Leonardo AW109

Leonardo AW109 History

Anglo-Italian helicopter company AgustaWestland developed the AW109 in 1971 as a commercial vehicle for passengers. Initial work began in the late 1960s under the guise that the new product should focus on single turboshaft engines to keep development and ultimately lower acquisition costs. All other aspects of the helicopter will remain very traditional and easy to categorize.

By 1970, the design had morphed into a twin turboshaft mount and was given the company name AW109 (AgustaWestland Model 109). The first flight of this type was recorded on August 4, 1971, and many years of testing followed until the aircraft was launched in 1976.

The series is active around the world today (2013) and has also appeared in many armed forces.

The design of the AW109 is a streamlined, aerodynamically refined aircraft with good pitch and a pointed nose. The cockpit is designed very forward, with two pilot seats behind the split front windshield and excellent cockpit visibility. Access to the cockpit is via automotive-style hinged doors mounted on either side of the cockpit. Aft of the cockpit is the passenger cabin, with either convertible seats or medical bedding. Search and rescue types are equipped with specialized equipment for their respective roles, and armed versions are equipped with door-mounted machine guns.

Access to and exit from the cabin is through rectangular sliding doors on the sides of the cabin, which slide back against the helicopter fuselage. The engine was mounted overhead as usual, driving a four-bladed main rotor on the short mast and a two-bladed tail rotor (tail rotor pointed to port) at the stern. The tail consists of a conical assembly that houses the tail rotor shaft.

The tail rises slightly from the underside of the fuselage and is covered at its rear end by a large dorsal fin and a smaller ventral vertical tail fin. The horizontal stabilizer is mounted on the tailstock close to the rudder.

The landing gear consists of two single-wheel main legs and a single-wheel front leg, all of which are retractable to the floor of the A109 (on most production versions).

The AW109 first appeared in the aptly named A109A production model, powered by two Allison 250-C20 American turboshaft engines. The A109A EOA was a militarized version dedicated to the Italian army, while the A091B was another canceled militarized model.

The A109A was modernized through the A109A Mk II program, which resulted in a medical evacuation version, the A109A Mk II Maximum. The A109C evolved into a commercial passenger model with 2 Allison 250-C20R-1 turboshaft engines for 8 seats, followed by medical evacuation as the A198C max

The A109D was used as a prototype, while the A09E Power became a modern commercial passenger model, but this time with 2 Turbomeca Arrius 2K1 series turboshaft engines. Eventually, AgustaWestland expanded the model to support the American Pratt & Whitney PW206C series engine in order to satisfy its large Western customer base.

The A109E Power series evolved into the A109E Power Elite, which introduced a longer body and greater internal volume. The cockpit is completely modern, with digital gauges, satellite navigation and a multi-function display (MFD) for both pilots. Notable customers of the brand are the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), which used the type as an armed deterrent platform and search and rescue (SAR) system (as the MH-68A Stingray) until 2008 - these later Replaced by the French MH-65C Dolphin series).

The A109LUH ("Light Utility Helicopter") is based on the A109E power family and is intended for military service. It found buyers in New Zealand, Malaysia, Nigeria and South Africa.

The A109K became another modern form of militarization, while the A109K2 was designed for "hot and high" fixed gear operating environments. The A109M is another military variant that spawned the highly anticipated A109KM form, the A109KN naval mount, the A109CM basic military version, the Italian Guardia de Finanza's A109GdiF, and the A109BA delivered exclusively to the Belgian Army.

The CA109 becomes the locally licensed production variant of the A109 in China under the Changhe Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) product label. The AW109S Grand is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207 series turboshaft engines in an extended cabin and modified main rotor.

AW109 Grand New is a simplified variant.

All in all, the AW109 series has a place in the inventory of two dozen operators around the world, including Algeria, Albania, Argentina, Chile, Peru, the Philippines and Sweden. It no longer serves Australia, Paraguay, Slovenia, the UK, the US and Venezuela.

January 2018 - The Nigerian defence budget has allocated funds for the purchase of two AW109 helicopters.

Specification

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Production

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Performance

Performance

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Changes