Jump to content

AgustaWestland AW119 Koala: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Danpitr (talk | contribs)
104 edits
mNo edit summary
Danpitr (talk | contribs)
104 edits
mNo edit summary
Line 23: Line 23:
|}
|}


The '''AgustaWestland AW119 Koala''', currently produced by [[Leonardo S.p.A.|Leonardo]] since 2016, is an eight-seat utility [[helicopter]] powered by a single [[turboshaft]] engine developed for the civil and government market. Introduced as the '''Agusta A119 Koala''' prior to the Agusta/Westland merger, it is targeted at operators favoring lower running costs of a single-engine aircraft over redundancy of a twin.<ref name="airliners.net">{{cite web |title = The Agusta A-119 Koala |publisher = airliners.net |url = http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=16| accessdate = 20 May 2007 }}</ref>
The '''AgustaWestland AW119''', currently produced by [[Leonardo S.p.A.|Leonardo]] since 2016, is an eight-seat utility [[helicopter]] powered by a single [[turboshaft]] engine developed for the civil and government market. Introduced as the '''Agusta A119 Koala''' prior to the Agusta/Westland merger, it is targeted at operators favoring lower running costs of a single-engine aircraft over redundancy of a twin.<ref name="airliners.net">{{cite web |title = The Agusta A-119 Koala |publisher = airliners.net |url = http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=16| accessdate = 20 May 2007 }}</ref>


==Development==
==Development==

Revision as of 22:44, 6 November 2019

AW119
An AW119 with the New York City Police Department
Role Utility helicopter
Manufacturer Leonardo, previously AgustaWestland, Agusta
Introduction 2000
Status Active in production
Produced 2000–present
Number built ~300 (2018)[1]
Developed from Agusta A109

The AgustaWestland AW119, currently produced by Leonardo since 2016, is an eight-seat utility helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine developed for the civil and government market. Introduced as the Agusta A119 Koala prior to the Agusta/Westland merger, it is targeted at operators favoring lower running costs of a single-engine aircraft over redundancy of a twin.[2]

Development

It was certified by ENAC in December 1999. Customer deliveries began soon thereafter, the first commercial example was delivered to Australian logistics company Linfox (serial 14007, registration VH-FOX).[3]

In April 2007, the AW119Ke (Ke standing for Koala Enhanced) was formally unveiled at Heli-Expo; changes included modified rotor blade design and a higher rotor rpm, increasing both payload and hot-and-high performance, cabin flexibility was also improved.[4] The fuselages of the AW119 are manufactured by PZL Swidnik of Poland, later a subsidiary of AgustaWestland.[5] Final assembly and other manufacturing activity initially took place at Vergiate, Italy; by the time the improved AW119Ke variant began production, the final assembly line had been transferred from Vergiate to Leonardo's facility in Philadelphia, United States.[6][7]

Design

Agusta AW119 Koala, 2008

The AW119 is a single-engine multirole helicopter, Leonardo promote the type as possessing excellent flight qualities with high levels of controllability, maneuverability and inherent safety.[8] The design of the rotorcraft is derived from Agusta's earlier and highly successful A109 helicopter, differing primarily by only being equipped with a single engine (as the A109 was originally designed),[9] a Pratt & Whitney PT6B-37A turboshaft engine, and using fixed skids in place of the A109's retractable wheeled landing gear arrangement.[10]

The AW119 employs a four-bladed fully articulated main rotor; the composite rotor blades are designed to produce maximum lift with minimum noise, and feature tip caps to reduce noise and elastomeric bearings with no lubrication requirements. Aluminium honeycomb structural panels are used throughout the airframe, which absorb both noise and vibration, thus requiring no additional vibration absorption systems to be employed.[11] The PT6B-37A powerplant of the AW119, located in the same area as the AW109 is capable of providing high power margins along with generous speeds and endurance.[8][12] According to AgustaWestland, the AW119 retains the system redundancy of dual engine helicopters, such as the hydraulics and the dual independent stability augmentation systems; the gearbox has a 30-minute dry run capability.[10][12]

The AW119 Koala has been used for various roles, including utility, emergency medical services (EMS), offshore, (USA only), law enforcement, and executive transport.[10] A key selling point of the type is its wide-body fuselage, which allows for up to seven passengers to be seated in a three-abreast configuration in the cabin; for the EMS mission, up to two litters along with medical attendants and full emergency medical equipment suite can be accommodated, whereas most similar-sized helicopters can only carry one.[2] The unobstructed cabin area and separate baggage compartment can be rapidly reconfigured to suit a range of different missions and roles. Several different cabin interiors may be adopted to accommodate different missions and operations, such as executive/VIP, EMS, and utility options; the cockpit can also be isolated from the cabin.[8] The AW119 has been promoted as possessing the largest cabin in its class; the reported cabin volume is approximately 90% greater than other rotorcraft in its class.[13][8]

