Us-101 First Flight

[B777LR]

Apparently Lockheed Martin has flwon the first US-101 (aka. marine one):
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003584.html?wh=wh

[Thorvic]

Apparently Lockheed Martin has flwon the first US-101 (aka. marine one):
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003584.html?wh=wh

Actually Augusta/Westland have flown the EH101, thats Yeovil    

[jcf]

More VH-71 Test Vehicle 2 (TV 2), and related EH101, pics:
VH-71/US101/EH101 Gallery





Cheers, Jon

[Howard of Effingham]

hmm, i wonder if the USMC have specified folding  rotor blades. the RAF and i think
FAA did not?

trevor

[GeorgeC]

The RN blades fold, see  ZH 844 &  848 below

Merlin folded blades

The HC Mk3 does not have a folding tail, unlike the US101 and the HAS Mk1, but I can't remember if the blades fold  

[Captain Canada]

Sweet....the 101 is a beautiful helo.

And thanks for the link, GeorgeC ! Plenty of good pics there !

 

[Howard of Effingham]

The RN blades fold, see  ZH 844 &  848 below

The HC Mk3 does not have a folding tail, unlike the US101 and the HAS Mk1, but I can't remember if the blades fold

opps! i forgot george. i have a JATE postcard at home with a 28 sqn merlin being
loaded into a RAF C-17 at home and i am sure that the RAF one doesn't have
folding blades.

for some basic things that ought to be common to all UK merlins, folding rotor
blades and tail ought to be two.

thank-you.

[B777LR]

Who has ordered the US-101? USCG? USMC (for anything other than marine 1)? USAF, USN?

[GeorgeC]

Who has ordered the US-101? USCG? USMC (for anything other than marine 1)? USAF, USN?

Only the 'Marine 1' role so far, IIRC.  The Chinook was selected instead for the USAF CSAR requirement to replace the HH60s, but this was embroiled in a legal challenge of some sorts - I don't know how far this has progressed.    

[Scooterman]

IIRC the CSAR contract is back into the bidding stages.  IMHO the Chook was/is too big.

[MCS]

IIRC the CSAR contract is back into the bidding stages.  IMHO the Chook was/is too big.

All three companies are to submit revised proposals. Not sure if there's going to be any further delays...both Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin submitted additional protests regarding the revised Air Force RFP.

I happen to work at Sikorsky and we were surprised that the -47 won. If we were going to lose, we figured that it would've been to the -101. We just hired an ex -47 pilot and even he was a bit surprised that the Air Force chose the -47.

While an Air Force -92 would be nice (it really is a helluva aircraft) I really don't care who finally comes out on top as long as the guys in the field get what they need, which really is all that matters.

[GeorgeC]

IIRC the CSAR contract is back into the bidding stages.  IMHO the Chook was/is too big.

I have been told that one of the reasons the Merlin has proved popular in Iraq has been the reduced downwash during ops, reducing 'brown-out' during landing and disembarkation, making casualty handling easier etc.  If you are not a casualty before a Chinook has been in the hover overhead, you will probably be afterwards!