138-933: The Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel was a variant of the AgustaWestland AW101 (formerly the EH101) that was being manufactured to replace the United States Marine Corps ' Marine One U.S. Presidential transport fleet. Originally marketed for various competitions as the US101 , it was developed and manufactured in the US by a consortium headed by Lockheed Martin , consisting of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego (LMSI), AgustaWestland and Bell Helicopter . In January 2005,
276-789: A Bronze Age golden torc (twisted collar) was found. Yeovil is on the main Roman road from Dorchester to the Fosse Way at Ilchester . The route of the old road is aligned with the A37 from Dorchester, Hendford Hill, Rustywell, across the Westland site, to Larkhill Road and Vagg Lane, rejoining the A37 at the Halfway House pub in the Ilchester Road. The Westland site has evidence of
414-482: A probe for aerial refuelling . Self-sealing fuel tanks are an optional item to be selected by the customer. An inlet particle separator system can be installed, protecting the engine when operating in sandy environments. Most variants of the AW101 are equipped with self-defence systems, such as chaff and flare dispensers, directed infrared countermeasures (infrared jammers), ESM (electronic support measures in
552-780: A unitary authority established in April 2023. There are five electoral wards covering Yeovil. Yeovil is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It elects one Member of Parliament (MP). It covers the Somerset towns of Yeovil, Chard , Crewkerne and Ilminster . Until 1983 Somerset was split into four constituencies and Yeovil constituency also covered Ilchester , Martock and Somerton , but these were moved into
690-482: A 25 metres (82 ft) swimming pool, a teaching pool, a gym, sauna, steam room, spectator area and workout studio. Preston Sports Centre has undergone an £800,000 refurbishment, which included adding a gym and dance studio. In late July 2007, South Somerset District Council plans were made public by the Western Gazette to build a £21-million Yeovil Sports Zone on Yeovil Recreation Ground, which has been
828-608: A Canadian competition to replace the shipboard Sea King fleet, but the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone was selected. In 2013, following difficulties with the CH-148 procurement, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was reported to be seriously considering cancelling the contract with Sikorsky and was investigating the possibility of procuring the AW101 instead. However, an initial batch of six Cyclones
966-612: A Doppler velocity system (DVS) which provides relative ground velocities; the DVS is also linked into the AFCS as part of the autostabilisation system. For safety, the aircraft is equipped with obstacle and terrain avoidance warning systems, traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), and both voice and flight data recorders . The AW101 was initially equipped with the Ferranti Blue Kestrel search and detection radar which
1104-563: A Yeovil merchant. It is a Grade I listed building. Yeovil's two theatres are the Octagon, and the Swan, now a ten-screen cinema and 18-lane tenpin bowling alley. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust , including Yeovil Hospital , provides local health services. Yeovil Railway Centre is a small museum created in 1993 in response to British Rail 's decision to remove the turntable from Yeovil Junction. About 0.25 miles (400 m) of track along
1242-592: A centre of the aircraft and defence industries continued into the 21st century, despite attempts to diversify and the creation of industrial estates. In January 1986 a proposed sale of Westland Helicopters to the US Sikorsky Aircraft group led to the Westland affair , a crisis in the Thatcher government, the resignation of Michael Heseltine as Secretary of State for Defence , and two weeks later
1380-689: A common emergency egress system. The first HC4 began flight trials in September 2017, with an IOC in mid-2018; an interim folding main rotor head will be fitted to some HC3 for shipborne operations prior to the HC4 upgrade. Command of the UK Merlin HC3/3A fleet was formally transferred from the RAF to the Royal Navy during a ceremony at RAF Benson on 30 September 2014. As part of the same ceremony,
1518-429: A consortium in 1991 to perform the helicopter's complex systems integration. The AW101 features a network of helicopter management and mission systems designed to reduce pilot workload and enable the helicopter to undertake a wide variety of missions. A digital automatic flight control system (AFCS) is employed by the AW101. The AFCS allows the operation of a four-axis ( pitch , roll, yaw and collective ) autopilot and
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#17327729272151656-489: A contract was signed between AgustaWestland and the government, for the purchase of 16 AW101 helicopters. The agreement came about after fierce competition between different manufacturers to satisfy the Norwegian requirements. Participants were AgustaWestland , Eurocopter , NHIndustries , Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Boeing. The government considered that AgustaWestland AW101 met the requirements and specifications in
1794-469: A decision to cancel; the program was effectively placed on hold while options were considered. In July 2008, the VH-71A (also called Increment 1) was to reach operating capability in 2010. The second phase of the development, VH-71B (Increment 2) was expected to start entering service in 2017. In October 2008, while commenting on defense programs likely to be cut following the change in government, John Young,
1932-554: A deployment in Afghanistan in 2014. In September 2013, Danish AW101s were to receive L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors; SAR aircraft already carry the FLIR Systems Star Safire II EO/IR sensor. On 25 October 2007, a project started that had the intent to replace all Westland Sea King search and rescue helicopters with new rescue helicopters by 2020. On 19 December 2013,
2070-694: A full time basis. During the 2021 carrier strike group deployment to the Pacific, for instance, seven Merlins were embarked with the task group. In addition to its ASW role, the HM2 will be able to carry an airborne early warning (AEW) pod known as the Crowsnest, replacing the Sea King ASaC7 . In September 2011, Thales UK proposed re-using Sea King ASaC7 equipment, such as the Searchwater 2000, on
2208-572: A joint House and Senate Defense Appropriation Bill for FY 2010, which includes $ 130 million funding for the Marine One program: $ 100 million to recoup technologies developed under the VH-71 Kestrel program, and $ 30 million for the Navy's initial studies on a new VH-XX program. In February 2010, the Navy issued a request for information to the aviation industry. In April 2010, Lockheed Martin announced they would team with Sikorsky in offering
2346-467: A lack of flexibility and compromise on the part of the government had negatively impacted the program. By late 2008, the cancellation of the VH-71 was looking increasingly likely. In February 2009, President Barack Obama asked Secretary of Defense Robert Gates about placing the project on hold or canceling it because of its high cost: over $ 13 billion for the planned 28 helicopters. In June 2009,
2484-409: A medical team and 16 stretchers, and cargo pallets. The ramp, 1.91 by 2.3 metres (6 ft 3 in × 7 ft 7 in), can take a 3,050-kilogram (6,720 lb) load, allowing it to carry vehicles such as Land Rovers . The ramp and cabin floor are fitted with flush tie-down points. A cargo hook under the fuselage can carry external loads of 5,440 kilograms (11,990 lb) via the use of
2622-617: A medium-lift helicopter, an AW101 derivative, in the United States. At that time, the team declared that the derivative, which was designated as the US101 , would be "65% American". The companies envisaged the aircraft being adopted in three major roles; U.S. Air Force combat search and rescue, U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue, and U.S. Marine Corps executive transport. In early 2002, the Lockheed-AgustaWestland partnership sought out other firms to participate in
2760-512: A new, more central, Yeovil Town railway station . In 1854, the town gained borough status and had its first mayor. In the early 20th century Yeovil had around 11,000 inhabitants and was dominated by the defence industry, making it a target of German raids during World War II . The worst bombing was in 1940 and continued until 1942. During that time 107 high-explosive bombs fell on the town, 49 people died, 68 houses were totally destroyed and 2,377 damaged. Industrial businesses developed around
