AgustaWestland AW101

AgustaWestland AW101
Country	UK & Italia
Role	Anti-submarine warfare, medium-lift transport, search and rescue and utility helicopter
First flight	9 October 1987
Built	Unknow

The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-lift helicopter in military and civil use. First flown in 1987, it was developed by a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the United Kingdom and Agusta in Italy in response to national requirements for a modern naval utility helicopter. Several operators, including the armed forces of Britain, Denmark, and Portugal, use the name Merlin for their AW101 aircraft. It is manufactured at factories in Yeovil, England and Vergiate, Italy; licensed assembly work has also taken place in Japan and the United States.

Source: AgustaWestland AW101 on Wikipedia

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Walk Around
Photographer	Unknow
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	16

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 2

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 1

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 4

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 3

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 5

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 6

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 8

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 7

AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin 10

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General Characteristics

The AW101 is a medium-lift, multi-role helicopter originally developed by a joint venture between Westland Helicopters (UK) and Agusta (Italy). It is primarily used for naval (ASW/ASuW) and troop transport roles and is known for its size and three-engine reliability.

Property	Value (Typical Military Variant)
Role	Naval, Transport, SAR, VIP/Utility
Manufacturer	AgustaWestland (now Leonardo Helicopters)
Maiden Flight	October 9, 1987
Crew	3–4 (Pilots, Mission/System Operators)
Troop Capacity	Up to 30 seated troops (or 16 stretchers)
Maximum Take-Off Weight	15,600 kg (34,392 lb)

Powerplant and Design

Powerplant: Three (3) General Electric CT7-8E or Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft engines.
Power Output: Approx. 1,566 kW (2,100 shp) per engine.
Rotor System: Five-blade main rotor and four-blade tail rotor.
Key Design Feature: The three-engine configuration provides excellent safety margins, redundancy, and performance, particularly in difficult environments (e.g., ship deck operations, hot and high).
Naval Feature: Main rotor blades can be folded automatically for shipboard storage.

Performance and Service

Maximum Speed: 309 km/h (192 mph / 167 knots).
Range: 1,363 km (847 miles) (Internal fuel).
Service Ceiling: 4,575 m (15,010 ft).
Key Users/Designations: Royal Navy/RAF (Merlin), Royal Canadian Air Force (CH-149 Cormorant), Italian Navy (EH-101), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Armament (ASW Role): Can carry torpedoes (e.g., Sting Ray), depth charges, and dipping sonar.