AgustaWestland AW109

The AgustaWestland AW109 is a light-weight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter built by the Anglo-Italian manufacturer AgustaWestland. First flown as the Agusta A109 in 1971, the craft has been used in light transport, medevac, search-and-rescue, and military roles.

Design and development

In the late 1960s, Agusta designed the A109 as a single-engine commercial helicopter. It was soon realised that a twin-engine design was needed and it was re-designed in 1969 with two Allison 250-C14 turboshaft engines. A projected military version (the A109B) was not developed and the company concentrated on the eight-seat A109C version.^[1] The first of three prototypes made its maiden flight on 4 August 1971.^[2] A protracted development then followed and the first production aircraft was not completed until April 1975. Delivery of production machines started in early 1976. The aircraft soon became a success and began to be used for roles other than as a light transport including as an air ambulance and search-and-rescue. In 1975, Agusta returned again to the possibility of a military version and trials were carried out between 1976 and 1977 with five A109As fitted with Hughes Aircraft TOW missiles. Two military versions were then developed, one for light attack or close support and another for naval operations.

Fuselages of A109 are made by PZL-Świdnik. In June 2006 the 500th fuselage was delivered by this manufacturer, marking 10 years of co-operation between the two companies.^[3]

The sale of the Agusta A109 to the Belgian armed forces in 1988 gave rise to a bribery scandal when it was alleged the company had given the Belgian Socialist Party over 50 million Belgian francs to secure the sale. This scandal led to the resignation and conviction of NATO Secretary General Willy Claes.

The Agusta A109 was renamed the AW109 following the July 2000 merger of Finmeccanica S.p.A. and GKN plc's respective helicopter subsidiaries Agusta and Westland Helicopters to form AgustaWestland.

In August 2008, Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik broke the round-the-world speed record using a factory-standard AgustaWestland Grand, with a time of 11 days, 7 hours and 2 minutes. The A109S Grand is also the fastest helicopter from New York to Los Angeles.^[4][5]

In July 2013, the South African Air Force reported that 18 AW109s had effectively been grounded due to lack of money to keep them flying. They were occasionally activated but did not fly. The SAAF cited a slash in helicopter funds as the reason, with only 71 flight hours allocated to an operational fleet of about 20 AW109s. The helicopters may be reduced to flying VIPs rather than being operationally capable. South Africa is considering selling a number of AW109s, and may cease helicopter operations.^[6]

Variants

A109A

The first production model, powered by two Allison Model 250-C20 turboshaft engines. It made its first flight on 4 August 1971. Initially, the A109 was marketed under the name of "Hirundo" (Latin for the swallow), but this was dropped within a few years.

A109A EOA

Military version for the Italian Army.

A109A Mk.II

Upgraded civilian version of the A109A.

A109A Mk.II MAX

Aeromedical evacuation version based on A109A Mk.II with extra wide cabin and access doors hinged top and bottom, rather than to one side

A109B

Unbuilt military version.

A109C

Eight-seat civil version, powered by two Allison Model 250-C20R-1 turboshaft engines.

A109C MAX

Aeromedical evacuation version based on A109C with extra-wide cabin and access doors hinged top and bottom, rather than to one side

A109D

One prototype only

A109E Power

Upgraded civilian version, initially powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2K1 engines. Later the manufacturer introduced an option for two Pratt & Whitney PW206C engines to be used – both versions remain known as the A109E Power

A109E Power Elite

stretched cabin version of A109E Power. This variant, which is operated by the RAF, has a glass cockpit with two complete sets of pilot instruments and navigation systems, including a three-axis autopilot, an auto-coupled Instrument Landing System and GPS. There is also a Moving Map Display, weather radar and a Traffic Alerting System.^[7]

A109LUH

Military LUH "Light Utility Helicopter" variant based on the A109E Power. Operators include South African Air Force, Nigerian Air Force as well as Sweden, New Zealand and Malaysia

MH-68A

Eight A109E Power aircraft were used by the United States Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville (HITRON Jacksonville) as short-range armed interdiction helicopters from 2000 until 2008, when they were replaced with MH-65C Dolphins.^[8] Agusta designated these armed interdiction aircraft as "Mako" until the U. S. Coast Guard officially named it the MH-68A Stingray in 2003. The HITRON configuration included a rescue hoist, emergency floats, FLIR, Spectrolab NightSun search light, a 7.62mm M240D machine gun and a Barrett M107 semi-automatic .50 caliber sniper rifle with laser sight.^[9]

A109K

Military version.

A109K2

High-altitude and high-temperature operations with fixed wheels rather than the retractable wheels of most A109 variants. Typically used by police, search and rescue, and air ambulance operators.

A109M

Military version.

A109KM

Military version for high altitude and high temperature operations.

A109KN

Naval version.

A109CM

Standard military version.

A109GdiF

Version for Guardia di Finanza, the Italian Finance Guard

A109BA 

Version created for the Belgian Army.

AW109S Grand

Lengthened cabin-upgraded civilian version with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207 engines and lengthened main rotor blades with different tip design from the Power version.

AW109SP 

AW109 Grand New

single IFR, TAWS and EVS, especially for EMS.

Changhe CA109

Chinese version of A109, manufactured by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation in Jingdezhen under license.^[10]

Operators

government operators

The AW109 is flown by a range of operators including private companies, military services, emergency services and air charter companies.

