AW101 .....

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Apro una nuova discussione dedicata al più importante elicottero mai realizzato da AW .....
In precedenza se ne era parlato qui .....

http://www.md80.it/bbforum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=31638

http://www.md80.it/bbforum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=41015

http://www.md80.it/bbforum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=43535

http://www.md80.it/bbforum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=43820

http://www.md80.it/bbforum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=46425

La notizia del giorno .....

Norvegia ..... primo esemplare consegnato .....

... flightglobal.com ... "Norway takes first SAR-roled AW101" ...

... leonardocompany.com ... "LEONARDO: AL VIA LA CONSEGNA DI 16 ELICOTTERI AW101 ALLA NORVEGIA" ...
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Norvegia ..... appena consegnato .....



..... e già incidentato .....



..... flightglobal.com ..... "Norway rolls newly delivered AW101 helicopter" .....

..... aviation-safety.net ..... "AgustaWestland AW101 612" .....
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..... "severe damage sustained" .....

Norway has no current plans to accelerate deliveries of its new fleet of search and rescue-roled Leonardo Helicopters AW101s despite the severe damage sustained by the lead example in a ground accident last week.
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A military accident investigation in now under way, but no details of the incident have been released.
Images of the helicopter show it lying on its right side, with severe damage to its main rotor blade assembly.

Fonte: flightglobal.com ..... "Norway sticks to AW101 helicopter schedule despite ground accident" .....
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E' stato appena pubblicato il rapporto sull' incidente .....

Severe damage inflicted by an embarrassing ground accident on a brand new search and rescue helicopter in Norway has been pinned on organisational and human failures within the country's air force, partly driven by programme delays.
Norwegian military investigators, in their final report on the 24 November 2017 incident (*), determined that although the roll-over of the Leonardo Helicopters AW101 – which had been delivered one week earlier – was caused by pilot error, severe systemic failings also contributed to the accident.
These included inadequate training, poor project oversight and pressure to recover from a six-month delivery delay, which "contributed to elevated and unidentified operational risk".

Fonte: flightglobal.com ..... "Norway cites training failures in AW101 helicopter roll-over" .....

Anche qui: verticalmag.com ..... "Norway AW101 accident report cites human, organizational factors" .....

(*) ..... regjeringen.no ..... "VELT MED AW101-612 REDNINGSHELIKOPTER - 24. NOVEMBER 2017 PÅ LUFTFORSVARETS BASE SOLA" .....
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Intanto ...

Crowsnest ... primo volo di un '101' dotato del sistema ...

AINonline ... https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... rst-flight ...

ps.blog.24heures.ch ... http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/201 ... 67244.html ...

I precedenti ... da AINonline ...

... https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... e-contract ...

... https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... production ...

... https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... l-sea-king ...
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Circa tre settimane fa ... Leonardo annunciava il raggiungimento di un accordo con la Polonia che prevedeva l'acquisto di quattro AW101 ...

... https://www.leonardocompany.com/it/pres ... s-releases ...

Ora la conferma che il contratto è stato sottoscritto ...

... https://www.leonardocompany.com/it/pres ... al-defense ...
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HMS Prince of Wales ...
Il primo aeromobile ad atterrare sulla nuova portaerei britannica è stato un AW101 ...
Loro lo chiamano 'Merlin' ...


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Altri AW101 per la Norvegia ?

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Ancora a proposito degli AW101 norvegesi ...

Dal 1 settembre scorso, i primi sei elicotteri consegnati da Leonardo al cliente norvegese sono diventati ufficialmente operativi dalla base di Sola, in Norvegia, a seguito di una cerimonia che si è svolta alla presenza di importanti autorità locali.
Nel 2021 è previsto, inoltre, che le basi di Ørland e Banak diventeranno anch’esse operative.
La Norvegia ha ricevuto fino ad oggi sei dei sedici elicotteri complessivamente ordinati.
I restanti elicotteri sono in assemblaggio, integrazione e collaudo presso lo stabilimento Leonardo di Yeovil nel Regno Unito.

… leonardocompany.com … Operativi in Norvegia gli elicotteri SAR Queen …
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Consegnato alla Norvegia il 10° AW101 ...

… aviation-report.com … Leonardo Helicopters UK consegna il decimo elicottero per ricerca e soccorso AW101 All-Weather Search and Rescue alla Norvegia …

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Il primo Merlin della Royal Navy equipaggiato col sistema radar "Crowsnest" è entrato in servizio ...

... royalnavy.mod.uk ... https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... nest-flies ...

