AgustaWestland AW139
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
| AW139 | |
|---|---|
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| A Spanish Maritime Safety Agency AW139SAR. | |
| Role | Medium-lift SAR/utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | AgustaWestland |
| First flight | 3 February 2001 |
| Introduction | 2003 |
| Primary users | CHC Helicopter Irish Air Corps UAE Air Force |
| Number built | 500 |
| Unit cost | $21 million |
| Developed into | AgustaWestland AW149 |
The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium sized twin-engined helicopter manufactured by AgustaWestland. Originally designed and developed jointly by Agusta and Bell Helicopters and marketed as the Agusta-Bell AB139, it was redesignated the AW139 when Bell withdrew from the project.
The AW139 has become one of AgustaWestland's most influential products; it has been subsequently developed into two enlarged medium-lift helicopters, the military-orientated AW149 and the AW189 for the civil market.
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Design and development [edit]
Origins [edit]
In 1997, the Italian helicopter manufacturer Agusta launched a programme to develop a replacement for the Bell Huey family of helicopters (which had been built in very large numbers by Bell Helicopter and under license by Agusta) with a potential market of 900 aircraft being predicted. In 1998, Bell and Agusta entered into an agreement, setting up a joint venture, Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC) to develop two aircraft: a conventional helicopter and a tiltrotor aircraft. These became the Bell/Agusta AB139 and Bell/Agusta BA609 respectively.[1]
The first orders were placed by Bristow Helicopters on 26 September 2000. The first AW139 flew on 3 February 2001 at Vergiate in Italy,[2][3] and the first production aircraft on 24 June 2002.[4] The first customer aircraft was delivered in 2003.
Type overview [edit]
The AB139 is a conventional layout twin-engined transport helicopter. It has a five-bladed fully articulated main rotor with a titanium hub and composite blades and a four-bladed tail rotor. It is fitted with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It is flown by a crew of two pilots, with up to 15 passengers accommodated in three rows of five. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6C turboshaft engines.[5] The helicopter is being marketed for use in a number of roles, including law enforcement and emergency medical service, executive transport, search and rescue, maritime and offshore oil operations.
Further development [edit]
The AW139 was evaluated as a contender in the U.S. Army's Light Utility Helicopter Program, the rival Eurocopter EC145 was selected instead. At the Farnborough Air Show in 2006, AgustaWestland announced the AW149 as a multi-role battlefield helicopter variant of the AW139. The company has orders for over 430 helicopters, of which over 200 had been delivered by January 2009.
In late 2006, it was announced that the Japan Coast Guard had selected the AW139 as the replacement for its fleet of Bell 212 helicopters; 24 AW139s are expected to be delivered, beginning in 2008. The Irish Air Corps began taking delivery of its first AW139s in 2007. The type will replace the Aerospatiale Alouette III in the army support and basic transport roles. In 2007, a second production line at the AgustaWestland Aerospace plant in Philadelphia, United States was established. By 2011, AgustaWestland was producing 90 AW139s a year, the helicopter had also directly produced 9.5% of the company's overall revenue in 2010.[6]
In June 2010, it was announced that Agusta and Rosvertol (Russian Helicopters) would build a plant in Tomilino, Moscow Region, jointly producing AW139s from late 2011.[7]
Variants [edit]
- AB139
- Original Italian-built production aircraft, 54 built.[8]
- AW139
- Designation change from 55th aircraft onwards, built in Italy and the United States.[8]
- AW139 (long nose configuration)
- Long nose variant with increased room for avionics built in both Italy and the United States.[8]
- AW139M
- Military variant.[9]
- HH-139A
- Italian Air Force designation for ten search-and rescue configured AW139Ms.[10]
- VH-139A
- Italian Air Force designation for two VIP configured AW139s.[citation needed]
Notable incidents [edit]
- 21 January 2010, Spanish Maritime Safety Agency AW-139SAR (registration EC-KYR), crashed into the sea close to Almeria. Three people died.[11]
- 23 February 2011, South Korean Coast Guard AW139 went missing off the southern island of Jeju. Five people died.[12][13]
Operators [edit]
The AW139 is used by both private individuals and companies and helicopter charter, including offshore support. It is also used by law enforcement and government use in particular air ambulance and coastguard use.
