AgustaWestland AW109 Multirole Military / Utility Helicopter (1976)
The AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter has gone on to see worldwide use by in both military and civilian roles.
The AW109's design was that of a sleek and aerodynamically-refined aircraft featuring a well-sloped and pointed nose assembly. The cockpit was set well ahead in the design with seating for two pilots behind a two-piece forward windshield for excellent visibility out of the cockpit. Entry and exit from the cockpit was through hinged automobile-style doors fitted to either side of the cockpit. Aft of the cockpit was the passenger cabin with variable seating or medical litter options. Search and Rescue types were outfitted with specialized equipment for their given role and armed versions showcased door-mounted machine guns. Entry and exit to the passenger cabin was via rectangular sliding doors to either side of the cabin, these doors sliding rearwards against the helicopter's body. The powerplant was fitted above the cabin roof in the usual way and powered a four-bladed main rotor atop a short mast as well as a two-bladed tail rotor at the rear (the tail rotor facing portside). The empennage consisted of a tapered assembly which housed the tail rotor shaft within. The tail unit was slightly raised from the fuselage underside and capped at its aft end by a large dorsal and smaller ventral vertical tail fin. Horizontal stabilizers were set along the tail stem near the rudder. The undercarriage consisted of two single-wheeled main legs and a single-wheeled nose leg, all were retractable into the floor of the A109 (on most production versions).
The AW109 first appeared in the aptly-designated A109A production model fitted with 2 x Allison Model 250-C20 American turboshaft engines. The A109A EOA was a specially developed militarized version for service with the Italian Army while the A091B proved another militarized model that fell to naught. The A109A was modernized through the A109A Mk II initiative and this begat a MEDEVAC version as the A109A Mk II MAX. The A109C grew into a commercial passenger model sporting 2 x Allison Model 250-C20R-1 turboshaft engines with seating for eight and was followed by a MEDEVAC as the A198C MAX.
The A109D served as a prototype while the A09E Power became a modernized commercial passenger model - though this time outfitted with 2 x French Turbomeca Arrius 2K1 series turboshaft engines. To please its large stable of Western customers, AgustaWestland eventually broadened this model to support the American Pratt & Whitney PW206C series engines under the same designation.
The A109E Power series evolved into the A109E Power Elite which introduced a lengthened fuselage sporting more interior volume. The cockpit was all-modern with digital readouts, satellite navigation and Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) for both pilots. Notable customers of this mark became the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the latter operating the type as an armed deterrent platform and Search and Rescue (SAR) system until 2008 (as the MH-68A Stingray - these were subsequently replaced by the MH-65C Dolphin series of French origin). The A109LUH ("Light Utility Helicopter") was built upon the A109E Power series and intended for military service. It found buyers in New Zealand, Malaysia, Nigeria and South Africa.
The A109K became another modern militarized form while the A109K2 was developed for "hot-and-high" operating environments with fixed undercarriage. The A109M was yet another military variant which begat the hot-and-high A109KM form, the A109KN navalized mount, the A109CM basic military version, the A109GdiF of the Guardia de Finanza of Italy and the A109BA for exclusive delivery to the Belgian Army. The CA109 became a local, license-production variant of the A109 in China under the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) product label. The AW109S Grand was fitted with 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207 series turboshaft engines over a lengthened passenger cabin and revised main rotor. The AW109 Grand New was a simplified variant.
All told, the AW109 series went on to find homes in the inventories of two dozen operators around the globe including Algeria, Albania, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Philippines and Sweden among others. It is no longer is service with Australia, Paraguay, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Specifications for the
AgustaWestland AW109
Multirole Military / Utility Helicopter
Country of Origin: Italy
Manufacturer: AgustaWestland - Italy
Initial Year of Service: 1976
Production: 600
Focus Model: AgustaWestland A109 (Power)
Crew: 2 + 8
Length: 42.78ft (13.04m)
Width: 36.09ft (11.00m)
Height: 11.48ft (3.50m)
Weight (Empty): 4,409lbs (2,000kg)
Weight (MTOW): 6,614lbs (3,000kg)
Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada 206C turboshaft engines delivering 567 horsepower OR 2 x Turbomeca Arrius 2K1 turboshaft engines delivering 571 horsepower to a four-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail tail rotor.