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Questo articolo (che ho trovato per caso), pur risalendo al mese di Marzo scorso, è ricco di ulteriori informazioni, filmati e immagini relativi all'entrata in servizio dell'elicottero Merlin Mk2 della Royal Navy equipaggiato del sistema di sorveglianza "Crowsnest" ... un apparato che sarebbe quanto mai opportuno destasse l'interesse della nostra Marina Militare, visti i deludenti risultati forniti dalla versione AW101 HEW (Helicopter Early Warning) ...

… navylookout.com … First Crowsnest-equipped airborne surveillance and control helicopter goes into service with the Royal Navy …

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Regno Unito ... si sta pensando alla rimotorizzazione degli AW-101 ...

Il Ministro Jeremy Quin, responsabile del procurement della Difesa britannico, ha confermato al Parlamento che, nell’ambito dei piani per supportare la flotta di Leonardo AW-101 MERLIN fino al 2040, si sta considerando la possibilità di rimpiazzare gli attuali motori.
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Il motore adottato ... sarebbe quasi certamente il General Electric CT7-8E, divenuto il motore standard usato su tutti gli AW-101 di nuova produzione, inclusi gli HH-101 dell’Aeronautica Militare, le macchine SAR per la Norvegia e gli elicotteri ASW per la Polonia.

… rid.it … Nuovi motori per gli elicotteri MERLIN britannici? …

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Test ad alta quota in Colorado ...

A cross-departmental team from Leonardo in Yeovil has successfully undertaken high altitude trials, which were completed on schedule with the Norwegian AW101 helicopter in the US.
The aircraft completed its 21-day trial plan in just 16 days.
The AW101 Performance Improvement Programme certifies increased engine power and raises the Main Gear Box (MGB) torque rating to 117%.
The aircraft was put through its paces in Colorado at Buena Vista and Leadville, which is 1 mile above sea level, to expand the high altitude element of the take-off and landing envelope that will contribute to the overall 117% capability.

… leonardo.com/en … AW101 completes high altitude trials stateside …

Anche qui … ainonline.com … Leonardo AW101 Takes On Leadville …

& & &

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Dopo gli high altitude trials di qualche mese fa, il Norwegian AW101 All-Weather Search and Rescue helicopter (NAWSARH) è tornato in volo nel Regno Unito attraverso il Nord Atlantico, con lunghe tratte in icing conditions:

https://www.md80.it/2022/12/31/leonardo ... atlantico/

Paolo

[JT8D]

Il Ministero della Difesa britannico (UK MOD) ha ricevuto attraverso la Royal Navy l’ultimo elicottero AW101 Mk4/4a Merlin nell’ambito del Merlin Life Sustainment Programme:

https://www.md80.it/2023/01/13/leonardo ... 4a-merlin/

Paolo

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Il Giappone ha firmato un contratto per l'acquisto di un maggior numero di elicotteri cacciamine ...

In concomitanza con il 20° anniversario della partnership tra Leonardo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) e lo specialista del supporto Marubeni Aerospace, la Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ha firmato un contratto per l'acquisto di ulteriori elicotteri cacciamine Kawasaki/Leonardo MCH-101, oltre a eseguire un aggiornamento di mezza età sulla flotta esistente.
Dopo aver acquisito 10 elicotteri MCH-101, la JMSDF ha iniziato ad acquistarne altri in piccoli lotti, a cominciare da uno incluso nel bilancio 2022.
I nuovi elicotteri trasportano un'avionica più recente rispetto al lotto originale, che ora subirà un aggiornamento allo standard attuale come aggiornamento di mezza età.

… ainonline.com … Japan Signs for More Mine-Hunting Helicopters …

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La Marina Militare Polacca ha ricevuto il suo primo elicottero AW101 ...

… theaviationist.com … The Polish Navy Has Received Its First AW101 Helicopter …

Anche qui … polanddaily24.com … Poland Received First AW101 Chopper for Its Navy …

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Nel frattempo ...
... la Polonia negozierà l'acquisto di 22 elicotteri di supporto sul campo di battaglia AW101 dalla compagnia italiana Leonardo ...

Un'altra buona notizia per le forze d'assalto aeree", ha scritto il Ministro della Difesa polacco Mariusz Blaszczak in un post sulla piattaforma di social media X, precedentemente nota come Twitter.
"Oggi abbiamo inviato un invito alle trattative per la consegna di 22 elicotteri multiruolo AW101, che presto sostituiranno i modelli post-sovietici".

… marketscreener.com … Poland to negotiate purchase of 22 AW101 helicopters from Italy's Leonardo …

Anche qui … aviationweek.com … Poland Begins AW101 Acquisition Process …

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CH-149 Cormorant … aggiornamento del sistema interfonico wireless …

IMP Aerospace & Defence, in collaborazione con le Forze Armate Canadesi, ha scelto il sistema interfonico wireless PNG (WICS) di Axnes per il progetto di aggiornamento dell'elicottero da ricerca e salvataggio CH-149 Cormorant.
CH-149 è la designazione delle Forze Armate Canadesi per l'AgustaWestland AW101 (già EH101).

