Augusta Westland eh101 Medium-Lift Helicopter, Italy / United Kingdom

The EH101 medium lift helicopter is manufactured by Augusta Westland International Ltd (formerly E.H. Industries), a joint venture company formed by Augusta of Italy and the British company GKN Westland. The EH101 helicopter programme has been developed for both civil and military applications. For civil applications the helicopter is available in the Commercial Utility version with rear ramp for passengers or freight, or in the Heliliner variant for passenger transport. For military applications the EH101 has been developed in a utility version or a naval variant.

The EH101 programme was given the go-ahead by the British and Italian Governments with the signing of an agreement on 25 January 1984. This provided for joint funding of the project through development to the production stage. The first pre-production EH101, PP1, made its maiden flight in October 1987. The civil variant first flew in 1997.

Over 140 EH101 variants have been ordered and more than 60 delivered. The commercial utility version is in service with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. The military version is in service with the UK Royal Air Force (as the EH101 Merlin HC3), the UK Royal Navy (HMA1 Merlin), the Canadian armed forces (EH101 Cormorant for search and rescue) and the Italian Navy (in anti-submarine, airborne early warning, utility and amphibious support roles). It has also been ordered by Denmark (14 search and rescue and troop transport variants), Portugal (12 for search and rescue and fishery protection, first delivered December 2004) and Japan (14 for transport and mine countermeasures).

A version of the helicopter, the US101, is being offered for the US military market. In February 2005, the helicopter was chosen as the replacement helicopter for the US Marine One presidential transport fleet requirement. The helicopter was proposed by Team US101, led by Lockheed Martin, and will enter service in 2009. The US101 is also being proposed for the US Air Force Personnel Recovery Vehicle (PRV) competition.

Eh101 heliliner

The EH101 Heliliner variant can carry up to 30 passengers and has been designed for commuter, VIP or offshore operations. The helicopter has an active vibration control system and low noise levels for passenger comfort. The cabin features full-height standing room, airline style seating with a wide central aisle, soundproofing panels, overhead baggage bins and a large baggage compartment. A powerful air-conditioning system circulates filtered air and maintains comfortable interior temperature and humidity levels independent of conditions outside.

Fully loaded, the helicopter has a range of 460 miles at a cruise speed of 175 mph (150 knots).

Eh101 commercial utility

The EH101 Commercial Utility variant can fulfill a number of roles – search and rescue (SAR), air ambulance, fire fighting, police and security operations, disaster relief, offshore operations, cargo/transport and commuter services.

As air ambulance, the cabin has room for a medical team and 16 stretchers. There is room for SAR to accommodate at least 20 survivors and for disaster relief as many as 55 evacuees.

The Utility helicopter is fitted with a rear ramp and can carry rappelling kit, under slung load provision, search light, rescue hoist and stretchers. The heavy duty cabin floor and ramp are equipped with flush tie-down points, a roller conveyer for palleted⁵⁷ freight and a cargo winch for non self-loading freight. An under slung load hook is capable of carrying external loads up to 12,000 lb, and the load measurement is displayed in the cockpit. A rescue hoist and a hover trim controller are fitted at the cargo door.