Maximum Speed: 177mph (285kmh; 154kts)
Maximum Range: 599miles (964km)
Service Ceiling: 19,685ft (6,000m; 3.7miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,930 feet per minute (588m/min)
Hardpoints: 2
Armament Suite:
Usually none. Armed (Military) Versions can field any of the following:
2 x 12.7mm heavy machine gun pods
2 x 7.62mm general purpose machine gun pods
2 x 12.7mm OR 7.62mm machine gun on pintle mounts at cabin doors.
2 x TOW anti-tank missiles (2x2 OR 2x4 each)
2 x 7-shot 2.75in/81mm unguided rocket pods
2 x 12-shot 2.75in/81mm unguided rocket pods
2 x rocket/machine gun pod combo mounting (3 rockets, 200 x machine gun ammunition).
Variants:
A109 - Base Series Designation
A109A - Initial Production Models; fitted with 2 x Allison Model 250-C20 turboshaft engines.
A109A EOA - Italian Army model
A109A Mk II - Modernized commercial A109A
A109A Mk II MAX - MEDEVAC variant based on A109A Mk II variant.
A109B - Proposed military variant; never produced.
A109C - Commercial passenger variant; fitted with 2 x Allison Model 250-C20R-1 turboshaft engines; seating for eight passengers.
A109C MAX - MEDEVAC variant of the A109C
A109D - One-Off Prototype Form
A109E "Power" - Modernized commercial passenger variant; fitted with 2 x Turbomeca Arrius 2K1 or 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW206C turboshaft engines.
A109E "Power Elite" - Lengthened passenger cabin; based on A109E production model.
A109 LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) - Militarized variant based on the A109E Power series.
MH-68A "Stingray" - US Coast Guard operational model for search & rescue sorties and armed intercept.
A109K - Militarized variant
A109K2 - Hot-and-High performance model with fixed undercarriage.
A109M - Militarized variant
A109KM - Hot-and-high militarized variant of the A109M.
A109KN - Navalized variant of the A109M
A109CM - Base military model of the A109M
A109GdiF - Specialized variant of the A109M for service with the Guardia di Finanza of Italy.
A109BA - Belgian Army Variant
AW109S "Grand" - Fitted with 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207 series turboshaft engines; lengthened passenger cabin; revised main rotor blades.
CA109 - Local Chinese license-production variant of the A109 under the CAIC label.
AW109 "Grand New" - Simplified AW109S Grand
AW109 SP - Alternative designation for AW109 Grand New model.
