9 октября 1987г.: первый полет в Йовиле, Великобритания, выполнил первый прототип вертолета EH Industries EH 101 - PP1. Прототип построен "Westland Вертолеты". Вертолет предназначен для замены Sea King в вооруженных силах.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Agusta Westland AW.101 / EH-101 Merlin - InternationalInternational - 1987

Following its roll-out last April and completion of a 25-hr programme of ground running, the first prototype of the EH 101, PP1, made its first flight at Yeovil on 9 October 1987, in the hands of Trevor Egginton and Colin Hague, Westland’s chief and deputy chief test pilots.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Agusta Westland AW.101 / EH-101 Merlin - InternationalInternational - 1987

The "Iron Bird" development and qualification test rig at Cascina Costa, in Italy, is a representative EH 101 airframe with standard systems and an iron cage for crew protection. It first ran in October 1986.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Agusta Westland AW.101 / EH-101 Merlin - InternationalInternational - 1987

The EH 101 production line at Yeovil is based on a modular assembly method,facilitating the assembly of aircraft to several different customer standards at the same time.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Agusta Westland AW.101 / EH-101 Merlin - InternationalInternational - 1987

The first of the EH 101 development airframes, PP1, was rolled out at Yeovil on 7 April 1987 with due ceremony, and is in basic configuration.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Agusta Westland AW.101 / EH-101 Merlin - InternationalInternational - 1987

The civil variant (right) will be externally similar to PP1 but the so-called utility version (left) has a redesigned rear fuselage with loading ramp.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Agusta Westland AW.101 / EH-101 Merlin - InternationalInternational - 1987

EH Industries EH 101 (Basic Naval Version)

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Agusta Westland AW.101 / EH-101 Merlin - InternationalInternational - 1987

The Blue Kestrel radar for the EH 101, and some other avionic items, are being test flown in a specially-procured MoD PE Sea King Mk 5, ZB506 (left) and one of the original Sikorsky SH-3D airframes supplied to Westland as pattern aircraft, XV372 (right).

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sikorsky H-3 / S-61 Sea King - СШАUSA - 1959