Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


SAR AgustaWestland AW189.
Role	Super-medium-lift helicopter
National origin	Italy
Manufacturer	Leonardo S.p.A. Finmeccanica AgustaWestland
First flight	21 December 2011
Introduction	February 2014
Status	In service
Primary users	Bristow Helicopters Gulf Helicopters
Produced	2011-present
Number built	70+
Developed from	AgustaWestland AW149

On 20 June 2011, development of the eight-tonne twin-engine AW189 was formally announced by AgustaWestland at the Paris International Air Show; at the time, the company planned to have the new rotorcraft certified by 2013 and in service in 2014. The AW189 is a civil-orientated version of the military AW149, which in turn is an enlarged development of the AW139; in 2011, AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini stated that: "The AW139 and the AW189 are two very different aircraft but they both share the same general concept in architecture". AgustaWestland stated it aimed to sell the AW189 for offshore helicopter support, search and rescue (SAR), and passenger transport roles

The AgustaWestland AW189 is a twin-engined, super-medium-lift helicopter manufactured by Leonardo S.p.A. It is derived from the AW149, and shares similarities with the AW139 and AW169.

Development

Origins

In June 2015, it was reported that slow development of the ice-protection systems that to be offered upon the AW189 had delayed the introduction of Bristow Helicopters UK-based SAR operations using the type, at the time being in a state of "operational evaluation". In September 2015, AgustaWestland announced that EASA certification of the AW189's limited ice protection system had been granted, and stated that the rotorcraft was the first in its category to receive such certification. In autumn 2015, AgustaWestland conducted icing trials in Alaska to provide flight within full icing conditions certification as part of efforts to qualify the type for the SAR role; validation of the full-ice protection system was scheduled for mid-2016.

Aeromacchi Leonardo

AgustaWestland (now Leonardo)
AgustaWestland AW189 Medium-lift SAR/utility

General Info

Crew: 1 or 2
Capacity: Up to 19 passengers
Length: 17.60 m (57 ft 9 in)
Height: 5.06 m (16 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 53.3 m² (574 sq ft)
Gross weight: 8,300 kg (18,300 lb)

Powerplant

Fuel capacity: 2,063 litres (2,569 L with belly tank) Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CT7-2E1 turboshaft engine , 1,492 kW (2,000 hp) each Main rotor diameter: 14.60 m

Performance

Maximum speed: 313 km/h
Cruise speed: 267–278 km/h
Range: 370–907 km
Service ceiling: 3,000 m

Related development

Special Links Aeromacchi Leonardo

Links to Youtube & Others

In September 2018, the United States Air Force (USAF) announced that the MH-139, an AW139 variant, was the winner of a competition to replace the Vietnam-era Bell UH-1Ns. The service will buy up to 84 MH-139s

AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland AW189

The multi-role AW139M, the military version of the AW139, meets the demand of military and government missions.

Youtube Link

The multi-role AW139M, the military version of the AW139, meets the demand of military and government missions.

Leonardo / AgustaWestland AW189 Medium-lift SAR/utility
First flight 21 December 2011
Produced 2011-present