2898-489: A second procurement competition), and the 70-aircraft Common Vertical Lift Support Program (CVLSP). Specifications with an asterisk (*) next to them are specifically for the VH-71. All others are for AW101. Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004, others General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists AgustaWestland AW101 The AgustaWestland AW101
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#17327729272153036-520: A semi-automatic cargo release unit (SACRU). A rescue hoist and a hover trim controller are fitted at the cargo door. An optional cargo winch can be installed near to the rear ramp. The British Royal Navy's final order was for 44 ASW aircraft, originally designated Merlin HAS.1 (Helicopter, Anti-Submarine Mark 1) but soon changed to Merlin HM1 (Helicopter, Maritime Mark 1). The first fully operational Merlin
3174-434: A service to London, but the service between there and Pen Mill, the two remaining stations, was also withdrawn from 5 May 1968. As a former centre of Britain's leather industry, the town is post-industrial in character. Journalist John Harris, for instance, described the towns Taunton, Yeovil and Bridgwater as a "post-industrial, hardscrabble place that contain[s] 19 of the council wards in the 20% of English areas classed as
3312-598: A small Roman town. There were several Roman villas (estates) in the area. Finds have been made at East Coker , West Coker and Lufton. Yeovil was first named in a Saxon charter dated 880 as Gifle. It derives from the Common Brittonic river-name gifl "forked river", an earlier name of the River Yeo . The estate was bequeathed in the will of King Alfred the Great to his youngest son Aethelweard . It
3450-512: A suburb of Yeovil, contains the medieval manor of Brympton d'Evercy . Tintinhull , also close to Yeovil, features the National Trust-owned Tintinhull House and Gardens . Ninesprings Country Park is in the south-east near Penn Hill, linked by a cycle way along the route of the old railway to Riverside Walk, Wyndham Hill and Summerhouse Hill, forming the 40-hectare (99-acre) Yeovil Country Park. Like
3588-408: A tail rotor failed due to a manufacturing defect. An improved tail rotor was designed and adopted on most AW101s which significantly reduced associated maintenance. In 1995, it was announced that the Navy's Westland Lynx helicopters would be retired in favour of an all-Merlin fleet. However, the subsequent Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010 stated that the future naval helicopters would be
3726-543: A town council, which took over the functions of the Charter Trustees in 1982. It has responsibility for the management of recreational and leisure facilities, open spaces and play areas. In 2005, Yeovil Town Council became the first large council in Somerset to be awarded Quality Town Council status. Yeovil Town Council is based at the Town House . All other council services are provided by Somerset Council ,
3864-645: Is Bournemouth University , with University of the West of England offering some courses. Secondary education in Yeovil is provided by four schools: Westfield Academy on Stiby Road; Preston School , with actress Sarah Parish among its past pupils; and Bucklers Mead Academy with past pupils including Ian Botham . Local television coverage is provided by BBC West and ITV West Country . Radio stations are BBC Radio Somerset , Heart West , Greatest Hits Radio South West , and Radio Ninesprings. Local newspapers are
4002-528: Is 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) west of the town centre. British defence giant BAE Systems also runs a site producing high-integrity networked software, mainly for the armed forces. Screwfix , based in Houndstone, started life as Woodscrew Supply Company in 1979. It is now a subsidiary of Kingfisher plc . The company warehouse relocated to Stoke-on-Trent after failing to gain planning permission for expansion. Quedam Shopping Centre has some 45 shops:
4140-528: Is a mosque on Sherborne Road which was opened to worshippers in May 2017. The town's football team, Yeovil Town F.C. , plays in green and white livery at Huish Park , and currently competes in the National League . Known as the "Glovers" (referring to the town's glove-making past), it was founded in 1895 and won, as Football Conference (the then name of National League) champions in 2003, promotion to
4278-686: 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
Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel - Misplaced Pages Continue
4416-454: Is also based upon the AW101. The transferred VH-71s were stripped of sensitive parts, and seven remained in an airworthy condition. In 2013, media reports stated Canada is studying whether up to four of the VH-71s can be certified for operational use; manufacturer AgustaWestland has openly stated their support for the regeneration initiative. On 8 August 2018, it was reported that Leonardo S.p.A.
4554-474: Is capable of 360 degree scanning and can detect small targets as far as 25 nautical miles away. As part of the Royal Navy's Merlin HM2 upgrade program, Lockheed Martin implemented a series of improvements to the radar, notably allowing it to track 40 times the number of targets previously capable. Danish EH101s are fitted with the RDR-1600 search and weather radar . Mk 2 Royal Navy Merlins are equipped with
4692-661: Is frequently utilised for troop transport duties and for the transport of bulky objects, either internally or underslung , including vehicles and artillery. The Merlin Depth Maintenance Facility at RNAS Culdrose performed most tasks upon the Merlin HC3. The Merlin's first operational deployment was to the Balkans region in 2003. RAF Merlins were first deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Telic in 2004, supporting coalition forces and were operated as
4830-640: The Fort Victoria class . 30 aircraft have been upgraded to Merlin HM2 standard under the £750m Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme; Lockheed Martin UK delivered the final HM2 on 11 July 2016. The HM2 has a new mission system, digital cockpit , electro-optical camera and multi-static sonar processing. The HM2 achieved IOC on 30 June 2014 after flying 480 hours from Illustrious during Exercise Deep Blue earlier that month. It
4968-487: The Western Gazette , Somerset Guardian and Standard and SomersetLive . The Anglican Church of St John the Baptist dates from the late 14th century. Its 92 feet (28 m)-high tower is in four stages, with set-back offset corner buttresses. It is capped by openwork balustrading matching the 19th-century parapets. There are two-light late 14th-century windows on all sides at bell-ringing and bell-chamber levels,
5106-601: The 35th G8 summit . In 2010, the Italian Navy deployed three AW101s to Afghanistan, where they were flown in both the transport and utility roles. In 2011, it was reported that the Italian contingent in Afghanistan, consisting of AW101s, had been providing coverage of a wide area of the country. In June 2011 the AW101 was chosen by the Italian Air Force to replace its ageing Sea King HH-3F helicopters in
5244-745: The Canadian Armed Forces 's (CAF) Sea Kings, found itself subject to a wider political battle between the country's Conservative and Liberal parties, the latter viewing the aircraft as too costly. Critics attacked the EH101 purchase as excessive and unnecessary after the Cold War 's end in the early 1990s. Wide-ranging cost estimates were presented by both proponents and opponents of the EH101 procurement, with opponents backing life extensions of Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King and Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador helicopter fleets. The EH101 controversy
5382-506: The Danish Ministry of Defence reportedly could not afford the retrofitting of the AW101 fleet for Afghanistan operations, against earlier reports of a deployment in 2012. In February 2013, Aviation Week reported that earlier reliability problems had been resolved and that a full upgrade package would be applied to Danish AW101s; these included the addition of electronic warfare pods and a new electro-optical system, in advance of
5520-535: The English Football League for the first time in its history. It had achieved numerous FA Cup victories over Football League sides in the past 50 years, and since joining the League has won promotion again – as League Two champions in 2005 and League One play-off winners in 2013 . However, the stay in tier 2 of English football only lasted for a season. In women's football, Yeovil Town L.F.C.
