The first production VH-71 presidential replacement helicopter arrived last month at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md., and will undergo two months of tests before systems installation work begins, according to prime contractor Lockheed Martin [LMT].
The helicopter, called pilot production one (PP-1), arrived at NAS Pax River from manufacturer AgustaWestland. PP-1 will undergo two months of ground vibration testing before flying to Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, N.Y., for installation of the mission systems, communications suite, and presidential interior and exterior livery, Lockheed Martin said.
“It’s the fifth VH-71 helicopter to join the program, and a significant milestone because it’s the first of five pilot production aircraft to begin testing. These pilot production aircraft will be delivered to the HMX-1 squadron after completion of a comprehensive test program,” Jeff Bantle, Lockheed Martin VH-71 vice president and general manager, said.
Four test aircraft are already part of the VH-71 presidential helicopter program’s first phase, or Increment One. Two of these test helicopters are in flight testing with an integrated test team, made up of Navy, Marine Corps and industry pilots, while the other two are being integrated with mission systems. Four more pilot production helicopters are expected to arrive over the next six months, the company said.
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the VH-71 program with overall responsibility for the program and aircraft system. AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is the principal subcontractor and has responsibility for the basic air vehicle design, production build, and basic air vehicle support functions.