Leonardo AW101 Merlin
Leonardo · United Kingdom / Italy · first flew 1987 · helicopter
The AW101 Merlin is a large three-engine transport helicopter used for naval, troop-carrying and search-and-rescue duties.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large, deep fuselage with five-blade rotor and three engines |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large, deep fuselage with five-blade rotor and three engines
- Upswept rear ramp and tall tail fin
- Bulged sponsons housing the undercarriage
The big deep fuselage, five-blade rotor and crucially three engines mark it out; it is larger than a Black Hawk and its triple intakes distinguish it from twin-engine medium types.
Specifications
- The Leonardo AW101 Merlin has a length of 22.81 m (75 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.59 m (61 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 309 km/h (192 mph).
- Typical crew: 2-4 (pilots plus crew).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed jointly by Westland and Agusta as the EH101, it first flew in 1987 to meet British and Italian naval requirements. Its three-engine layout gives strong payload and over-water safety margins.
Variants
Royal Navy anti-submarine Merlin HM1/HM2, RAF and Commando troop-transport HC3/HC4, plus export models for Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Norway and others.
Where you'll see it
A frontline UK type: Royal Navy Merlins operate anti-submarine and Commando roles from RNAS Culdrose and RNAS Yeovilton, with transport variants based at RAF Benson before transfer to the Fleet Air Arm.
Related aircraft
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