AW109 50 Years today

[RavenOne]

Just got email from Leonardo regarding 50 years of AW109 as on this day in 1971 the first prorotype flew.

Leonardo: A109 helicopter’s maiden flight anniversary marks 50 years of leadership in high performance, design, and mission versatility

www.leonardocompany.com

Cheers

 

[Hood]

50 years! How time flies.
The A109 always looked modern and the basic design still does today.

 

[Silencer1]

Two heroes in same video - Agusta A109 and Adriano Celentano:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX1xjlA78Mk


P.S. my small tribute to A109, perfect example of Italian industrial design.

 

[CJGibson]

A bit less warrie...

View: https://youtu.be/luwAMFcc2f8

And to quote my own book.. 'Oozing Italian style, the sleek Agusta A109 is more associated with music videos than a machine from which heavily armed special forces troopers are fast-roped.'

Speaking of which...

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Chris

 

[yasotay]

The Italian sports car of helicopters. Coveted by many, flown by the lucky.

 

[Silencer1]

The Italian sports car of helicopters. Coveted by many, flown by the lucky.

Comparison with Italian sport cars of 1960-70s, designed by famous stylists (Bertone, Gandini, Pininfarina etc.) comes to when I saw A109 protoype and their further development. Anybody knows, has Agusta used dedicated industrial (or automobile) designers, when working on A109 project? Or their engineers have such perfect taste for the external shape?

 

[fightingirish]

A bit less warrie...

Robbie Williams

And to quote my own book.. 'oozing Italian style...'
Chris

Now I have an "Ohrwurm".

 

[CJGibson]

A bit less warrie...

Robbie Williams

And to quote my own book.. 'oozing Italian style...'
Chris

Now I have an "Ohrwurm".

This is an "Ohrwurm"...

View: https://youtu.be/LKYPYj2XX80


Chris

 

[Silencer1]

Leonardo, successor of Agusta, published an article about origins, development and current state of A109.

50 years since the first flight of the A109, an Italian success

www.leonardocompany.com

Pictures from the site:

 

[Jason Dykstra (Wyvern)]

Goodness, 50 years! And what is more, it is still in use around the world today! Such a sleek machine too.