5658-684: The General Electric CT7 producing 1,960 to 2,329 shp (1,462 to 1,737 kW) were the two available engine types, but by 2020 new aircraft were only being sold with the CT7-8E. The RTM322 powerplant was specifically developed for the AW101; it was subsequently adopted on the AgustaWestland WAH-64 Apache and the NHIndustries NH90 helicopters. According to Rolls-Royce, about 80% of AW101s use
Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel - Misplaced Pages Continue
5796-559: The Italian Navy , with options for four more. These AW101 included eight of the anti-surface/submarine (ASuW/ASW) version, four airborne early warning (AEW), four amphibious support helicopters (ASH). The government then exercised its option for four additional ASH helicopters, which were delivered by 2006. The same year the government ordered two more AW101 ASH helicopters in a slightly modified version. The first Italian Navy production helicopter ( MM81480 ) flew on 4 October 1999 and
5934-483: The Marte anti-ship missile on the AW101; as of 2011, the Royal Navy is considering equipping their Merlin fleet with an anti-surface missile. The Mk1, Mk3 and Mk3A variants can mount general purpose machine guns in up to five locations in the main cabin, aimed out of both door and window apertures. AgustaWestland has examined the integration of rockets and additional ground-attack weapons . Westland and IBM formed
6072-681: The Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) announced the purchase of eight EH101s for SAR duties and six tactical troop transports for 722 Squadron. The last of the 14 AW101s was delivered in March 2007 and the first SAR AW101s became operational out of Karup Airport in April 2007. In 2007, the six troop transport AW101s were transferred to the British MOD; in exchange, the British government ordered six new-build AW101s as replacements for
6210-644: The Sikorsky S-92 instead of the VH-71. In June 2010, Boeing announced it was considering a U.S.-built licensed version of the AgustaWestland AW101 for the renewed VXX program as well as the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and Boeing CH-47 Chinook . In June 2011, the nine VH-71s were purchased for $ 164 million by Canada for use as spare parts for its fleet of AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter, which
6348-692: The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King , performing roles such as medium-sized transport, anti-submarine warfare , search and rescue , and ship-based utility operations. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) operates the CH-149 Cormorant variant for air-sea rescue . Another variant, the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel , was produced to serve in the United States presidential transport fleet before the program
6486-452: The U.S. Navy terminated the contract after spending about $ 4.4 billion and taking delivery of nine VH-71s. After the cancellation, the delivered helicopters were sold to Canada for $ 164 million, where they were used as source of spare parts for its fleet of AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters. The AgustaWestland AW101 , initially designated as EH101 , was originally developed and produced by EH Industries, which
6624-493: The United States . Prior to 2007, the aircraft had been marketed under the designation EH101 . The original designation was EHI 01, from the name given to the Anglo-Italian joint venture—European Helicopter Industries—but a transcription error changed this to EH101. In 2000, Westland Helicopters and Agusta merged to form AgustaWestland , leading to the type's current designation. The AW101 entered into service in 1999 and has since replaced several older helicopter types, such as
6762-451: The United States Department of Defense issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the supply of 23 helicopters to be used as a replacement for the 11 VH-3Ds and 8 VH-60Ns of the Marine Corps' HMX-1 squadron, which performs the role of Presidential helicopter transportation; this requirement was given the designation of VXX , or the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program. Two companies, AgustaWestland and Sikorsky Aircraft responded to
6900-405: The combat search and rescue role. A total of 15 helicopters in the HH-101A variant were ordered and delivered between 2016 and 2020. In 1997, in light of the declining condition of its helicopter fleet, Canada launched the Canadian Search and Rescue Helicopter competition. It was won by the EH101, which was designated CH-149 Cormorant in Canadian service. In 2004, the EH101 was entered into
7038-408: The "high readiness" aircraft carrier. Problems with Merlin/Crowsnest have caused the Royal Navy to look for a replacement. As of 2023 the system, which is still to achieve full operating capability, has a planned retirement date of 2029. In 2021, the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) announced that options would be examined and might draw on the already existing Project Vixen , researching
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#17327729272157176-439: The 14th century, the town had gained the right to elect a portreeve . The Black Death exacted a heavy toll, killing about half the population. In 1499 a major fire destroyed many wooden , thatch-roofed buildings in the town. Yeovil suffered further fires in 1620 and 1643. After the dissolution of the monasteries , the lord of the manor was the family of John Horsey of Clifton Maybank from 1538 to 1610, followed by
7314-429: The 20th century made it a target for bombing in the Second World War ; they are still major employers. Yeovil Country Park, which includes Ninesprings , is one of several open spaces with educational, cultural and sporting facilities. Religious sites include the 14th-century Church of St John the Baptist . The town is on the A30 and A37 roads and has two railway stations. Yeovil is in the south of Somerset, close to
7452-424: The AQS903 anti-submarine system for processing sonographic data from sonobuoys to detect and target submerged submarines. The AQS903 was derived from the AQS901 system on the earlier Hawker Siddeley Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft. The AW101 is typically operated by a crew of three: a pilot, an observer, and a crewman/operator. The pilot is able to fly for the majority of a mission in a hands-off mode, enabled by
7590-402: The AW101 can be flown by a single person. The pilots' instrument displays include six full-colour high-definition screens and an optional mission display; a digital map or forward looking infrared (FLIR) display can also be installed. The AW101 is powered by three turboshaft engines. Initially the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 producing 2,035 to 2,160 shp (1,517 to 1,611 kW) and
7728-453: The AW101 to maintain a stable hover in 74 km/h (40 kn) crosswinds . An active vibration control system, known as the active control of structural response system , reduces airframe vibration by up to 80%, increasing crew comfort and minimising buildup of stress on the airframe. The cockpit is fitted with armoured seats for the crew, and can withstand an impact velocity of over 10 m/s. Dual flight controls are provided, though
