AgustaWestland AW169

AW169
AW169 at Paris Airshow 2013
Role Helicopter
Manufacturer AgustaWestland
First flight 10 May 2012
Status Under development.



The AgustaWestland AW169 is a twin-engine, 10-seat helicopter currently under development by AgustaWestland.[1]

Design and development

Announced by the company at the Farnborough International Air Show on 19 July 2010, the prototype first flew on 10 May 2012.[2][3]

The testing program will involve three more prototypes, with the second and third AW169s planned to join the effort later in 2012, and the fourth in 2013. Certification of the AW169 is anticipated for 2014.[4]

In the 4,500 kg-class, the AW169 is positioned between the 3,000|3,175 kg 8-seat AW109GrandNew and the much larger 6,400 kg 15-seat AW139. AgustaWestland plans to have the AW169 in service by 2015.[5]

The EU has approved a 19-year €272 million zero‑interest loan from the Italian state to AgustaWestland to develop the AW169. Industrial research is 40% of the total, and experimental development is 60%. The aid element is €94 million.[6]

The AW169 is also to be produced in Philadelphia, USA.[7]

AW169 AAS

In April 2013, AgustaWestland unveiled the AW169 AAS as their contender in the U.S. Army's Armed Aerial Scout program. It was the biggest entry with a 10,000 lb gross weight, nearly twice the weight of the OH-58 Kiowa it was aimed at replacing. AgustaWestland stated that the aircraft's size gives unprecedented cabin flexibility, with room for extended-range tanks, command-and-control facilities, and perhaps manned-unmanned teaming workstations. The size was a potential issue in some respects, such as the number that can be air transported by a strategic airlifter; AgustaWestland said it had solutions to meet the Army's disassembly and reassembly time limits, and emphasised the type's size and performance values.[8] The Army ended the AAS program in late 2013.[9]

Specifications (AW169)

AgustaWestland AW169 mockup at model launch

Data from AW169 brochure from AgustaWestland documentation page,[10] and AW169 product page.[11]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ "AgustaWestland Unveils The AW169". AgustaWestland. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "INAER Signs Contract for Ten AW169 Helicopters". AgustaWestland. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "New Generation AW169 helicopter completes its maiden flight". AgustaWestland. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "AgustaWestland AW169 Takes Off". AviationToday. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  5. ↑ Croft, John (20 July 2010). "AgustaWestland unveils 'game-changing' AW169". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  6. ↑ State aid: Commission authorises France and Italy to grant aid to Eurocopter and Agusta Westland for the development of a new generation of civil helicopters EU, 7 March 2012. Accessed: 20 March 2012.
  7. ↑ Huber, Mark (3 March 2015). "AgustaWestland to build AW609 in Philadelphia". Aviation International News. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "AgustaWestland is In - But is There an AAS Program?". Aviationweek.com, 12 April 2013.
  9. ↑ Outgoing General: US Army Must Continue To Fund Research and Development - Defensenews.com, 14 January 2014
  10. ↑ AgustaWestland AW169. AgustaWestland, 2010. Retrieved on 25 June 2011.
  11. ↑ "AgustaWestland AW169 Product Page". AgustaWestland. Retrieved 26 June 2011.

External links

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