Agusta A.103
Agusta · Italy · first flew 1959 · helicopter
The Agusta A.103 was a diminutive Italian single-seat light helicopter of the late 1950s, built as a technology demonstrator to explore the low end of the rotorcraft market and develop in-house helicopter expertise.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- ultralight single-seat open-frame helicopter
- two-blade see-saw rotor
- minimal enclosed structure — largely exposed mechanics
Extremely small helicopter with an open tubular steel frame fuselage, a two-blade rotor, and a single skid-mounted piston engine. Distinguished from the contemporary Bell 47 by its minimal structure and single-seat capacity.
Specifications
- The Agusta A.103 has a length of 6.1 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7 m (23 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 150 km/h (93 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Agusta, better known at the time for its licence production of Bell helicopters, developed the A.103 as an indigenous design exercise. It used a simple two-blade teetering rotor and a small piston engine in an open framework fuselage. The aircraft flew in 1959 but did not progress to production, with Agusta concentrating instead on its more commercially viable Bell licence products and later the A109.
Variants
One or two prototypes were built; no production variants followed.
Where you'll see it
Operated only as a company demonstrator; never entered civil or military service.
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- HAL Chetak
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