7866-506: The Clifton Maybank spur is used for demonstration trains. Yeovil's bus services are operated by First West of England , First Hampshire & Dorset , South West Coaches , Stagecoach South West and Damory Coaches ; these are centred around the bus station. Routes connect the town centre with both railway stations, Taunton, Blandford Forum , Castle Cary , Chard , Martock and Wells . Coach services are operated by National Express , Berrys Coaches and South West Tours; services connect
8004-465: The Crowsnest. Initial operating capability of the system was significantly delayed. While Crowsnest was deployed with the U.K. carrier strike group in 2021, it experienced operating challenges and revised plans meant that Crowsnest achieved initial operating capability in July 2023. Full operating capability is expected in 2024/25. It has been reported that initially only five Merlins will be equipped with Crowsnest, three of these being normally assigned to
8142-675: The FFS to provide rear crew training. The first training course at the centre started prior to delivery of the first rotorcraft. The training centre will be used by both Norwegian and foreign AW101 customers. Yeovil Yeovil ( / ˈ j oʊ v ɪ l / ) is a town and civil parish in Somerset , England. The population of Yeovil at the last census (2021) was 49,698. It is close to Somerset's southern border with Dorset , 126 miles (203 km) west of London , 41.8 miles (67.3 km) south of Bristol , 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Sherborne and 27.6 miles (44.4 km) east of Taunton . The aircraft and defence industries which developed in
8280-498: The Hendford railway goods station to such a degree that a small Hendford Halt was opened on 2 May 1932 for passengers, but the growth of road transport and a desire to rationalise the rail network led to half of the railway stations in Yeovil being closed in 1964. First to go was Hendford Halt, closed on 15 June along with the line to Taunton, then Yeovil Town closed on 2 October. Long-distance trains from Pen Mill were withdrawn on 11 September 1961, leaving only Yeovil Junction with
8418-425: The Italian company Agusta ; Westland and Agusta soon began talks regarding the joint development of a successor helicopter. Agusta and Westland finalised an agreement to work on the project together, and formed a jointly owned new company, EH Industries Limited (EHI), to pursue the development and marketing of the new helicopter to potential operators. On 12 June 1981, the UK government confirmed its participation in
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#17327729272158556-550: The Merlin and the Wildcat, a derivative of the Lynx. Royal Navy Merlins have seen action in the Caribbean, on counter-narcotics and hurricane support duties, as well as maritime security duties in the Persian Gulf . Merlins have also seen active duty in Iraq, providing support to British and coalition forces based in the region. The Merlin HM1 has been cleared to operate from the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers , amphibious assault ships , Type 23 frigates , Type 45 destroyer and several Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels including
8694-413: The Merlin; Lockheed Martin has proposed developing a new multi-functional sensor for both the AW101 and other aircraft. Lockheed originally planned to use a derivative of the F-35's APG-81 radar; however, a rival Elta system and the Thales system both commenced flight trials in 2014. On 22 May 2015, the MOD and prime contractor Lockheed Martin UK selected Thales to provide the radar and mission system for
8832-412: The Phelips family until 1846, when it passed to the Harbins of Newton Surmaville . Babylon Hill across the River Yeo to the south east of the town was the site of a minor skirmish, the Battle of Babylon Hill , during the Civil War , which resulted in the Earl of Bedford 's Roundheads forcing back Sir Ralph Hopton 's Cavaliers to Sherborne . In the 1800s Yeovil was a glove-making centre, whose
8970-444: The President to support a VH-71 program. On 22 July 2009, the House Appropriations Committee approved $ 485 million to make five VH-71As operational. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimated that shutting down VH-71 production, upgrading the existing fleet, and later implementing a successor program would cost $ 14–$ 21 billion. It was reported not only that a new fleet would not be available until 2024 (at which point
9108-433: The RAF's 78 Sqn was disbanded and the Royal Navy's 846 Naval Air Squadron stood-up with the Merlin. The RAF's 28(AC) continued to operate as part of the Commando Helicopter Force until July 2015, when 28(AC) Sqn stood down and 845 Naval Air Squadron stood-up. 846 NAS relocated from RAF Benson to RNAS Yeovilton in March 2015, with 845 NAS following in June 2016. In 1997, the Italian government ordered 16 AW101 helicopters for
9246-438: The RDAF. Danish AW101s have a higher gross weight capacity of 15,600 kg and were, as delivered, coated in a paint designed to reduce the aircraft's infrared signature . In the SAR role, RDAF AW101s have a crew of six and were initially painted yellow to distinguish themselves from AW101 allocated to military duties, but were later painted green, and all 14 AW101s are used for SAR and troop transport. On 28 January 2008,
9384-417: The RFP, as the source of cost overruns. A GAO report in 2011 concluded that the VH-71's development was not allowed flexibility or trade-offs considered by the customer. In December 2007, DoD officials met with the White House Military Office to discuss the program's future; the Pentagon had apparently wanted to terminate the VH-71 due to setbacks, budget issues, and design problems. The White House overruled
9522-419: The RTM322 The engines power an 18.59 m (61 ft 0 in) diameter five-bladed main rotor. The rotor blades are constructed from carbon/glass with nomex honeycomb and rohacell foam, edged with titanium alloy in a sandwich construction . The shaping of the main rotor blades is derived from the BERP rotor blades first used on the Westland Lynx . This blade design improves aerodynamic efficiency at
9660-425: The Royal Navy for use by the Commando Helicopter Force. Royal Navy personnel worked alongside RAF crew at Benson to build experience during the transition. The £454m Merlin Life Sustainment Programme resulted in 25 HC3/3A airframes being fitted with the cockpit electronics of the HM2, folding tails and main rotor heads, strengthened landing gear, deck lashing mounting points, obsolescence updates, fast-roping points and
9798-428: The US101 consortium, as well as in alternate arrangements to produce the NHIndustries NH90 helicopter. On 15 May 2003, AgustaWestland signed an agreement with Bell Helicopter to undertake final assembly of the US101 in the U.S. Under the pact, AgustaWestland would produce the main rotor blades and main fuselage sections at its headquarters in Yeovil , UK . The company would also manufacture other components, including
9936-686: The US101 was selected for the VXX Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program, and was promptly re-designated as the VH-71 . However, development was subject to delays, cost overruns, and engineering issues; Lockheed attributed much of these issues to unanticipated and extensive modifications being demanded by the government that had been absent from the request for proposal (RFP) issued. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2011 also recognised that
