Introducing my latest addition to my collection: AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant Helicopter, (Canadian designation of EH-101 helicopter) Model by Amercom.
This model itself is huge (scale 1:72) and the details of the model itself is awesome.
Here are the photos of the model:
Alongside the Easy Model Sikorsky HH-60H Jayhawk Helicopter model. The differences between both models could be seen here even though the scales are same (Scale 1:72)
The history of the helicopter itself could be traced back to 1987, where Canadian Government ordered 48 (later 42) of these helicopters (to be assembled locally under the designation of CH-148 Petrel (33 originally, reduced to 28) and CH-149 Chimo (15) as a replacement for the ageing Sikorsky Sea King (CH-124 Sea King) and Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight (CH-113 Labrador), in the anti-submarine warfare and air-sea rescue roles. However, after the change of Government in 1993, the order was cancelled, forcing the Canadian Government paying up to $157.8 million in cancellation penalties.
Only in 1998, the Canadian Government announced a scaled down search-and-rescue version of the EH-101, designated CH-148 Cormorant as the replacement of the CH-113s. All 15 of the Cormorants to be built in Europe, and the 1st two helicopters arrived in Canada in September 2001, and entered service the following year (2002).
The need for the replacing of the ageing Sea Kings led to the announcement by the Canadian Government where the EH-101 again entered the competition, only to be beaten by Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk, later to be designated as CH-148 Cyclone, where 28 helicopters are ordered.
At the moment, Royal Canadian Air Force operates 15 of these helicopters, where it was assigned to:
The need for the replacing of the ageing Sea Kings led to the announcement by the Canadian Government where the EH-101 again entered the competition, only to be beaten by Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk, later to be designated as CH-148 Cyclone, where 28 helicopters are ordered.
At the moment, Royal Canadian Air Force operates 15 of these helicopters, where it was assigned to:
- 103 Search and Rescue Squadron
- 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron
- 442 Transport and Resque Squadron
On June 2011, Several US made EH-101s (built by Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel, actually chosen as a replacement for the USMC Marine One Helicopter, but the project was cancelled) was bought as spare parts for the Cormorants, and they also studying either the Kestrels could be certified for operational use.
