First VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Production Aircraft Takes Flight

YEOVIL, England --- The VH-71 presidential helicopter program achieved another major milestone today when the first operational pilot production helicopter (PP-1) completed its maiden flight at AgustaWestland's facility in Yeovil, England.>> "We're seeing real progress and execution on this program," said U.S. Navy VH-71 program manager Capt. Donald Gaddis. "With agreement on the way forward and a more realistic schedule, we can build on the momentum we have generated as we deliver the increment one helicopters to the Marine Corps and White House and move into the increment two phase.">> A U.S. Air Force crew will transport the helicopter aboard a C-17 cargo aircraft to U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD, in early October.>> "The maiden flight of PP-1 is a tremendous accomplishment for the VH-71 program -- as expected it performed exceptionally during its 40-minute flight," said Stephen C. Moss, CEO of AgustaWestland North America. "It is a great honor to design and build the next presidential helicopter and I look forward to adding it to the U.S. Department of Defense inventory.">> "Every aircraft that flies brings us a step closer to fielding helicopters that will serve the office of the president," said Jeff Bantle, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the VH-71 program. "We've got systems integration laboratories online, helicopters in flight test and more in production for final command and control systems integration. It's crucial now for us to leverage what we've accomplished in the last few years and charge ahead to complete this phase and continue into the next phase.