10074-622: The Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, stated that the VH-71 "is very high on that list". The rising cost of VH-71 program contrasted poorly with President Barack Obama 's stance on curbing government spending; during a White House gathering in February 2009 President Obama commented that the procurement process had "gone amok and we are going to have to fix it." He additionally stated that "The helicopter I have now seems perfectly adequate to me." In March 2009
10212-619: The VXX RFP; additionally, that had been interest in a potential Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey -based bid, however the rotorcraft was deemed to be non-transportable by military airlift and thus unsuitable to qualify. Sikorsky had proposed the VH-92, a variant of the H-92 Superhawk , in partnership with FlightSafety International , L-3 Communications , Northrop Grumman , Rockwell Collins , Vought Aircraft Industries , and GE-Aviation . During
10350-485: The automatic stabilisation system, and is linked in with the aircraft's flight management systems. The AFCS, manufactured by Smiths Aerospace , is a dual-duplex system using two flight computers to provide redundancy and fault-tolerance . The AW101's navigation system includes a GPS receiver and inertial navigation system , VHF omnidirectional radio range (VOR), instrument landing system (ILS), TACAN , and automatic direction finding. The Mk1 and Mk3 are equipped with
10488-417: The best possible way. On 12 June 2017, Per-Willy Amundsen , Minister of Justice and Public Security , announced the opening of Leonardo's AW101 Norway Training Centre at Stavanger Sola Air Station . The training centre includes an AW101 Full Flight Simulator (FFS), jointly developed by Leonardo and CAE to Level D, which is a CAE Series 3000 device, along with an AW101 SAR console training system linked to
10626-474: The bidding process, Sikorsky attacked the US101 for its foreign origins; in December 2004, Sikorsky VXX programme manager Nick Lappos derided the bid as: ""What is a socialist country and a socialist company going to teach us about competition?". The selection was originally to occur in April 2004, however programme officials decided to postpone their decision for a further eight months to conduct more analysis on
10764-543: The bids. On 28 January 2005, the Department of Defense announced that it had selected the US101 as the winner. It has been speculated that the US101's three engines had been a decisive factor over the rivaling twin-engined VH-92. John Young, the USN's assistant secretary for acquisition technology and logistics, stated of the selection: "The Lockheed team probably started with a helicopter that needed less. They more closely met
10902-493: The blade tip and reduces the acoustic signature . Improved BERP IV rotors have since been developed; when installed this increases the AW101's maximum take-off weight. Each engine is supplied by a separate 1,074 L (284 US gal; 236 imp gal) fuel tank using dual booster pumps. Optional fourth and fifth tanks can be added to act as a reservoir supply, topping up the main tanks during flight, increasing range or endurance. The AW101 can also be fitted with
11040-783: The border with Dorset , 130 miles (209 km) from London, 40 miles (64 km) south of Bristol and 30 miles (48 km) from Taunton . It lies in the centre of the Yeovil Scarplands , a natural region of England. The suburbs include Summerlands, Hollands, Houndstone, Preston Plucknett , Penn Mill, New Town, Hendford, Old Town, Forest Hill, Abbey Manor, Great Lyde. Outlying villages include East Coker , West Coker , Hardington Mandeville , Evershot , Halstock , Stoford , Barwick , Sutton Bingham , Mudford and Yetminster . Other nearby villages include Bradford Abbas , Thornford Corscombe , Montacute (with Montacute House ) and Pendomer . The village of Brympton , now almost
11178-526: The cancellation. The aircraft's cancellation provoked commentators to speak out about its impact on future acquisition contracts with European businesses. The failure by the U.S. Department of Defense acquisition process as demonstrated by the VH-71 may scare away potential partners. Around March 2009, a coalition of lawmakers encouraged the Administration to continue a variation of the VH-71 program. A letter issued by several members of Congress urged
11316-433: The combined operational fleet had also accumulated a total of 170,000 flying hours. In November 2007, Algeria signed a contract for six AW101 helicopters. In August 2012, it was reported that Algeria had signed an agreement with AgustaWestland for the provision of up to 80 helicopters, 42 of which were to be AW101s. Under the terms of this arrangement, early aircraft were to be manufactured by AgustaWestland, while Algeria
11454-506: The cost of a new procurement program, industry officials stated that to merely extend the operating life of the current fleet is a risky choice because it is both less secure and costly to maintain. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, including Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Representative Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) have been outspoken critics of the Pentagon in the matter—Bartlett recently claiming that "they had this conversation outside
11592-609: The crash of the second pre-production aircraft on 21 January 1993. On 6 June 1993, the first EH101 took its maiden flight with the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft engine. Nine prototypes were built to explore military and civil applications, including a "heliliner" configuration. In February 1995, Britain formally placed its first order for a total of 22 EH101s; this was quickly followed by Italy's order for 16 EH101s in October 1995. The EH101 order
11730-440: The design of the rotor blades, avionics systems, and extensive use of composite materials. The fuselage structure is modular and comprises an aluminium–lithium alloy , designed to be both light and damage-resistant. The AW101 is designed for operating in extreme weather conditions; it is fitted with a de-icing system and rated to operate in temperatures ranging between −45 and +50 °C. The aircraft's control systems allow
11868-531: The drive shaft of a Danish AW101 broke, leading to an emergency landing at Billund Airport. Following the incident, the Danish fleet was grounded as a precaution and the AW101's future was publicly debated. In the first six months of 2008, the RDAF reported an operational availability of roughly 50%, well below the target of 80%, partly due to an inadequate maintenance organisation and staff shortages. In January 2011,
12006-496: The engine and its potential use in powering the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. By August 2002, there were reports in the media, of various US aircraft manufacturers, including Bell, Boeing and Kaman Aerospace , that were holding discussions with the consortium and may potentially be selected as a subcontractor to perform the domestic assembly of the US101. Boeing showed persistent interest in joining
12144-644: The estimated cost of developing and modifying the aircraft had risen by 40% to $ 2.4 billion and had passed the $ 4.2 billion expected for the production of the fleet. In March 2008, the program cost had risen and was projected to cost a total $ 11.2 billion, or about $ 400 million per helicopter. During dialogue over the CSAR-X (in which the EH101 was LMSI's offering), the Air Force Source Selection Authority (SSA) stated