AW119 Koala Ke at Wagga Wagga Airport, 2012

A wide range of avionics have been integrated upon the AW119, which are typically housed within the rotorcraft's nose.[14] Initial production models featured conventional flight instruments;[14] the Garmin G1000H glass cockpit is integrated on the newer AW119Kx variant, which is claimed to improve situational awareness, reduce pilot workload, and increase safety. Primary flight and other key information is displayed to the pilots upon two large 10.4 inch multi-function displays in the cockpit; an independently powered stand-by display is also present in case of system failure. Other avionics used include a 3-axis aircraft flight control system (AFCS), Synthetic Vision System (SVS), Highway In The Sky (HITS) depiction, moving map display, radio altimeter, VOR/ILS/GPS/WAAS navigation, Aural Warning Generator, and embedded Helicopter Terrain Avoidance Warning System (HTAWS).[8]

A variety of equipment can be installed, depending on operator choice and role; these include an external hoist, dual cargo hook, dual flight controls, baggage compartment extension, snow skis, windshield wipers, rotor brake, multi-band radios, active noise reduction headsets, soundproofing, oxygen systems, loud speakers, search lights, retractable landing light, emergency floatation equipment, reinforced windshield, wire strike protection system, rappelling kit, fire fighting belly tank, and a forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera.[8] Three fuel tanks, located behind the rear seats in the cabin, are installed as standard; up to two additional optional tanks can be fitted for a total of five, providing a flight endurance of nearly five hours.[15]

Operational history

Agusta A119 Koala at HeliRussia 2008

Since 2009, there have been reports that final assembly of the AW119 is to be transferred to India as a part of a measure to increase sales within that market.[16][17] In February 2010, it was announced that AgustaWestland and Tata Group were to form a joint venture to produce the AW119 in India; the first Indian-manufactured units were originally planned to commence deliveries in 2011.[18] In October 2015, following two years of deliberation, India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board approved a proposal to locally assemble the AW119Kx in Hyderabad, Telangana; the facility is to be operated by Indian Rotorcraft Ltd (IRL), the joint venture between AgustaWestland and Tata.[19][20]

In September 2014, AgustaWestland issued a legal challenge to a US Army decision to procure the Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota as a trainer without a competition, stating that both the AW119 and the AW109 had lower acquisition and operating costs; the challenge was dismissed in December 2014.[21][22] In early 2015, AgustaWestland and Bristow Helicopters jointly offered an upgraded variant of the AW119 as a replacement for US Navy's existing fleet of 117 Bell TH-57 (based on the Bell 206) trainer helicopters under a fee-for-service contract; AgustaWestland and have claimed that over a four-year period the AW119 fleet could be introduced at an equal or lesser cost than the operating costs than continuing to operate the aging TH-57s.[23][24]

Variants

  • A119 - designation for the original production version
  • AW119 - designation for the A119 following the merger of Agusta and Westland Helicopters
    • AW119 Ke - improved version, featuring redesigned rotors, greater payload, and better fuel efficiency.[25]
    • AW119 KXe - successor to the Ke model, produced in Philadelphia, USA and Hyderabad, India.[20][26]
  • TH-119 - military training variant, offered to the US Navy to replace its fleet of TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters. First flight made on 20 December 2018.[27]

Operators

 Algeria
A119 of the Phoenix Police Department
 Australia
 Bangladesh
 Brazil
 Ecuador
 Finland
 Israel
 South Korea
 Latvia

 Malaysia

An AW119 of Schenk Air
 Mexico
 Portugal
 United States

Specifications (AW119Kx)

External videos
video icon AgustaWestland AW119Kx promotional video
video icon Description of AW119Kx cockpit
video icon Pellissier Helicopter AW119Kx operations

Data from AgustaWestland AW119Kx brochure[10]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1-2
  • Capacity: 6-7 passengers or 1,400 kg (3,086 lb) sling load
  • Length: 12.92 m (42 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 3.60 m (11 ft 10 in)
  • Empty weight: 1,508 kg (3,325 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)
  • Powerplant: × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37A , 747 kW (1,002 hp)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 243 km/h (151 mph, 131 kn)
  • Range: 830 km (520 mi, 450 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Citations

