The AgustaWestland/Bell/Lockheed Martin VH-71 made its first flight July 3 in Yeovil, UK. The 40-minute flight reached speeds of 135 knots and was reportedly uneventful, but there are likely challenges ahead for the program. The U.S. Navy is developing the VH-71 as a replacement for the 30-year-old Sikorsky VH-3Ds and somewhat newer N-60 “Whitehawks” that transport the President and other high-ranking government officials. When the President is aboard, these helicopters are designated “Marine One.” Initial deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2009.
Officially, the cost of the program has scalated to $6.2 billion, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), but some industry analysts estimate final program costs to be north of $7 billion. That is more than half of what Airbus spent developing the A380 and translates into a per-unit cost of more than $270 million, making the VH-71 one of the most, if not the most, expensive helicopters in history.
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