12282-453: The existing VH-71 program. In 2009, the CRS proposed four options: Option 1 was to continue the VH-71 program with Increment I and II versions; the additional cost was estimated at $ 10 billion and the entry into service date was 2019. Option 2 was to restructure the program to provide 23 Increment I aircraft; at an additional cost of $ 6.4 billion and would be operational by 2012. Option 3
12420-466: The existing helicopters would have remained in service while being over 50 years old), but that terminating the existing program would waste more than $ 3 billion in sunk VH-71 costs. Following the President's decision to terminate the program a variety of lawmakers, think tanks and media outlets publicly concluded it would be more cost-effective and less time-consuming to continue with a variation of
12558-575: The face of advances in Soviet submarine technology. Westland Helicopters put together a proposal, designated WG.34 , for a three-engined helicopter of similar dimensions to the Sea King; the WG.34 was to feature more autonomy and a greater range than its predecessor. At the same time, the Italian Navy ( Marina Militare ) was also considering the replacement of its fleet of Sea Kings, which had been built by
12696-445: The form of RF heads), and a laser detection and warning system. British Merlins have been outfitted with protective armour against small-arms fire. A side-mounted forward looking infrared (FLIR) imaging sensor has been fitted to some variants. Two hardpoints are present in the underside of the airframe on which the HM1 model can carry four Sting Ray torpedoes or Mk 11 Mod 3 depth charges . Some customers have chosen to deploy
12834-570: The gearbox, at its facility in Cascina Costa , Italy ; this represents a work share of 36 per cent. The remaining 64 per cent work share was split between Lockheed Martin (31 per cent) and Bell Helicopter (27 per cent) and other firms (6 per cent). In February 2002, the US Marine Corps commenced a study to identify potential replacement rotorcraft for the aging Sikorsky VH-3D presidential transport helicopters. On 18 December 2003,
12972-505: The helicopter in a C-17 Globemaster III to Naval Air Station Patuxent River , Maryland , for further testing. The first production VH-71 joined the test program at NAS Patuxent River, beginning ground testing in early December 2008. The US101 also competed for two further USAF contracts, the 141-aircraft Combat Search and Rescue Replacement (CSAR-X) project (originally won by the Boeing HH-47 on 10 November 2006, but now subject to
13110-671: The latter having fine pierced stonework grilles. There is a stair turret to the north-west corner, with a weather vane termination. The church is a Grade I listed building . Yeovil has a Roman Catholic Holy Ghost Church, three Methodist churches (Preston Road, St Marks, Chelston Avenue and Vicarage Street), a Baptist church in South Street, the Salvation Army , Elim Pentecostal Church , Yeovil Community Church (Evangelical, based at The GateWay), Yeovil Family Church (New Frontiers) and several other Anglican churches. There
13248-624: The main medevac asset in southern Iraq; both Flight Lieutenant Kev Harris and Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman were awarded the DFC during this period. Merlins routinely operated around Basra until Britain's withdrawal in June 2009. In 2002, Westland made an unsuccessful unsolicited offer to the British Ministry of Defence , proposing an enhanced Merlin variant intended to satisfy the demand for additional lift capacity. An alternative measure
13386-438: The most deprived." Officially designated as Yeovil Municipal Borough in 1854, the town continued to lend its name to the area with the creation of the local government district of Yeovil on 1 April 1974, with the merging several neighbouring rural and urban districts, which later became South Somerset , a now-defunct district. Some suburbs fall within the civil parishes of Yeovil Without and Brympton . Yeovil still has
13524-562: The needs of various civilian or military customers. The first prototype flew on 9 October 1987. In 1987, Canada selected the EH101 to replace its Sea Kings in the anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue roles. The EH101's third engine and increased range compared favourably with rival aircraft, such as the Sikorsky Seahawk . The range and de-icing capability were also seen as vital for North Atlantic operations. The fledgling EH101, of which up to 50 were on order to replace
13662-517: The new constituency of Somerton and Frome . From the 2010 general election , Yeovil constituency regained Ilchester, to equalise the constituency populations. The Boundary Commission for England estimated the electorate of Yeovil constituency after the boundary changes to be 77,049. The current MP is Adam Dance of the Liberal Democrats , who was elected in July 2024. At the 2011 census,
13800-459: The original line from Taunton connected with this. The LSWR route from London reached Hendford on 1 June 1860, but a month later the town was by-passed by an extension of the LSWR to Exeter . A new station at Yeovil Junction was provided south of the town from where passengers could catch a connecting service to Hendford. On 1 June 1861 passenger trains were withdrawn from Hendford and transferred to
13938-539: The partnership and we regret that." Loren Thompson, an analyst for the Lexington Institute , stated "I do not believe that the story of VH-71 is over... Secretary Gates has not made a convincing case for terminating the program, and there is no alternative helicopter that can satisfy range and payload requirements while still landing on the White House lawn." On 19 December 2009, President Obama signed
14076-622: The population expanded fast. In the mid-19th century it became linked to the rest of Britain by a complex of railway lines, with competition between the 7 ft ( 2,134 mm ) broad gauge lines of the Great Western Railway (GWR) and the 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 1,435 mm ) standard gauge lines of the London and South Western Railway (LSWR). In 1853 the Great Western Railway line
14214-406: The population of the built-up area (which extends beyond Yeovil civil parish to include the urban parts of Yeovil Without and Brympton parishes) was 45,784, forming 28% of the population of South Somerset district. Leonardo manufactures helicopters in Yeovil, and Honeywell Aerospace , formerly Normalair Garratt , builder of aircraft oxygen systems, is also based there. Yeovil's role as
14352-775: The program's performance had been "unsatisfactory". In March 2007, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, upholding Sikorsky and Lockheed's protests against Boeing's HH-47 , mentioned "LMSI had received a little confidence rating for past performance due to unsatisfactory performance under its current contract for the VH-71 Presidential helicopter, which was evaluated as the most highly relevant to this procurement." The SSA stated that LMSI had "show[n] that it could not reliably meet important schedule requirements and had difficulty in systems engineering flow-downs to their subcontractors." Lockheed responded that government insistence on extensive modifications, unanticipated in
14490-420: The project, allocated an initial budget of £20 million to develop nine pre-series examples. A major agreement, which secured funding for the majority of the EH101's development program, was signed by both the British and Italian governments in 1984. At the 1985 Paris Air Show , Agusta showed a mock-up of a utility version of the new helicopter, leading to a more generalised design that could be customised to meet