… ainonline.com … Axnes Elevates Comms in Cormorant SAR Upgrade …

Anche qui … verticalmag.com … Axnes PNG Wireless Intercom System chosen for CH-149 Cormorant helicopter upgrade …

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L'AW101 è al 117% …

… aviation-report.com … AW101 117%: il programma ottiene la certificazione completa da ARMAEREO …

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La Marina Indiana dice addio al Sea King …

… scramble.nl … Indian Navy bids farewell to UH-3H Sea King …

Anche qui … avianews.ch … La marine indienne fait ses adieux aux Sea King ! …

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Riporto da "Flight International" …

Leonardo turns to AW101 helicopter work to further diversify Grottaglie 787 plant …

By Dominic Perry - 13 August 2024

Leonardo has detailed additional diversification efforts at its Grottaglie aerostructures plant in southern Italy, including the likely transfer of parts production for the AW101 heavy military helicopter, as it moves to reduce the site’s “dangerous” overreliance on the Boeing 787.
In addition, the Italian aerospace champion is seeking an expanded relationship with Airbus on the A220 programme as part of a broader plan to return the aerostructures division to profitability.
Revealing the latest industrial strategy for the aerostructures business during a half-year results call on 30 July, Leonardo chief executive Roberto Cingolani said improving the division’s performance was now a company-wide effort.
“Before, if aerostructures had a problem it had to fix the problem on its own. Now the one company is working like a company: we can move production from one site to another because this is in the interest of the one company, not a single division,” he says.
Even before the disruption wrought by Covid-19, Leonardo had been attempting to fix the underperforming division; its most recent target was to hit break-even in 2025, a goal now likely to be pushed into the following year.
In addition to supplying the A220 and A321 and ATR joint-venture with Airbus, Leonardo builds composite centre fuselage barrels for the Dreamliner at Grottaglie and horizontal stabilisers in Foggia.
However, Boeing’s decision earlier this year to reduce output of the 787 on safety and quality concerns has hampered the recovery process.
Monthly deliveries to Boeing have fallen from around 10 shipsets to just three, a position that Cingolani says “we cannot stand as a business” and which has led to an accumulation of “more than 40 fuselages” at Grottaglie.
Although it shipped 18 787 fuselages in the first quarter of 2024, up on the 12 delivered to Boeing in the same period a year earlier, just five fuselages were handed over in the subsequent three months, Leonardo’s accounts show.
In the short-term, the business is reducing output from the plant to better align with current demand, in mid-July securing an agreement with trade unions to reduce operations at the site to a single shift, a pact that avoids a proposed four-month shutdown.
While Leonardo is confident that Boeing will return to the 10-per-month output in 2025 – and likely higher in the following years – Cingolani says the restructuring at Grottaglie needs to go further.
“The limit is that this is a single provider on a single model. We believe we cannot stand – it is too dangerous for the company and we would like to diversify and contribute to the relaunch of this plant,” he says.
Leonardo has already announced it will open a second final assembly line for the AW609 at Grottaglie in anticipation of the tiltrotor’s certification, a milestone now envisaged in 2025.
Between the new line and the existing AW609 facility in Philadelphia, the company will be able to produce around 30 aircraft per year at peak output, Leonardo says.
But to further diversify Grottaglie, the manufacturer will also introduce the fabrication of components for the AW101, transferring the work from its helicopter division’s plant in nearby Brindisi.
Final assembly of the AW101 will continue to take place in Yeovil in the UK, Leonardo stresses.
In addition to bolstering Grottaglie’s workload, the move will also create additional capacity at Brindisi, helping the company to deal with an expected ramp-up in helicopter production in the coming years.
On top of the plans for future production increases, Leonardo has for some time been negotiating a rate increase with Boeing; praising the “constructive” nature of the talks, Cingolani is hopeful they can be finalised in September.
Meanwhile, to further shore up the aerostructures business, the firm has “opened discussions” with Airbus to “expand the collaboration” on the A220, for which it currently makes the vertical and horizontal stabilisers.
“We plan to sign by the end of the year a new agreement for the fabrication of the rear parts of the A220,” says Cingolani.
In the first six months of the year, aerostructures revenues climbed slightly to €353 million ($385 million), up from €327 million in the first half of 2023, yielding a negative EBITA figure of €76 million, a negligible 1.3% improvement on the €77 million loss recorded a year earlier.

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Il Ministero della Difesa del Regno Unito sta valutando le future capacità di allerta precoce basate su portaerei …

… theaviationist.com … UK Ministry of Defence Investigating Future Carrier Based Airborne Early Warning Capabilities …