AgustaWestland AW119 Koala
AW119 Koala | |
---|---|
An AW119 with the New York City Police Department | |
Role | Utility helicopter |
Manufacturer | Leonardo, previously Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, Agusta |
First flight | February 1995 |
Introduction | 2000 |
Status | In production |
Primary users | State of Mexico Government Finnish Border Guard Portuguese Air Force United States Navy |
Produced | 2000–present |
Number built | ~300 (2018)[1] |
Developed from | AgustaWestland AW109 |
The AgustaWestland AW119 Koala, produced by Leonardo since 2016, is an eight-seat utility helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine produced for the civil 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 the redundancy of a twin.[2]
Development
The A119 designation was first applied to a proposed 11-seat stretched version of the AW109 in the 1970s;[3] however this concept did not emerge and no such rotorcraft actually built. The helicopter that was eventually to enter production as the A119 was conceived in 1994, as Agusta was recovering from a period of financial woes that had nearly put the company out of business.[4] In February 1995, the second of two prototypes conducted its first flight.[5] The first prototype was used for static tests.[6] Civil certification was originally anticipated in 1997, this deadline was missed allegedly due to multiple issues such as personnel problems, the need to concentrate resources on the development of the A109 Power, and further development to increase the aircraft's performance to meet customer expectations.[7][5]
By way of a solution to the latter concern, the decision was taken to change the A119's powerplant. The prototypes were originally fitted with
In April 2007, the AW119Ke (Ke standing for Koala Enhanced) was formally unveiled at Heli-Expo; changes included modified
During January 2010, a partnership agreement was signed between
Design
The AW119 is a single-engine multirole helicopter. AgustaWestland promote the type as possessing excellent flight qualities with high levels of controllability, maneuverability and inherent safety.
The AW119 employs a four-bladed fully articulated main rotor; the composite
The AW119 Koala has been used for various roles, including utility, emergency medical services (EMS), offshore, law enforcement, and executive transport.[23] 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 stretchers 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.[22] The AW119 has been promoted as possessing the largest cabin in its class; the reported cabin volume is approximately 30% greater than other rotorcraft in its class.[8][22]
A wide range of avionics have been integrated upon the AW119, which are typically housed within the rotorcraft's nose.
A variety of equipment can be equipped, dependent on operator choice and role; these include an external hoist, dual
Operational history
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.[28][29] 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.[30] 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.[31][32]
In September 2014, AgustaWestland issued a legal challenge to a United States 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.[33][34]
In early 2015, AgustaWestland and
The TH-119 was selected as the successor of the TH-57 in January 2020, receiving the US military designation TH-73A. The US Navy expects up to 130 units to be acquired, with 32 ordered in January and an additional 36 in November 2020.[39] In August 2021, the TH-73 was named "Thrasher" for the brown thrasher, a bird common in the southeast US; the first example of the type was delivered on August 6.[40]
Variants
- A119 - designation for the original production version; maximum take-off weight: 2,720 kg (5,997 lb).[41]
- AW119 - designation for the A119 following the merger of Agusta and Westland Helicopters.
- AW119 MkII - improved version, featuring redesigned rotors, greater payload, and better fuel efficiency; maximum take-off weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb).[42]
- AW119 Ke - marketing designation for the AW119 MkII (Koala Enhanced).[41]
- AW119 Kx - successor to the Ke model with Garmin G1000H avionic suite, produced in Philadelphia, USA and Hyderabad, India.[32][43]
- TH-73A Thrasher - military training variant for the US Navy[39]
Operators
- Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service[46]
- Bangladesh Air Force - 2 in service as of 2019.[47]
- Federal Highway Police (6 on order)[49]
- State of Goiás[50]
- State of Santa Catarina[51]
- State of Rio Grande do Sul[52][53]
- Ecuadorian Air Force - 3 delivered, 1 more on order as of April 2019.[54][55]
- Finnish Border Guard - 4 in operation.[56]
- Israeli Air Force (12 on order)[57][58]
- National Police Agency[59]
- State Border Guard (2 on order)[60]
- Weststar General Aviation[61]
- Mexico State Government[62]
- Portuguese Air Force - 7 delivered [63][64]
- Air Mercy Services[65]
- Turkish Land Forces - 2 in service.(13 on order)[66]
- New York City Police Department[67] (Replaced by Bell 429)
- Phoenix Police Department[68]
- United States Navy - 68 on order; up to 130 planned[37]
- University of New Mexico Hospital Lifeguard air ambulance [69]
Specifications (AW119Kx)
External videos | |
---|---|
Pellissier Helicopter AW119Kx operations |
Data from AgustaWestland AW119Kx brochure[23]
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: 1,483 kg (3,269 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)
- Fuel capacity:
3-cell fuel system 605 L (160 US gal)
4-cell fuel system 711 L (188 US gal)
5-cell fuel system 870 L (230 US gal) - Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37A turboshaft engine, 747 kW (1,002 hp) 917shp
- Main rotor diameter: 10.83 m (35 ft 6 in)
- Main rotor area: 92.1 m2 (991 sq ft)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 244 km/h (152 mph, 132 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 282 km/h (175 mph, 152 kn)
- Range: 954 km (593 mi, 515 nmi)
- Endurance: 5 h 20 min
- Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 9.1 m/s (1,790 ft/min)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
Citations
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- ^ a b "The Agusta A-119 Koala". airliners.net. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
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- ^ a b c d e "Flug Revue". Archived from the original on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ a b c Gualdoni, Damiano. "Damiano Gualdoni Aviation Enthusiast's Website". Archived from the original on 4 April 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ a b c Gray 2000, p. 40.
