AW109
Leonardo / AgustaWestland · Italy · first flew 1971 · helicopter
The Leonardo AW109 is a sleek, fast Italian light twin recognised by its streamlined body and retractable wheeled undercarriage.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Sleek streamlined fuselage with a pointed nose and sporty executive lines |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Sleek streamlined fuselage with a pointed nose and sporty executive lines
- Retractable tricycle wheeled landing gear, unusual for a light helicopter
- Four-blade main rotor with a conventional tail rotor and small swept fin
The pointed-nose streamlined fuselage and retracting tricycle gear set it apart from skid-equipped light helicopters, giving it a distinctly fast, executive look.
Specifications
- The AW109 has a length of 11.45 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 311 km/h (193 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2 pilots.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in August 1971 as the Agusta A109, it was the first mass-produced all-Italian helicopter and was certified in 1975, evolving through AgustaWestland to today's Leonardo Helicopters.
Variants
Major versions include the A109A, the A109E Power, the stretched A109S Grand and the skid-equipped AW109 Trekker, with the single-engine AW119 Koala as a derivative.
Where you'll see it
The RAF operated AW109 aircraft with No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron for VIP and support work, and the Army Air Corps flew ex-Argentine A109s captured in the Falklands. It is widely used across the UK by police air units and HEMS air ambulance operators.
Related aircraft
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