Military and government operators

 Algeria

• Gendarmerie Nationale^[11]

 Albania

• Albanian Air Force^[12]

 Argentina

• Argentine Army^[13]

 Bangladesh

• Bangladesh Navy^[12]

 Belgium

• Belgian Air Component^[12]

 Bulgaria

• Bulgarian Border Police^[14]

 Chile

• Carabineros de Chile^[15]

 Italy

• Carabinieri^[16][17]
• Guardia di Finanza^[18]
• Italian Army^[12]
• Vigili del Fuoco^[19]
• Italian State Police^[20]

 Latvia

• State Border Guard^[21]

 Malaysia

• Malaysian Army^[12]

 New Zealand

• Royal New Zealand Air Force^[12]

 Nigeria

• Nigerian Air Force^[12]
• Nigerian Navy^[12]

 Peru

• Peruvian Army^[22]

 Philippines

• Philippine Navy^[23]
• Philippine Air Force - (8 on order)^[24]

 Slovenia

• Slovenian Ministry of Defence^[25]
• Slovenian Police^[26]

 South Africa

• South African Air Force^[12]

 Sweden

• Swedish Armed Forces^[12]

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force^[12]

Former Military operators

 Australia

• Royal Australian Navy^[27]

 Paraguay

• Paraguayan Air Force^[28]

 Slovenia

• Slovenian Air Force^[29]

 United Kingdom

• Army Air Corps^[30]

 United States

• United States Coast Guard^[31]

 Venezuela

• Venezuelan Army^[32][33]

Accidents

• In 1997, Malaysian businessman Yahaya Ahmad, his wife Rohana Othman and Pilot Major (R) Azlizan Abdul Manas were killed in a helicopter crash near Kuala Lipis, Pahang. After a mid-air explosion, the six-seater Agusta A109P helicopter plunged 2,900m into rubber trees just metres away from houses in Kampung Along, Jerangsang, about 40 km southwest of Kuala Lipis.
• 2009 (2009) – South African Air Force A109 crashed into Woodstock Dam in the Drakensberg, due to pilot error, killing all three on board.^[34]
• 17 August 2011 (2011-08-17) – Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau A109E police helicopter crashed into Miyun reservoir in Miyun County, Beijing of China. Three crewmen were killed and one crewman got severe hurt. ^[35]
• 16 January 2013 (2013-01-16) – Vauxhall helicopter crash. At approximately 08:00 GMT an Agusta AW109 on charter to Rotormotion^[36] clipped a construction crane attached to the St George Wharf Tower in Vauxhall, London, then crashed to the ground and burst into flames, killing the pilot and a person on the ground. The helicopter was completely destroyed and the crane was also seriously damaged.^[37]
• At around 1900 GMT on 30 March 2013, a South African Air Force A109 crashed while on anti-poaching patrol in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. All five SANDF members aboard were killed.^[38]
• A Nigerian Navy Agusta helicopter (Helo 07) Saturday 15 December 2012 at about 3:30 p.m. around Nembe-Okoroba area in Bayelsa State. The helicopter was conveying some VIPs to Port Harcourt from Okoroba Village also in Bayelsa state claimed the lives of Kaduna state Governor Patrick Yakowa and former NSA to the nigerian president ,Apart from Azazi and Yakowa, four other persons died in the crash, they include: Governor Yakowa’s special adviser, Dauda Tsoho and Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal who was Azazi bodyguard as well as two naval pilots, Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba and Lt. Adeyemi O. Sowole.^[39]

The Investigation which was conducted by aviation experts in collaboration with the manufacturers – Agusta Westland has stated that the cause of the crash could either be human error or material failure or a combination of both. However, to determine the actual cause of the crash there, would be the need to tear down the engine of the helicopter in order to carry out detailed forensic analysis. This aspect of the investigation will be carried out by Turbomeca, the manufacturers of the engine.^[40]

Specifications

Agusta A109 Power

Data from www.agustawestland.com^{[41] [42]}

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
• Capacity: 7/6 passengers
• Length: 42 ft 9 in (13.04 m)
• Rotor diameter: 36 ft 2 in (11.00 m)
• Height: 11 ft 6 in (3.50 m)
• Empty weight: 3,505 lb (1,590kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 6,283 lb (2,850 kg–3,000 kg depending on version)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada 206C or Turbomeca Arrius 2K1 turboshafts, 567 hp or 571 hp (423 kW or 425 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 177 mph (154 knots, 285 km/h)
• Ferry range: 599 mi(503 NM, 932 km)
• Service ceiling: 19,600 ft (5,974 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,930 ft/min (9.8 m/s)

Armament

(Agusta A109 LUH only)

• Guns: possibilities include 12.7 mm machine gun (250 rounds) in pod, pintle mounted 7.62 mm machine gun, door gunner post 12.7 mm machine gun.
• Missiles: possibilities include 2 × TOW missile launchers (2 or 4 missiles each), unguided rockets in pods (2.75 in or 81 mm rockets with 7 or 12 tubes per pod), rocket/machine gun pod (70 mm × 3 rockets and 12.7 mm machine gun with 200 rounds).

See also

Related development

• Agusta A129 Mangusta
• AgustaWestland AW119

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bell 222/230
• Bell 430
• Eurocopter Dauphin
• Eurocopter EC 135
• Sikorsky S-76

Related lists

• List of helicopters

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Agusta A109.

• AgustaWestland AW109 Power page
• AgustaWestland GrandNew page
• A109S presentation on BlueSkyRotor

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v t e Italian Armed Forces aircraft designation system 1–100 Q-1 G-2 H-3D/H-3F G-4 AV-8 Q-9 Q-10 A-11 Q-11 Q-12 F-16 G-17 G-21 C-27 F-35 C-42/P-42 H-47 C-50 P-72 H-90 101-200 H-101 G-103 H-109 H-129 C-130 H-139 U-166 C-180 A-200 201-400 H-205 H-206 U-208 H-212 C-222 C-228 T-260 C-319 T-339 T-346 401-2000 H-412 H-500 KC-707 KC-767 C-900 P-1150 F-2000

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