the Marine Corps which includes many historic aircraft and helicopter exhibits - if you are in the area make sure you visit this exhibition.
The current fleet of Marine 1 helicopters operated by HMX-1 for Presidential and VVIP flights comprises a mixed fleet of VH-3D Sea Kings and smaller VH-60N Whitehawks.
The VH-3D aircraft were delivered from approx 1974 replacing the older but similar VH-3A.
The VH-60N aircraft were delivered from approx 1988.
Today's VH-3D fleet comprises the following individual helicopters
Bureau Number ( Tail Number ) 159350 159351 159352 159353 159354 159355 159356 159357 159358 - this example is a NVH-3D used by HX-21 at Patuxent River for testing upgrades 159359 159360
VH-3D - photo courtesy of US Navy NAVAIR
Today's VH-60N Whitehawk fleet comprises the following individual helicopters
Bureau Number ( Tail Number )
163259 163260 163261 163262 163263 163264 163265 163266 163267 - this aircraft was destroyed in a post maintenance test flight 19.5.1993 near Quantico, VA
VH-60N and VH-3D behind - photo courtesy of US Navy NAVAIR
Of the older retired VH-3A Sea King aircraft the following examples are preserved on public display
Bureau Number ( Tail Number )
150611 - Preserved at the Ronald Reagan Foundation & Library - Simi Valley, California
TV-5 test flying at Yeovil, UK as G-17-005
