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Agusta museum in Milan, Italy

Agusta Westland, experience, Italy, photos No Responses »

Sep 182014

AgustaWestland has a museum accessible to the public in Cascina Costa close to Milan, Italy. The facility is only one of the numerous Italian locations as in Naples, Rome or Brindisi.

The museum actually covers only the italian side of the company, founded by Giovanni Agusta and directed by the Agusta family since the beginning of the 20th century. While visiting the museum, you would discover that the Agusta family did not build only aircraft, but also motorbikes. Nevertheless, most of the museum displays real helicopters, models and various parts (vertical stabilizer of an AB609, main gear box of an AW101…). Agusta built original helicopters as well as types under license, mostly from Bell.

If you have the opportunity, go and have a look, it is worth your time.

More information: www.museoagusta.it

Agusta A103, powered by an Agusta MV-GA70 piston engine of 85 shp

AgustaWestland, Project Zero: in flight

Agusta Westland, Italy, photos, prototype No Responses »

Jun 262013

Project Zero in flight, by AgustaWestland

AgustaWestland released a picture of the Project Zero prototype. Only unmanned hover flight has been tested yet, with the rotors in horizontal position.

Source: http://ow.ly/i/2saia

Project Zero in hover, (C) AgustaWestland

It is so easy to ask! AgustaWestland was kind enough to answer.

Hi @blueskyrotor, here is one photo #ProjectZero http://t.co/Xwbyu6fAyX #AgustaWestland

— AgustaWestland (@AgustaWestland) June 26, 2013

AgustaWestland: Project Zero

Agusta Westland, Italy, prototype, technology No Responses »

Jun 222013

Presentation of Project Zero in Paris Air Show 2013 by Dr. James Wang, Vice President of Research and Technology at AgustaWestland

Will it ever be displayed in flight?

Despite the offical AgustaWestland’s statement that the tilt rotor prototype flew several times within the last 2 years, many aeronautics enthusiasts expect the Italian manufacturer to release pictures of the demonstrator in flight.

Front view of the AgustaWestland’s Project Zero under dome at Paris Air Show 2013

Presentation of Project Zero in Paris Air Show 2013 by Dr. James Wang, Vice President of Research and Technology at AgustaWestland

Side view of the AgustaWestland’s Project Zero under dome at Paris Air Show 2013

Source: http://www.agustawestland.com/mediagallery

Side view of AgustaWestland’s Project Zero in Le Bourget, Paris Airshow 2013

Source: http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight/2013/06/17/paris-air-show-day-zero/8225/

AW169 competes for the Armed Scout program

Agusta Westland, helicopter market, Italy, USA No Responses »

Apr 132013

The brand new AW169 of Agusta Westland has been unveiled last week as a new competitor for the Armed Scout program. Is it intended to replace the first proposal with AW139M?

With this new entry, the British-Italian manufacturer brings the performance of the aircraft closer to its competitors with a lighter take-off weight. (OH-58D has a MTOW of 2495 kg or 5500 lbs)

AW139M has a maximum take-off weight of 6800 kg while the AW169 is lighter with approx. 4500 kg.

The concept provides the reliability of the twin engine and the performance of a modern aircraft. The weapon system appears to be standard with a 20 mm cannon and 70 mm rockets. Furthermore, the cannon is installed with an elevation adjustment capability during the flight.

However, the weapon pylons are located besides the doors, which may prevent the installation of a machine gun in the cabin. The Electro Optical Sight installed the nose has also a limited sight capability to the right side.

On the picture above, we see the mechanism allowing to adjust the elevation of the cannon. This mechanism needs to be corrected in order to avoid the full reaction forces from the recoil during firing.