AW169 Makes First Flight

Bethany Whitfield

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 12:24 AM ET

Verified

AW169 during its first flight last week

Key Takeaways:

The AgustaWestland AW169 successfully completed its maiden flight, a significant step towards its planned certification in 2014.
This light 4.5-ton helicopter is designed to fill a market niche between the AW139 and the upcoming AW189, having already secured over 50 orders.
With seating for 8-10 passengers, the AW169 is anticipated for various roles including emergency transport, off-shore missions, and law enforcement.

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AgustaWestland’s AW169 took to the skies for the first time last week, marking a significant milestone on its path to certification in 2014, the company announced.

According to AgustaWestland representatives, the AW169 – launched nearly two years ago at the Farnborough International Air Show – performed and handled “as expected” during the test flight at the company’s Italian facilities.