Agusta

Agusta A109

Category & usage
Light twin-engined multi-purpose helicopter for civil, paramilitary and armed military missions. Especially used in VIP, EMS and police operations.

Versions currently in production
There are three types of turbines available with the basic versions A190C, A190K, and A190E Power:
A109C: Allison 250C20-R/I. This is the most cost-effective version with some special variants: for border and coast guard operations (e.g. the Italian Guardia di Finanza); A109MAX with bulged doors for EMS operations; A109CM military multi-purpose version
A109K: Turbomeca Arriel 1 1K1 (best performance in high-altitude operations). The A109K2 version was developed for the Swiss REGA as a rescue/EMS helicopter. Special variants for naval (A190KM), military (A109KM) and police operations.
A109E: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C with FADEC.
Newest version of the A109 family. Incorporates proven and advanced technologies, more space in the cabin and luggage compartment, excellent flight performance and full compatibility to all current civil aviation rules. Modern cockpit instrumentation with multi-function liquid crystal displays.

Programme aspects
In production: >600 A109s sold until today. Type certification: Single-pilot IFR; A109E also Category A.

Description

Powerplant
Two free turbines. 3 types available.

Main rotor
Left-hand rotating. A109G and A109K2 with classic articulated rotor. A109E with new, easy to maintain and lighter titanium/FRP rotor head with one elastomeric bearing for each blade. The blades are also from FRP and are identical for all versions.

Tail rotor
Two-bladed, semi-rigid with Delta-3 coupling. Pushing, lower edge in forward direction (favourable direction). Metal blades.

Fuselage
Aluminum in semi-monoque design; doors and cowling from FRP.

Cockpit/cabin
Max. eight-seated (incl. pilot). Dual controls optional; folding doors for cockpit and cabin, sliding doors for cabin optional. EMS and VIP – with a higher standard of service – cabin configuration are available apart from the standard version.

Nose wheel unit
A109C: Main wheels retractable into fuselage sides. A109E: Completely new, simple main wheel unit retractable into sponsons. This created more space in the fuselage for other purposes. Hydraulic wheel brakes and retracting mechanism. A109K2: Not retractable.

Systems and equipment
Hydromechanical flight control. Doubly redundant hydraulical, electrical, and fuel supply systems.

Optional equipment
Wide range of special equipment available.

Armament options
e.g. Saab/Emerson HeliTOW anti-tank system with up to 8 PAL of the Hughes TOW type; missile launchers; machine guns in pods.

History
First surveys starting in 1965, searching for the most promising corner in the market for a new Agusta helicopter. At least ten drafts were developed under the leadership of Dr.-Ing. Bruno Lovera and his closest assistant, the aerodynamician Paolo Bellavitat, leading eventually to the A109 project. First flight of the first prototype was on 4 August, 1971, with chief test pilot Ottorino Lancia; first flight A109E: 8 February, 1995. The A109 was the first Agusta type with high-volume production. It still enjoys great popularity, even 25 years after its first flight, especially as a fast EMS and business helicopter. Military versions are in use in 10 countries, even – little known and seldom seen – in the "cloak-and-dagger" world of the British Special Air Service (SAS).