On October 9, 1987, the prototype of the AW101 helicopter, then known as the EH101, made its first flight. Thirty-five years have passed since then, and helicopters of this type are still finding new buyers, including Poland. The Polish Navy is to receive four AW101s for anti-submarine combat and search and rescue missions.
The genesis of AW101 goes back to the second half of the seventies of the twentieth century. The British Ministry of Defense has announced requirements for a new sea helicopter to replace the Sea Kinga, which will be produced under US license by Westland. At the same time, the demand for a similar helicopter was reported by Italy, which also used Sea King, produced under license by Agusta. In view of very similar requirements, both companies decided to build one helicopter together, which each country would equip according to its own requirements.
In order to implement the program, in 1980 a consortium of EHI (European Helicopter Industries) was established with Agusta and Westland, each holding 50% of shares. The future helicopter was designated EH101. The construction of the first prototype was completed in April 1987 and was under ground testing until October. The first flight took place from the company’s Westland airport in Yeovil, UK. During the flight, the crew were Westland’s chief test pilots, John Trevor Eggington, and his second-in-command, Colin Hague.
“I remember being invited on the first EH101 flight,” recalls Paul Murley, chief engineer at Westland. – The sky was black. The engines started and the rotor began to rotate. I remember the helicopter taking off from the ground. He rose a meter. He didn’t move left or right. The pilot landed, we clapped and went to our offices.
Interestingly, the draftsman Harry Ridgewell remembered this day in a completely different (and more precise) day.
“It was amazing,” recalls Ridgewell. – I think the entire crew of the factory went out to observe the preparations for take-off. At 3:17 PM he had air under his wheels. It took off, hovered and then made a circle. It was a brand new helicopter, everything was new in it, except for the engines, I think. But everything else was brand new, so watching the helicopter make a circle over the city and the airport and return was magical, exciting.
In total, nine prototypes designated PP-1-PP-9 were built. The British chose the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM332 engines for themselves, and the Italians – the American General Electric CT7-6 manufactured under license by Fiat and Alfa Romeo Avio. Initially, only Italian helicopters were supposed to be equipped with a rear loading ramp, but eventually the British adopted this solution as well, and today the helicopters come in both configurations, depending on the version.
The end of the Cold War and the ensuing constraints on the defense budgets of many countries put EH101 in a difficult position, but ultimately both governments decided to continue the program for economic and political reasons. In 1995, both countries ordered the first helicopters, and deliveries began two years later.
Canadian Search and Rescue CH-149 Cormorant.
(Korona Lacasse, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
In 2000, Agusta and Westland merged to form the AgustaWestland Company. Due to the marriage, the EHI consortium was no longer needed and the use of the name was soon discontinued. In June 2007, EH101 was officially renamed AW101, although the British still use the old name, and even more often – their own name, Merlin. In 2016, AgustaWestland became part of the Leonardo concern.
Over the next years, the helicopters entered the service of several countries around the world. They are used not only by the armed forces, but also by law enforcement, emergency services and private companies. They are most often used for the transport of troops (up to thirty-eight) and cargo, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue missions. Specialist versions were also created, such as British early warning helicopters with the Crowsnest system or the Italian HH-101 to support special forces and combat evacuation. Their advantage is a large range and a spacious transport cabin that can accommodate many soldiers or specialized equipment. The advantage in seaside operations is also the three-motor drive, which increases safety.
HM.2 Merlin pair in Crowsnest configuration.
(Royal Navy, Petty Officer Dave Jenkins, Open Government License v3.0)
The large cabin also allows for the installation of many amenities, which is why AW101 helicopters are often used as flying lounges to transport the most important personalities. The helicopter was close to winning the competition for the new US President’s transportation machine, but ultimately, for political and prestigious reasons, it was decided to use an American design.
The title statement that Poland is buying thirty-five-year-old helicopters is obviously a brazen clickbait and the same nonsense as the claim about the F-16 from the desert. Apart from the overall look and shell of the fuselage, the newly produced AW101s do not have much in common with the first versions of these helicopters.
Italian HH-101A Caesar in CSAR configuration.
(Łukasz Golowanow, Konflikty.pl)
The development of the AW101 proceeded in two ways. On the one hand, its structure was strengthened, raising safety standards, and on the other, technical innovations were introduced. In 1999, the EH101 had a maximum weight of 14,600 kilograms, and now, after strengthening the structure, it has increased to 15,600 kilograms. A configuration weighing 16,500 kilograms has also already been tested. Thanks to this, the helicopter obtained the European Aviation Safety Agency 20G safety certificate, which means that it can safely forcibly land (or actually crash) with such an overload.
As for the new equipment – the AW101s are produced with General Electric CT7- 8E engines which, compared to the previous drive units, offer a power increase of approximately 500 horsepower each. In addition, the entire avionics of the cockpit has been replaced and the AW101 has the same solutions as the newer AW169 or AW189. The difference is in the number of displays – the largest AW101 has five, AW189 has four, and AW169 has three. The management system covers all components of the helicopter, from single switches in the cockpit to mission systems, navigation and connectivity. Additionally, helicopters can be equipped with the Synthetic Vision System.
Algerian EH101.
(Chris Lofting, GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2)
AW101 for Poland
In 2019, the Leonardo concern signed an agreement with the Ministry of National Defense for the supply of four AW101 helicopters for our Navy. The contract value is PLN 1.65 billion. The machines will be designed for anti-submarine and combat search and rescue missions. The flight of the first copy intended for Poland took place on July 19, 2021 in Yeovil.
The main sensor for searching for submarines will be the Folding Light Acoustic System for Helicopters (FLASH) Sonics. It is a broadband sonar operating at low frequencies (3-5 kHz). It is characterized by a long range, wide field of observation and a low percentage of false alarms. The maximum submersion depth is 750 meters, the maximum lifting and lowering speed in the standard configuration – 8.5 meters per second. The data processing system, apart from sonar, also works with active and passive sonar buoys.
#Polish #navy 1st painted Polish AW101 “Merlin” aka ‘Poland 2’. The 2nd of 4 for the Polish Navy Aviation Brigade. Yeovil, November 2021. #aviation #AvGeek #helicopter #AugustaWhirlwind #merlin pic.twitter.com/xNTGxCFfRw
– BravoZulu_R116440 (@ r116440) November 25, 2021
In addition, the helicopters will be equipped with an autopilot, synthetic aperture search radar, tactical data link, active and passive self-defense systems, FLIR observation head, self-foreign transponder and machine gun positions. Additionally, helicopters will have a searchlight, two winches, a hook for carrying attached loads, inflatable emergency floats, life rafts and medical equipment for the injured.
Originally, all helicopters were scheduled to be delivered this year, but production and testing disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have delayed deadlines. The first AW101 should be delivered early next year.
See also: USMC is looking for new landing ships
LPhot Joe Cater, the Open Government License version 1.0