AW169 prototype makes maiden flight
The AW169 (above) was flown by AgustaWestland’s Chief Test Pilot, Giuseppe Lo Coco, Test Pilot Giuseppe Afruni and Flight Test Engineers Massimo Longo and Stefano Rognoni at the company’s Cascina Costa plant in Italy on Thursday 10th May. The helicopter performed as expected during the flight which included an assessment of the helicopter’s general handling and basic systems. The first prototype will be joined by two more aircraft later this year and a fourth prototype in 2013.
Bruno Spagnolini, Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland, said: “The AW169 is the only new generation helicopter in its category to be launched in decades, so this is an important milestone for the continued enhancement of AgustaWestland’s product range and for the development of our family of new generation helicopters.
“With both the AW169 and AW189 now flying and the AW139 established as the market leader in it class, we are able to offer the market the most advanced range of helicopters across the 4 to 8 tonne weight classes in the shortest possible timescales. Operator will for the first time ever in the helicopter market, be able to benefit from the advantages of a family concept of three new generation helicopters.”
The AW169 is part of AgustaWestland’s family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW139 and AW189 models. These helicopters all possess the same performance flight characteristics and safety features and share the same common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concepts.
This approach is designed to deliver rcost savings in areas such as training, maintenance and support for existing operators of the AW139 who add AW169 and/or AW189 helicopters to their fleets. Launched at the Farnborough International Air Show in July 2010, the AW169 has rapidly found market success, logging orders for more than 50 units so far from customers worldwide in response to the growing market demand for an aircraft that meets all the latest safety standards and has multirole capabilities.
New generation technologies are incorporated in the rotor system, engines, avionics, transmission and electric power generation and distribution systems. Latest technologies include an APU mode capability and touch screen cockpit devices. The AW169 is set to be the most advanced and cost effective helicopter in its class for EMS, SAR, law enforcement, passenger and offshore transport and utility missions.
