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:

AgustaWestland's AW169 helicopter successfully completed its maiden flight, moving towards a targeted 2014 certification.
The 4.5-ton helicopter is designed to fill a niche market, complementing existing models and targeting roles like emergency transport, off-shore missions, and law enforcement.
The AW169 has already secured over 50 orders, indicating strong initial market demand.

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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.