14628-446: The projected total cost for the planned 28 VH-71s was over $ 13 billion. On 6 April 2009 the proposed Defense budget announced by Defense Secretary Robert Gates had not included funding for the VH-71. On 1 June 2009, the U.S. Navy announced that the contract was officially canceled, and that remaining funds were to be reinvested in upgrades to the existing fleet of VH-3D and VH-60N helicopters. Nine VH-71s had been completed at time of
14766-459: The proposed local manufacturing effort for the US101; in particular, the team pursued Bell Helicopters , which was at that time part of another EH101 consortium, offering the type in Canada. That same year, Rolls-Royce Holdings , who manufactured the EH101's RTM322 , also sought out an American partner to locally produce the engine; Rolls-Royce also envisioned integrating US-specific technology into
14904-482: The rain that falls in the south-west is from that source. Average rainfall is about 725 millimetres (28.5 in). November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, with June to August having the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west. Archaeological surveys have yielded Palaeolithic burial and settlement sites mainly to the south of the modern town, particularly in Hendford, where
15042-477: The requirements we had laid out, and that allowed them to table less work that had to be completed to get to the finish line and deliver a product". The US101 team was awarded a US$ 1.7 billion contract for the System Development and Demonstration phase. In July 2005, the US101 received the military designation VH-71 Kestrel . Delays and engineering issues plagued the VH-71's development. By 2007,
15180-443: The resignation of Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Leon Brittan , who admitted leaking a governmental law officer's letter harshly critical of Heseltine. Leonardo, formerly AgustaWestland, created through the acquisition of Westland by Finmeccanica in 2000, remains the main employer in Yeovil. Yeovil Aerodrome ( ICAO : EGHG ), (sometimes known as Yeovil/Westland "Judwin" to avoid confusion with nearby RNAS Yeovilton ),
15318-409: The rest of South West England , Yeovil has a temperate climate generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country. The annual mean temperature is about 10 °C (50.0 °F) and shows seasonal and diurnal variation, but the sea has a modifying effect. January is the coldest month, with mean minimum temperatures between 1 °C (33.8 °F) and 2 °C (35.6 °F). July and August are
15456-481: The sophisticated autopilot. All crew members have individual access to management computers and tactical information. The fuselage has a volume of 31.91 cubic metres (1,127 cu ft) and the cargo compartment is 6.5 metres (21 ft) in length, 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in) wide and 1.91 metres (6 ft 3 in) high. The military version of the AW101 can accommodate up to 24 seated or 45 standing combat troops and their equipment. Alternative loads include
15594-646: The town with Taunton and London. North Dorset Community Accessible Transport (NORDCAT) provides a bookable service to places without other forms of public transport. The town has two railway stations, which are on separate lines: The town is on the A30 ; it was the main route between London and the South West until it was supplanted by the A303 to its north. Junction 25 of the M5 motorway lies around 20 miles (32 km) to
15732-551: The usual high-street chains, several independents, and a multi-storey car park with about 650 spaces. In 2015, leather manufacturer Pittards bought back its 1964 purpose-built tannery in Sherborne Road, Yeovil. In September 2023, the company went into administration. One symbol of Yeovil is "Jack the Treacle Eater", a folly consisting of a small archway topped by a turret with a statue on top. This stands in
15870-527: The utility of a naval unmanned system that could encompass strike, AEW, and air-to-air refuelling components. If implemented, the replacement of Merlin/Crowsnest by another system would permit all Merlin helicopters to focus on ASW operations for the remainder of their service lives. On 15 December 2009, plans were announced to transfer RAF Merlin HC3s and HC3As to the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force to replace retiring Sea King HC4 helicopters. The Sea King
16008-422: The village of Barwick , just to the south of the town. The hamstone Abbey Farm House was built about 1420 by John Stourton II, known as Jenkyn, as was Abbey Barn . Hendford Manor in the town centre was built about 1720 and has since been converted into offices. It is a Grade II* listed building . Newton Surmaville is a small park and house also known as Newton House, built in 1608–1612 for Robert Harbin,
16146-617: The warmest months, with mean daily maxima around 22 °C (71.60 °F). The south-west of England is in a favoured location for the Azores high pressure zone, when it extends north-eastwards towards the UK, particularly in summer. However, convective cloud often forms inland, especially near hills, reducing the number of hours of sunshine, whose annual average annual is about 1,700 hours. Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlantic depressions or with convection. The Atlantic depressions are more vigorous in autumn and winter, when most of
16284-529: The west, near Taunton , giving access to Bristol and the Midlands. Yeovil is also on the mainly single-carriageway A37 north–south road between Bristol and Weymouth . Further education in Yeovil is mainly offered by Yeovil College , with land-based studies available at a Yeovil centre of Bridgwater College , and some provision through private providers. The town also has a higher education centre, University Centre Yeovil, whose main degree-awarding body
16422-632: Was Eric Berry, who came 6th in the 1973 European Juniors in the hammer event. Olympians who started with the club include Max Robertson and Gary Jennings , both 400-metre hurdlers. Yeovil is home to Ivel Barbarians Rugby Club, formed in 1995 by a merger of the Yeovil and Westlands clubs. South Somerset Warriors formed in 2010 and played in the South West Division of the Rugby League Conference until it folded in 2011. The Goldenstones Pool and Leisure Centre provides
16560-539: Was a joint venture between the British Westland Helicopters and Italian Agusta companies; Westland merged with Agusta to form AgustaWestland in 2001. AgustaWestland held considerable interest in the export prospects of the AW101, including the prospects for an extensive overseas manufacturing consortium. On 23 July 2002, Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland announced that they had signed a 10-year agreement to jointly market, manufacture and support
16698-428: Was a restructure to provide 19 Increment I aircraft to replace the current fleet; the additional cost for this option was estimated at $ 5.6 billion and the entry into service by 2012. The last option was to upgrade and extend life of current fleet at a cost of $ 1.4 billion; however this would not meet the standards required for future presidential helicopters, and would require replacement sooner. In addition to
16836-529: Was also reported that some of the eight airframes not scheduled to be upgraded for financial reasons may be updated. Five HM2s are in maintenance at a time, leaving 25 available, of which 14 were theoretically to be assigned to the Queen Elizabeth -class aircraft carrier . However, in practice with just 30 Merlin HM2s in service, it may be impossible to deploy 14 aircraft on a single operational carrier on
