EH Industries/AgustaWestland/Leonardo
EH-101 Heliliner/CH-149 Cormorant
EH-101/CH-149 pre-production prototypes PP8 and PP9
The EH101 Intensive Flight Operations Programme (IFOP)
The EH101 programme included an ambitious intensive flight programme to demonstrate operational reliability and maintainability. Two of the development aircraft were nominated.
Aircraft PP-8, registered G-OIOI was used extensively for the UK civil certification. But also carried the UK military serial ZJ116, which provided for operation within military rules. Aircraft PP-9, registered I-LIOI, which was structurally different in having the ramp rear door.
The plan was to base the two aircraft away from the main development fleet, with the whole operation controlled by a totally independent organization, whose sole brief would be to conduct the trials. Two locations were selected: Phase 1 would be carried out operating from Brindisi in Southern Italy, where the climate offered long periods of hot weather.
The aircraft would be relocated at the Bristow base in Aberdeen, to operate in the Oil environment, with frequent landings on oil rigs, in the colder bad weather prevailing in this region.
The programme was placed in the hands of Bristow Helicopters, who would lead a team drawn from the manufacturers; Agusta and Westland and representatives from UK and Italian services and potential customers.
Flying took place commencing March 1996 and completed June 2000. A total in excess of 5,500 flying hours was completed, the flying time evenly distributed between the two aircraft. As part of the programme, aircraft PP-9 flew across the Atlantic to undertake a demonstration programme. Subsequently all Cormorants for the Canadian order were delivered in this way.
PP-8 was placed in the Royal Air Force Museum as part of the EH101 display.
Photo: AgustaWestland/Leonardo photo
Text: David Gibbings
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