AgustaWestland conducted first flights of the EH101 transport helicopter for export customers Denmark and Portugal on 12 December, from its Yeovil and Vergiate manufacturing plants in the UK and Italy. Both customers will take delivery of their first production aircraft in December next year. Denmark will receive 14 configured for search and rescue (SAR) and utility activities, while Portugal will accept 12 optimised for SAR, combat search and rescue and fisheries protection duties. The Danish and Portuguese aircraft are capable of operating at a maximum take-off weight of 15,600kg (34,400lb), representing a 1,000kg increase over earlier production examples of the three-engined aircraft.
Source: Flight International