Book Review of
AgustaWestland A109 &
The Belgian Air Force A109 Display Team
Author: Duke Hawkins
SBN: 978-2-931083-16-1
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $33.00
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $33.00
HISTORY:
The AgustaWestland AW109, originally the Agusta A109, is a lightweight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter designed and initially produced by the Italian rotorcraft manufacturer Agusta. It was the first all-Italian helicopter to be mass-produced. Its production has been continued by Agusta's successor companies, presently Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly AgustaWestland, merged into the new Finmeccanica since 2016).
Development of the A109 commenced during the late 1960s as an indigenous rotorcraft suited to commercial operations. A twin-engine arrangement was pursued in response to market interest, while work on the civil model was prioritised over the military-orientated A109B project. On 4 August 1971, the first of three prototypes made its maiden flight. On 1 June 1975, the type received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), permitting its service entry in 1976.
The A109 has been used in a wide variety of roles, including light utility, VIP transport, aeromedical, law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR), and several military roles. Dedicated military models have been produced for both land and sea operations. Several models with alternative engines, expanded fuselages, and alternative equipment fitouts have been produced. Some AW109s feature an convertible interior to quickly adapt the rotorcraft between roles. Various third party companies also offer adaptations and services for the type.
Following the merger of Augusta and the British company Westland Helicopters to form AgustaWestland, the A109 has been rebranded as the AW109. International involvement in the programme has also been pursued; the company has established final assembly lines at sites in both Italy and the US. Furthermore, hundreds of AW109 fuselages have been manufactured by the Polish aerospace company PZL-Świdnik since the mid-1990s.
AgustaWestland formed a joint venture with the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation in 2004 that produces and supports the AW109, includes a final assembly line in China. The AW109 has been in continuous production for 40 years. The AgustaWestland AW119 is a derivative of the AW109, the principal difference being that it is powered by a single engine and has a fixed undercarriage.
The helicopter has been used by: Algeria, Gendarmerie Nationale, Algerian police, Albanian Air Force, National Air Force of Angola, Bangladesh Navy, Belgian Air Component, Bulgarian Border Police, Cameroon Air Force, Carabineros de Chile, Ecuador, Bomberos Quito, Egyptian Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Italy Polizia di Stato, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, Italian Army, Vigili del Fuoco, State Forestry Corps, Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Latvia State Border Guard, Malaysian Army, Mexican Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nigerian Air Force & Navy, Peruvian Army, Philippine Air Force & Navy, Slovenian Air Force, Slovenian Ministry of Defence, Slovenian Police, South African Air Force, Transnet National Ports Authority, Swedish Armed Forces, Turkmen Air Force, Uganda National Police, Royal Air Force,
Former military and government operators:
Argentine Army operated 9 aircraft (1979-2007)
Royal Australian Navy operated 3 aircraft (2007-2012)
Italian Air Force operated 3 aircraft
Paraguayan Air Force
Air ambulances in Poland
United Kingdom Army Air Corps
A109E of the Empire Test Pilots' School
United States Coast Guard
A U.S. Coast Guard MH-68A Stingray
Venezuelan Army
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 1 or 2
Capacity: 6 or 7 passengers
Length: 11.448 m (37 ft 7 in) fuselage
Height: 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)
Empty weight: 1,590 kg (3,505 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C Turboshaft engine, 418 kW (560 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Maximum speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)
Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn)
Never exceed speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)
Ferry range: 932 km (579 mi, 503 nmi)
Rate of climb: 9.8 m/s (1,930 ft/min)
THE BOOK:
MHM is based in the UK.
This book is soft-cover of 115 pages in 9 ¼” x 9 ¼” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo of the Belgian Air Force Display-teams A109 hovering over a grassy field.
The book contains a whopping 424 color photos of the aircraft. Showing action shots, cockpit, fuselage exterior and interior, weapons and many spectacular color schemes.