- ^ a b World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 889 Sheet 32.
- ^ "Rotorcraft Report: AgustaWestland Unveils Enhanced Version of AW119." Rotor&Wing, 1 April 2007.
- ^ "Business: Good Week - Bad Week." Flight International, 16 March 2009.
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- ^ "Assembling of AW choppers by IRL likely to be delayed". Business Line. 22 July 2015.
- ^ "Govt defers approval to AgustaWestland FDI in Indian joint venture". Hindustan Times. 3 May 2016.
- ^ "'FIPB has sought Defence Min inputs on FDI in Agusta, Tata JV'". Deccan Herald. 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Amid row over VVIP choppers scam, govt defers approval to AgustaWestland's FDI in Indian JV". indiatvnews.com. 2 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "AW119Kx: Fast and Flexible." Finmeccanica, Retrieved: 13 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d "AW119Kx." Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Finmeccanica, Retrieved: 13 February 2016.
- ^ Gray 2000, p. 43.
- ^ Gray 2000, pp. 40-41.
- ^ a b Gray 2000, p. 41.
- ^ a b Gray 2000, p. 42.
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- ^ a b Grevatt, Jon. "AgustaWestland's Indian joint venture finally approved by authorities." IHS Jane's Defence Industry, 7 October 2015.
- ^ Head, Elan. "AgustaWestland sues to block Army purchase of EC145 helicopters."[permanent dead link] Vertical, 23 September 2014.
- ^ "Army Moves Ahead with Airbus Trainer Plan." AIN Online, 7 December 2014.
- ^ Trimble, Stephen. "AgustaWestland, Bristow offer AW119 to replace US Navy TH-57 fleet." Flight International, 15 April 2015.
- ^ Clevenger, Andrew. "Group Offers Navy New Helo Training Model." DefenseNews, 15 April 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Leonardo: U.S. Department of Defense exercises options for 36 TH-73A helicopters". leonardocompany.com. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ U.S. Third Fleet (6 August 2021). "US Navy's First TH-73A "Thrasher" Arrives at NAS Whiting Field". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ a b "EASA.R.005 | A109". EASA. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "AgustaWestland AW119Ke sales brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ Huber, Mark (3 March 2015). "AgustaWestland to build AW609 in Philadelphia". Aviation International News. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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- ^ Mena Barreto (30 August 2010). "Estado de Goiás receberá 3 helicópteros AW119 Koala". Piloto Policial (in Portuguese).
- ^ 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.
- ^ Policial, Aviação (24 March 2016). "BAvBM/RS: Helicóptero transfere menino com AVC - Piloto Policial & Resgate Aeromédico". PilotoPolicial.com.br. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Espinosa, Carlos. "Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana recibe uno de los helicópteros que realizarían las labores que tenían los Dhruv". El Comercio.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Finnish Border Guard Takes Delivery Of Its First AW119Ke". aviationnews.eu. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Israel Orders Final Batch of AW119KX Helicopters from Italy". www.defense-aerospace.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ "Korea National Police Agency takes delivery of an AW119Ke". helihub.com. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
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- ^ "Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland and Weststar Sign Orders for Three Helicopters". my.agustawestland.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
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- ^ Yiğitoğlu, Eren (24 November 2023). "AW119T helikopterleri Kara Kuvvetleri'nin envanterine girmeye devam ediyor". DefenceTurk (in Turkish). Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "NYPD AW119 Fleet Achieve 20,000 Hour Milestone". aviationnews.eu. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
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Bibliography
- Gray, Peter. "Flight Test: Koala bared." Flight International, 18 September 2000. pp. 40–43.