16974-553: Was announced that Boeing had acquired a manufacturing licence and the rights from AgustaWestland for US production of a localised AW101 variant, designated as the Boeing 101. In October 2012, the aircraft was submitted in a U.S. Air Force competition to replace the HH-60 Pave Hawk ; however, the bid was dropped three months later. The AW101 follows a conventional design layout, but makes use of advanced technologies, such as
17112-641: Was cancelled and the aircraft sold off to Canada for parts. Civil operators use the AW101 for passenger and VIP transportation. The type has been deployed to active combat theatres, such as in support of coalition forces during the Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan . In 1977, the UK Ministry of Defence issued a requirement for an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter to replace the Royal Navy 's Westland Sea Kings , which were becoming inadequate in
17250-609: Was confirmed that their Out of Service Date (OSD) had been moved to 2040. By the end of 2022, all HC helicopters were upgraded to the HC4/4A Commando Merlin standard. The RAF ordered 22 Merlin HC3 for transport missions, the first of which entered service in January 2001 with No. 28 Squadron RAF based at RAF Benson . The type is equipped with extended-range fuel tanks and is capable of air-to-air refuelling. The Merlin
17388-578: Was converting the seven airworthy helicopters into mission-ready CH-149s. The first test VH-71A, Test Vehicle #2 (TV-2), made its initial flight on 3 July 2007 at AgustaWestland's facility in Yeovil in the UK. Lockheed Martin also used an EH101, designated TV-1, for initial testing in the United States; these tests included landing on the lawn of the White House . The first production VH-71A, Pilot Production #1 (PP-1), made its maiden flight on 22 September 2008 from Yeovil. The US Air Force transported
17526-544: Was criticised as the aircraft reportedly lacked protective Kevlar armour. By July 2010, the Merlin fleet was fully fitted with ballistic armour. The deployment of Merlins to Afghanistan allowed the detachment of Sea Kings to be withdrawn from the region in October 2011. As part of the UK drawdown in Afghanistan, Merlins were withdrawn from theatre in June 2013. In 2012, the RAF's Merlin HC3/3A fleet began to be transferred to
17664-612: Was delivered on 17 May 1997, entering service on 2 June 2000. All aircraft were delivered by the end of 2002, and are operated by 3 Fleet Air Arm squadrons: 814 NAS , 820 NAS , 824 NAS and 829 NAS (now disbanded and merged with 814 NAS), all based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. 700 NAS was the Merlin Operational Evaluation Unit from 2000 to 2008. In March 2004, Navy Merlins were temporarily grounded following an incident at RNAS Culdrose in which
17802-471: Was delivered to the RCAF in June 2015. In December 2022, Canada's Department of National Defence announced a C$ 1.24-billion contract for procurement of three additional aircraft and upgrades to the existing fleet to current configuration of the helicopter; this will increase the fleet to 16 aircraft. The RCAF also acquired its own advanced training simulator configured to the new modernized cockpit. In 2001,
17940-502: Was founded in 1990 and won promotion to England's highest tier, the FA Women's Super League , in 2016, before merging with Bridgwater United W.F.C. in 2021. Yeovil Town W.F.C. was then re-formed in January 2023. Other football teams in the town include Westland's Sports F.C. , which plays at Alvington Lane, and Pen Mill Athletic. Yeovil Olympiads Athletics Club , founded in 1969, has produced many international athletes. The first
18078-531: Was not without controversy, the RAF had declared its preference for an all- Chinook fleet; also, Boeing allegedly offered cheaper terms for the Chinook. RAF deliveries began in 1997; RN deliveries started the following year. Following the merger of Westland and Agusta to form AgustaWestland in 2000, there was no need for the separate EHI entity; the EH101 was formally re-branded as the AW101 in 2007. By April 2009, more than 180 AW101s had been sold worldwide;
18216-436: Was officially presented to the press on 6 December 1999. Italy accepted delivery of the 21st AW101, configured for anti-submarine warfare, on 4 August 2009. In total 22 AW101 helicopters have been delivered to the Italian Navy. Italian AW101s have operated from a variety of ships and have seen service overseas; in 2009 the Italian Navy used its AW101 fleet as executive transports for visiting heads of state and officials during
18354-577: Was opened between Taunton and Yeovil. The town's first railway was a branch line from the Bristol and Exeter Railway near Taunton to a terminus at Hendford on the western side of the town, which opened on 1 October 1853. As an associate of the GWR, this was a broad-gauge line. The GWR itself opened Yeovil Pen Mill railway station on the east side of the town as part of its route from London on 1 September 1856, extended to Weymouth on 1 January 1857), and
18492-644: Was recorded in the Domesday Book as Givele , a thriving market community. The parish of Yeovil was part of the Stone Hundred . After the Norman Conquest , the manor, later known as Hendford, was granted to the Count of Eu and his tenant Hugh Maltravers, whose descendants became Earls of Arundel and held the lordship until 1561. In 1205 it was granted a charter by King John . By
18630-434: Was seen as a factor in the 1993 Canadian federal election . The order was cancelled by the new Liberal government in 1993 resulting in a $ 470 million cancellation fee. Several pre-production aircraft were assembled during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first pre-production aircraft had its first flight powered by General Electric CT7-2A engines on 9 October 1987. Flight tests were suspended for six months following
18768-644: Was set to retire in 2016, leaving the Navy operating a combination of the Wildcat and Merlin. 846 NAS reformed with ex-RAF Merlin HC3s on 30 September 2014; 845 NAS followed on 9 July 2015. On 25 May 2018, the first of 25 converted Royal Marines Commando Merlin Mk4/4A were delivered to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton. In July 2020, the Merlin HM2 and HC4/4A helicopters were planned to be in service until 2029 and 2030, respectively. On 11 June 2021, it
18906-643: Was the acquisition of six AW101s from Denmark in 2007; designated Merlin HC3A , these were assigned to the RAF, allowing Merlins to be deployed in Afghanistan . The HC3A is used for training and not for frontline operations due to various configuration differences. In December 2007, a second Merlin squadron, No. 78 Squadron was formed at RAF Benson. In 2009, five Merlin Mk3s were operating in Afghanistan, transporting troops and supplies. The deployment to Afghanistan
19044-454: Was to commence the assembly of some AW101s later on. By September 2013 AgustaWestland was in the process of acquiring civil certification for the AW101; prospective customers include offshore oil platform operators and VIP clients. As of February 2014, AgustaWestland was considering adapting the AW101 as a heavyweight unmanned aerial vehicle , it is proposed that in this configuration an AW101 could be optionally crewed. On 7 June 2010, it
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