EH Industries EH101

anking as one of Europe’s most important current helicopter programmes, the EH101 has its roots in the cancelled Westland WG 34 design that was adopted in late 1978 to replace the Sea King. Negotiations between Westland and Agusta in November 1979 led to the establishment of European Helicopter Industries Ltd to manage the programme. In January 2001 Agusta and Westland completed a merger to become AgustaWestland.

The three-engined EH 101 is powered by RTM322-Q1/8 turboshafts (UK aircraft), T700-GE-T6AS (Italian navy) or CT7-6s (Canadian Forces). The five- bladed main rotor uses a BERP-derived high-speed tip design and an elastomeric hub. The cockpit is fitted with a Litton six-screen EFlS system.

Several other potential roles were planned from the outset, including military and civil transport and utility duties, Nine preproduction aircraft were built to develop these different configurations, with the first EH 101 making its maiden flight on 9 October 1987. EHI built demonstrators ’or the UK and Italian naval ASW standard, the military and civil utility standard (fitted with a rear ramp) and the civil passenger carrying version (the Heliliner). The programme suffered several set backs when two of the pre-production aircraft crashed, in 1993 (PP2) and 1996 (PP7).

The first EH101 operator was the Tokyo police, which took delivery of its first aircraft in 1997, In October 1991 the UK ordered 44 aircraft for the

Royal Navy, to be known as Merlin HM. Mk Is. In July 1992 Canada ordered 35 CH-148 Petrel (later 28) and 15 CH-149 Chimo aircraft to replace its Sea King ASW and Labrador SAR helicopters respectively, but this order was cancelled in November 1993 after a change in government. Following a lengthy re-evaluation process Canada reordered 15 CH-149 Cormorant SAR aircraft (based on the ‘civilianiseci’ AW320 Cormorant design) in January 1998, and is still evaluating the EH101 for its ASW requirements.

In March 1995 the UK placed a second order for 22 Merlin HC. Mk 3 aircraft for the RAF. In October 1995 the Italian navy ordered 16 aircraft (plus eight options), comprising eight Mk 110 ASW aircraft, four Mk 112 AEW/ASW aircraft and four Mk 410 utility aircraft.

The first production-standard Merlin HM. Mk 1 flew on б December 1995 and the first naval trials squadron. No. 700M Sqn, was commissioned on 1 December 1998. The first batch of six RAF Merlin HC. Mk 3s was handed over to the newly-reformed No. 28 Sqn, at RAF Benson, on 8 March 2001.

The RAF’s Merlin HC. Mk 3s replace the Westland Hte-ssex, now largely retired, and may ultimately replace the Puma in the transport role.