  1. ^ "Latvia orders additional helicopters for State Border Guard". www.leonardocompany.com. Leonardo. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b "The Agusta A-119 Koala". airliners.net. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  3. ^ Gualdoni, Damiano. "Damiano Gualdoni Aviation Enthusiast's Website". Archived from the original on 4 April 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  4. ^ "Rotorcraft Report: AgustaWestland Unveils Enhanced Version of AW119." Rotor&Wing, 1 April 2007.
  5. ^ "Business: Good Week - Bad Week." Flight International, 16 March 2009.
  6. ^ O'Keeffe, Niall. "AgustaWestland looks beyond national boundaries." Flight International, 31 October 2008.
  7. ^ "Aviation News, Volume 69." HPC Pub, 2007. p. 24.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "AW119Kx: Fast and Flexible." Finmeccanica, Retrieved: 13 February 2016.
  9. ^ Simpson, R. W. (1998). Airlife's Helicopters and Rotorcraft. Ramsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 33.
  10. ^ a b c d "AW119Kx." Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Finmeccanica, Retrieved: 13 February 2016.
  11. ^ Gray 2000, pp. 40-41.
  12. ^ a b Gray 2000, p. 41.
  13. ^ World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 889 Sheet 32.
  14. ^ a b Gray 2000, p. 42.
  15. ^ Gray 2000, p. 40.
  16. ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology, Volume 170, Issues 1-10. 2009. p. 95.
  17. ^ "AgustaWestland firm on expanding footprint in India." The Hindu, 24 September 2013.
  18. ^ Pustam, Anil R. "Rotor market strong on technology." Aviation Business, 17 June 2010.
  19. ^ "FIPB clears Tata-AW chopper facility proposal in Hyderabad." First Post, 14 October 2015.
  20. ^ a b Grevatt, Jon. "AgustaWestland's Indian joint venture finally approved by authorities." IHS Jane's Defence Industry, 7 October 2015.
  21. ^ Head, Elan. "AgustaWestland sues to block Army purchase of EC145 helicopters."[permanent dead link] Vertical, 23 September 2014.
  22. ^ "Army Moves Ahead with Airbus Trainer Plan." AIN Online, 7 December 2014.
  23. ^ Trimble, Stephen. "AgustaWestland, Bristow offer AW119 to replace US Navy TH-57 fleet." Flight International, 15 April 2015.
  24. ^ Clevenger, Andrew. "Group Offers Navy New Helo Training Model." DefenseNews, 15 April 2015.
  25. ^ "AgustaWestland AW119Ke sales brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  26. ^ Huber, Mark (3 March 2015). "AgustaWestland to build AW609 in Philadelphia". Aviation International News. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  27. ^ Reim, Garrett (21 December 2018). "PICTURE: Leonardo TH-119 trainer helicopter makes first flight". Flight Global. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  28. ^ "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  29. ^ "Helicopters". Safety & rescue services. Surf Life Saving Western Australia. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  30. ^ "A119 in Bangladesh Air Force". AirForces Monthly. Key Publishing. March 2018. p. 29.
  31. ^ Mena Barreto (30 August 2010). "Estado de Goiás receberá 3 helicópteros AW119 Koala". Piloto Policial (in Portuguese).
  32. ^ Policial, Aviação (11 December 2013). "AW119 MkII Koala da Polícia Militar de Santa Catarina completa 1.500 Horas de voo - Piloto Policial". PilotoPolicial.com.br. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  33. ^ Policial, Aviação (24 March 2016). "BAvBM/RS: Helicóptero transfere menino com AVC - Piloto Policial & Resgate Aeromédico". PilotoPolicial.com.br. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  34. ^ Policial, Aviação (22 February 2016). "Novo helicóptero do BAv/RS transporta paciente para Santa Maria/RS - Piloto Policial & Resgate Aeromédico". PilotoPolicial.com.br. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  35. ^ "La FAE compra AW119k para reemplazar a los modelos dhruv".
  36. ^ Sanchez, Alejandro (8 April 2019). "Ecuadorian Air Force receives new Koala helicopters". Jane's 360. Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  37. ^ "The Finnish Border Guard Takes Delivery Of Its First AW119Ke". aviationnews.eu. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  38. ^ Jennings, Gareth (18 February 2019). "Israel acquires AW119Kx training helicopter". Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  39. ^ "Korea National Police Agency takes delivery of an AW119Ke". helihub.com. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  40. ^ "Border guard orders two new helicopters". lsm.lv. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  41. ^ "Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland and Weststar Sign Orders for Three Helicopters". my.agustawestland.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  42. ^ "Mexico's State Gov't Air Rescue Unit Completes NGV Instructor Training". aero-news.net. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  43. ^ "Portuguese Air Force orders helicopters from Leonardo". The Italian Insider. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  44. ^ Barreir, Victor (19 February 2019). "Portugal receives first Koala helicopters". Jane's 360. Rio de Janeiro. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  45. ^ "NYPD AW119 Fleet Achieve 20,000 Hour Milestone". aviationnews.eu. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  46. ^ "Cop shot takes koala". ainonline.com. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  47. ^ "Rotor Wing". lifelinkiii.com/. Retrieved 7 September 2019.

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AgustaWestland AW119.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AgustaWestland_AW119_Koala&oldid=924951362"