Presidential helicopter program advances

OWEGO, N.Y., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin says it has reached full function capability for the presidential helicopter program's integration laboratories.

Lockheed Martin recently completed the Master Systems Bench helicopter mock-up, which enables the company to attain full function capabilities for the VH-71 presidential helicopter systems integration laboratories.

The Master Systems Bench is a full-scale presidential test helicopter with all of the aircraft avionic systems. With the mock-up helicopter ready, various testing scenarios can be performed with test pilots and engineers.

"Having a fully capable laboratory at the Navy's Presidential Helicopter Support Facility is a huge plus in optimizing flight test time," Jeff Bantle, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the VH-71 program, said in a statement.

"Ground testing provides a big cost and time savings for the program, because it reserves air time and fuel for airworthiness tests and certifications."

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the VH-71 helicopter being developed to replace the current fleet of U.S. presidential helicopters.