Operators: Albania; Argentina; Australia; Bangladesh; Belgium; Benin; Bulgaria; China; Chile; Ghana; Greece; Honduras; Iran; Italy; Japan; New Zealand; Latvia; Malaysia; Mexico; Montenegro; Nigeria; Paraguay; Peru; Poland; Saudi Arabia; South Africa; Slovakia; Slovenia; Sweden; United Kingdom; United States; Venezuela
BY DECADE:
• 1900 to 1909
• 1910 to 1919
• 1920 to 1929
• 1930 to 1939
• 1940 to 1949
• 1950 to 1959
• 1960 to 1969
• 1970 to 1979
• 1980 to 1989
• 1990 to 1999
• 2000 to 2009
• 2010 to 2019
• 2020 to 2029
• VIEW ALL
• Compare Aircraft
BY TYPE:
• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
• Attack Helicopters
• Bomber Aircraft
• Medium Bombers
• Heavy Bombers
• Close-Air Support (CAS)
• Commercial Aircraft
• Dive Bombers
• Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA)
• Experimental / X-Planes
• Fighter Aircraft
• Floatplane Aircraft
• Flying Boat Aircraft
• Aerial Refueling Tankers
• Helicopters (ALL)
• Interceptor Aircraft
• Multi-Role Aircraft
• Navy Carrier Aircraft
• Night Fighters
• Reconnaissance / Scout
• Search & Rescue (SAR)
• Scout Helicopters
• Special Purpose
• Torpedo Bombers
• Trainer Aircraft
• Transport Aircraft
• Transport Helicopters
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
• Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs)
COLLECTIONS:
• 4th Generation Fighter Aircraft
• 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft
• US X-Planes
• Classic US Warbirds
• French Military Helicopters
• Grumman "Cats"
• Howard Hughes Aircraft
• Indian Air Force
• Israeli Air Force
• Libyan Aircraft
• Modern Chinese Aircraft
• Modern Chinese Fighters
• Modern Military Aircraft
• Modern North Korean Aircraft
• Modern Trainer Aircraft
• Modern US Aircraft
• Mikoyan Aircraft
• Sukhoi Aircraft
• Syrian Aircraft
• Top 10 Fighter Aircraft of All Time
AIRCRAFT BY CONFLICT:
• Arab-Israeli War (1948)
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1959-1962)
• Falklands War (1982)
• Indo-Pak War (1965, 1971)
• Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
• Lebanon War (1982)
• Operation Allied Force (1999)
• Operation Desert Storm (1991)
• Six Day War (1967)
• Spanish Civil War (1936)
• Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)
• Yom Kippur War (1973)
MISCELLANEOUS:
• Aircraft Cockpits
• Aircraft Manufacturers List
• Aircraft Timeline
WORLD WAR 2:
• 1939 Aircraft
• 1940 Aircraft
• 1941 Aircraft
• 1942 Aircraft
• 1943 Aircraft
• 1944 Aircraft
• 1945 Aircraft
• 1946 Aircraft
• Australian Aircraft
• Battle of Britain Aircraft
• Bombers
• Four-Engine Bombers
• British Aircraft
• British Bombers
• British Transports
• Dive Bombers
• Canadian Aircraft
• Fighters
• Chinese Aircraft
• French Aircraft
• German Aircraft
• German Fighters
• German Flying Boats
• German Jets
• Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe
• Italian Aircraft
• Imperial Japanese Aircraft
• Imperial Japanese Fighters
• Mitsubishi Bombers
• Navy Aircraft
• Pearl Harbor
• Polish Aircraft
• Romanian Aircraft
• US Aircraft
• US Bombers
• US Navy Aircraft
• Soviet Aircraft
• Torpedo Bombers
• Transport Aircraft
• Tuskegee Airmen Aircraft
• W.A.S.P. Aircraft
• WW2 Aircraft Ranked by Speed
• VIEW ALL
WORLD WAR 1:
• 1914 Aircraft
• 1915 Aircraft
• 1916 Aircraft
• 1917 Aircraft
• 1918 Aircraft
• Aircraft Timeline
• Austro-Hungarian Aircraft
• Bomber Aircraft
• British Aircraft
• Fighters
• Flying Boats
• French Aircraft
• Imperial German Aircraft
• Italian Aircraft
• Scout Aircraft
• Russian Empire Aircraft
• US Aircraft
• WW1 Aircraft Ranked by Speed
• VIEW ALL
KOREAN WAR:
• Australian Aircraft
• Korean War Aces
• Korean War Jets
• North Korean Aircraft
• US Military Aircraft
• VIEW ALL
VIETNAM WAR:
• Helicopters
• North Vietnam Air Force
• US Airpower
• VIEW ALL
COLD WAR:
• 1950s French Aircraft
• British V-Bombers
• Cold War Bombers
• Soviet Aircraft
• Soviet Bombers
• Soviet Interceptors
• Soviet Helicopters
• Strategic Air Command
• US Aircraft
• US Bombers
• US Interceptors
• VIEW ALL
©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.
Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.
