31 January 2005

Team US101 successfully completed the first flight of the US101 medium-lift helicopter equipped with the new Smiths display system, SDS-5000, large area cockpit display system last year. Team US101, led by Lockheed Martin, selected the Smiths Aerospace system, marking the first time a helicopter has flown with a five-screen, large area integrated cockpit display suite. This cockpit will be used for the Team US101 Presidential Helicopter Replacement (VXX) program bid.

The 10" x 8" (25 cm x 20 cm) liquid crystal displays provide more than 70% additional display area compared to the existing Smiths' SDS-4000 display system which it replaces. The system allows for variable display formats to present enhanced situational awareness and greater flexibility in the display of flight, system and mission data. Each display unit has multi-functional bezel mounted keys to easily select information required.

The US101 program is valued at more than $9 million Smiths Aerospace Electronic Systems headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.