Fourth AW169 performs its maiden flight

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, reported that the fourth prototype of the new generation 4.5 tonne class light intermediate AW169 helicopter, successfully completed its maiden flight at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate plant in Italy. During its flight, the aircraft performed as expected with an assessment of the helicopter’s general handling and basic systems being made. The event is a major milestone for the AW169 programme as the last of four prototypes now enter the flight test programme. The AW169 programme is on schedule to achieve civil certification in 2014. The first three AW169 prototypes, which performed their maiden flights in May 2012, July 2012 and November 2012, have completed more than 150 flight hours to date. The fourth prototype, built in just 71 days, is fully representative of the production configuration.