This book will be of interest to modelers planning on building an A109 helicopter and aviation enthusiasts alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of MHM Publications and all MHM books can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The AgustaWestland AW109, originally the Agusta A109, is a lightweight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter designed and initially produced by the Italian rotorcraft manufacturer Agusta. It was the first all-Italian helicopter to be mass-produced. Its production has been continued by Agusta's successor companies, presently Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly AgustaWestland, merged into the new Finmeccanica since 2016).
Development of the A109 commenced during the late 1960s as an indigenous rotorcraft suited to commercial operations. A twin-engine arrangement was pursued in response to market interest, while work on the civil model was prioritised over the military-orientated A109B project. On 4 August 1971, the first of three prototypes made its maiden flight. On 1 June 1975, the type received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), permitting its service entry in 1976.
The A109 has been used in a wide variety of roles, including light utility, VIP transport, aeromedical, law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR), and several military roles. Dedicated military models have been produced for both land and sea operations. Several models with alternative engines, expanded fuselages, and alternative equipment fitouts have been produced. Some AW109s feature an convertible interior to quickly adapt the rotorcraft between roles. Various third party companies also offer adaptations and services for the type.
Following the merger of Augusta and the British company Westland Helicopters to form AgustaWestland, the A109 has been rebranded as the AW109. International involvement in the programme has also been pursued; the company has established final assembly lines at sites in both Italy and the US. Furthermore, hundreds of AW109 fuselages have been manufactured by the Polish aerospace company PZL-Świdnik since the mid-1990s.
AgustaWestland formed a joint venture with the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation in 2004 that produces and supports the AW109, includes a final assembly line in China. The AW109 has been in continuous production for 40 years. The AgustaWestland AW119 is a derivative of the AW109, the principal difference being that it is powered by a single engine and has a fixed undercarriage.
The helicopter has been used by: Algeria, Gendarmerie Nationale, Algerian police, Albanian Air Force, National Air Force of Angola, Bangladesh Navy, Belgian Air Component, Bulgarian Border Police, Cameroon Air Force, Carabineros de Chile, Ecuador, Bomberos Quito, Egyptian Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Italy Polizia di Stato, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, Italian Army, Vigili del Fuoco, State Forestry Corps, Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Latvia State Border Guard, Malaysian Army, Mexican Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nigerian Air Force & Navy, Peruvian Army, Philippine Air Force & Navy, Slovenian Air Force, Slovenian Ministry of Defence, Slovenian Police, South African Air Force, Transnet National Ports Authority, Swedish Armed Forces, Turkmen Air Force, Uganda National Police, Royal Air Force,
Former military and government operators:
Argentine Army operated 9 aircraft (1979-2007)
Royal Australian Navy operated 3 aircraft (2007-2012)
Italian Air Force operated 3 aircraft
Paraguayan Air Force
Air ambulances in Poland
United Kingdom Army Air Corps
A109E of the Empire Test Pilots' School
United States Coast Guard
A U.S. Coast Guard MH-68A Stingray
Venezuelan Army
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 1 or 2
Capacity: 6 or 7 passengers
Length: 11.448 m (37 ft 7 in) fuselage
Height: 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)
Empty weight: 1,590 kg (3,505 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C Turboshaft engine, 418 kW (560 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Maximum speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)
Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn)
Never exceed speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)
Ferry range: 932 km (579 mi, 503 nmi)
Rate of climb: 9.8 m/s (1,930 ft/min)
THE BOOK:
MHM is based in the UK.
This book is soft-cover of 115 pages in 9 ¼” x 9 ¼” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo of the Belgian Air Force Display-teams A109 hovering over a grassy field.
The book contains a whopping 424 color photos of the aircraft. Showing action shots, cockpit, fuselage exterior and interior, weapons and many spectacular color schemes.
This book will be of interest to modelers planning on building an A109 helicopter and aviation enthusiasts alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of MHM Publications and all MHM books can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.