Military operators [edit]
- Azerbaijan Airlines (8 on order)[14]
- Irish Air Corps - 6 [19]
- Italian Air Force - 12 [19]
- Royal Thai Army (2 on Order) [22][19]
Government and civil operators [edit]
- Los Angeles City Fire Department[31]
- Maryland State Police[32]
- New Jersey State Police[33]
- United States Customs and Border Protection[34]
Specifications AW139 (long nose) [edit]
Data from [8]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 to 2
- Capacity: 15 passengers
- Length: 13.77 m (45 ft 2 in)
- Main rotor diameter: × 13.80 m (45 ft 3 in)
- Width: 2.26 m (10 ft 0 in)
- Height: 3.72 m (12 ft 2 in)
- Main rotor area: 149.57 m2 (1609.97 ft2)
- Empty weight: 3,622 kg (7,985 lb)
- Gross weight: 6,400 kg (14,110 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67C turboshaft engine, 1,142 kW (1,531 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 310 km/h (193 mph)
- Range: 1,061 km (573 miles)
- Service ceiling: 6,098 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10.9 m/s (2,140 ft/min)
See also [edit]
- Related development
- AgustaWestland AW109
- Agusta A129 Mangusta
- AgustaWestland AW149
- AgustaWestland AW169
- AgustaWestland AW189
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References [edit]
Citations [edit]
- ^ Niccoli 2001, p. 158.
- ^ Jackson 2003, p. 227.
- ^ Niccoli 2001, p. 163.
- ^ Jackson 2003, p. [31].
- ^ Niccoli 2001, pp. 158–159, 162.
- ^ Osborne, Tony. "PAS 2011: AW139 has 'changed' AgustaWestland's behaviour". Rotorhub. Shephard Media. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
- ^ Comments. "Italian, Russian Firms to Build Helicopter Factory | Business". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
- ^ a b c d EASA Type Certicate Data Sheet
- ^ AW139M
- ^ Flight International "Italy fields first of 10 search and rescue HH-193As", 20–26 March 2012
- ^ Interim statement A002/2010 - Accident involving an AgustaWestland AW139, registration EC-KYR, operated by INAER, off the Almeria coast, on 21 January 2010, at 19:16 UTC.
- ^ "??". Allheadlinenews.com. Retrieved 2012-09-14.[dead link]
- ^ "4 missing, 1 dead in failed rescue attempt at sea". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
- ^ Azerbaijan Airlines Orders Ten AgustaWestland Helicopters
- ^ "The Air Force Equipment Of The Cypriot National Guard". defencegreece.com. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ "Egyptian Air Force orders AW139 helicopters". Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ "AgustaWestland delivers AW139 to Egyptian Air Force". Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ "Estonia’s Border Guard fails to plan ahead". helihub.com. Retrieved 21-February-2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "World Air Forces 2013". Flightglobal Insight. 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ Mitilian, Vatche. "News". The Independent Guide To The Lebanese Air Force. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
- ^ "AW139". ©Copyright 2012 Demand Media, Inc. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ "Royal Thai Army signs for two AW139s". Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ "EMQ Helicopter Rescue".
- ^ "Ambulance Service of New South Wales fleet". ambulance.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 23-March-2013.
- ^ "Ornge Our Vehicles". ornge.ca. Retrieved 30-March-2013.
- ^ "STARS fleet". stars.ca. Retrieved 12-March-2013.
- ^ "Así son nuestras unidades: helicóptero Helimer AW 139" (in spanish). Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
- ^ "Malaysia maritime agency receives three AW139 helicopters". Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ "Laatse vlucht Kustwacht AS-332 helikopter". Kustwacht. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
- ^ "KLPD neemt eerste AW139-transporthelikopter in ontvangst". Luchtvaartnieuws. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
- ^ "Air Operations - AW139 Helicopter". lafd.org. Retrieved 21-February-2013.
- ^ "Maryland State Police unveil new medevac AW139". helihub.com. Retrieved 21-February-2013.
- ^ "Fifth and final AW139 delivered to New Jersey State Police". helihub.com. Retrieved 21-February-2013.
- ^ "CBP Air and Marine Acquires Helicopters for Border Security Mission". cbp.gov. Retrieved 21-February-2013.
Bibliography [edit]
- Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 182, No. 5370, 11–17 December 2012. pp. 40–64. ISSN 0015-3710.
- Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
- Niccoli, Riccardo. "The Bell Agusta AB 139". Air International, September 2001, Vol 61 No 3. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 158–163.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: AgustaWestland AW139 |
- AgustaWestland AW139 page
- AW139 Specs & Photo on flugzeuginfo.net
- European Aviation Safety Agency Type Certificate Data Sheet
- Federal Aviation Authority Type Certificate Data Sheet
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