AgustaWestland starts AW169 production line

first AW169 on the production line in Italy

The first model of the AgustaWestland’s new generation AW169 helicopter has progressed onto the final assembly production line in Vergiate, Italy, entering full scale production. The event marks a major milestone ahead of EASA certification, with deliveries set to begin in Q2 2015.

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The AW169 flight test programme, utilising four prototypes, has so far amassed over 1,200 flying hours during flight testing in Italy, the UK and the US.

A second AW169 final assembly line is planned at AgustaWestland’s Philadelphia plant in the US, while AgustaWestland’s Yeovil plant in UK is already playing a key role in the production of rotor blades and the tail rotor transmission system.

The AW169 helicopter is part of AgustaWestland’s family of new generation helicopters that also includes the AW139 and AW189.

Over 120 AW169 helicopters have been ordered by customers around the world to date.

AgustaWestland released a short video of the AW169 maiden flight: