AgustaWestland's New Helicopter Is Grand for Light/Intermediate Markets

 Yesterday's unveiling at Farnborough by AgustaWestland of a full-scale mockup of its new A109S Grand development of the earlier A109 series is aimed at filling a niche by stretching the basic design into the intermediate segment. "This new 2.5- to 4.5-ton intermediate-size helicopter with light-twin economics is a natural addition to the product line, at the upper end of the light-twin FAR/JAR 27 segment," claims AgustaWestland. Finmeccanica also says that the Grand is being developed to meet diversified sales demands and provide levels of cabin space and payload for its key corporate market that hitherto could be achieved only by larger helicopters.

With a maximum takeoff weight of 7,000 lb., the Grand is powered by two 815shp Pratt & Whitney PW207C turboshaft engines with electronic control (FADEC), plus an up-rated transmission. These confer high performance levels in both cruising and hovering flight, for full Class 1 operation. Cruising at up to 155 knots, the Grand has an operating range of around 450nm, carrying six passengers, or equivalent payload.

Two prototype Grands have now completed over 200 hours of flight development in the past 18 months, toward full certification early next year and initial production deliveries by mid-2005. Launch orders are expected through 2006, for a mainly corporate market in which AgustaWestland has been experiencing a 30% annual expansion over the past seven years. The Grand is expected to cost about 50% less than the 12-15 seat A139, and close AgustaWestland's gap, in order of size, between the A119 Koala and A109 Power, and the AB412, AB139 and EH101.

—John Fricker