An AW109E formerly operated by No. 32 Squadron RAF in 2012
Role
Search and rescue/utility helicopter
Type of aircraft
Manufacturer
Agusta AgustaWestland Leonardo
First flight
4 August 1971 (1971-08-04)
Introduction
1976
Status
In production
Primary users
Italian Army Rega (Swiss Air Rescue) South African Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force Royal Malaysian Air Force
Produced
1971–present
Variants
AgustaWestland AW109S Grand
Developed into
AgustaWestland AW119 Koala
The AgustaWestland AW109, originally the Agusta A109, is a lightweight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter designed and initially produced by the Italian rotorcraft manufacturer Agusta. It was the first all-Italian helicopter to be mass-produced.[1] Its production has been continued by Agusta's successor companies, presently Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland, merged into the new Finmeccanica since 2016).[2]
Development of the A109 commenced during the late 1960s as an indigenous rotorcraft suited to commercial operations. A twin-engine arrangement was pursued in response to market interest, while work on the civil model was prioritised over the military-orientated A109B project. On 4 August 1971, the first of three prototypes made its maiden flight. On 1 June 1975, the type received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), permitting its service entry in 1976. The A109 has been used in a wide variety of roles, including light utility, VIP transport, aeromedical, law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR), and several military roles. Dedicated military models have been produced for both land and sea operations. Several models with alternative engines, expanded fuselages, and alternative equipment fitouts have been produced. Some AW109s feature a convertible interior to quickly adapt the rotorcraft between roles. Various third-party companies also offer adaptions and services for the type.
Following the merger of Agusta and the British company Westland Helicopters to form AgustaWestland, the A109 has been rebranded as the AW109. International involvement in the programme has also been pursued; the company has established final assembly lines at sites in both Italy and the US. Furthermore, hundreds of AW109 fuselages have been manufactured by the Polish aerospace company PZL-Świdnik since the mid-1990s. AgustaWestland formed a joint venture with the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation in 2004 that produces and supports the AW109, includes a final assembly line, in China. The AW109 has been in continuous production for 40 years. The AgustaWestland AW119 is a derivative of the AW109, the principal difference being that it is powered by a single engine and has a fixed undercarriage.
^"Law Enforcement: Italy." Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Police Aviation News, No. 175. November 2010.
^"Finmeccanica Approves Merger And Spin-off Operations For The Implementation Of The Divisionalisation Process". Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
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