Agusta Westland, AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that the 12th and final EH101 Merlin helicopter for the Portuguese Air Force was delivered to Portugal this week, flying from Vergiate in Italy to Montijo, near Lisbon in Portugal.
The aircraft, a Combat SAR variant, will now join the other 11 aircraft which are operated by 751 Squadron at Montijo Air Base and at Porto Santo (Madeira Island) detachment. This event marks the conclusion of a successful delivery programme with all the aircraft delivered in 18 months.
In February 2006 the SAR EH101 Merlins became fully operational, replacing Puma helicopters in the SAR role. With the largest SAR area of responsibility of any European country the long range capabilities of the EH101 provides new levels of SAR capability covering a large area of the Atlantic ocean operating from bases on the mainland, Lajes in the Azores and Madeira.
The 12 aircraft have now flown over 2,000 hours and have demonstrated there long range capabilities, while self deploying to the Azores. Based on a common airframe and powered by RTM322 engines, all three variants are equipped with a range of equipment including search and rescue hoist, belly mounted 360 degree Galileo Avionica, searchlight and FLIR system, multi-mission direction finding system, fully integrated communications and navigation system and a range of cabin role equipment.
The SAR variant can rescue over 30 survivors and is capable of performing rescues at 450 nm (833 km) from its base and returning when fitted with long range fuel tanks. The SIFICAP (Sistema de Fiscaliza
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