Country of origin
Italy
Single Turbine light helicopter. Seating for 6 passengers. 1 Flight crew. Cruise speed of 270 km/h and
maximum range of 1000 km. The design itself was derived from Agusta's highly successful A109, but with
only a single engine and with fixed skids replacing the retractable wheeled landing gear. A key selling
point is its wide-body fuselage, seating passengers three-abreast in the cabin, or allowing for two
litters and medical attendants to be carried in the medevac role, whereas most similar-sized
helicopters can only carry one.The actual cabin volume is approximately 30% greater than other
helicopters in its class.
Type
Light utility helicopter
History
Agusta's newest helicopter, the widebody A-119 Koala is a relatively large single turbine powered
helicopter designed for a range of utility transport missions where it makes economic sense to operate
a single when the redundancy of a twin is not required.
Agusta began development work on the Koala in 1994, leading to the first prototype's maiden flight in
early 1995. A second prototype flew later in that same year. Agusta originally aimed to gain
certification for the A-119 in late 1996 but this was delayed until late 1998. One cause for the delay
has been strong sales demand for the A-109E Power, another to enhance the A-119's performance in
response to customer feedback. Production deliveries are planned for 1999.
The Koala's big selling feature is its large 'widebody' fuselage. Agusta says the cabin is 30% larger
than the cabins of any other current production single engine helicopter. A measure of the cabin size
is that it can accommodate two stretcher patients in an EMS role, along with two medical attendants.
Most other single engine helicopters typically are only equipped for a single stretcher because of a
lack of space (Agusta sees medical retrieval operators as prime potential Koala customers).
Access to the main cabin is via two large sliding doors, one either side of the fuselage. A baggage
compartment in the rear of the fuselage is also accessible in flight.
The first prototype Koala was powered by a Turboméca Arriel 1 turboshaft but it was subsequently
reengined with a 747kW (1002shp) takeoff rated Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37, which powered the second
prototype and will feature in production aircraft. Another design feature is the Koala's composite four
blade main rotor which features a titanium fully articulated maintenance free hub with elastomeric
bearings and composite grips.
Powerplants
1st prototype - One 595kW (800shp) Turboméca Arriel 1 turboshaft driving a four blade main rotor and two blade tail rotor.
Production aircraft - One 747kW (1002shp) takeoff rated Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37 turboshaft.
Performance
Max cruising speed 260km/h (140kt). Service ceiling 17,915ft. Hovering ceiling in ground effect
10,890ft, out of ground effect 8040ft. Max range 653km (352nm). Endurance 3hr 45min.
Weights
Max takeoff with an internal load 2600kg (5732lb), max takeoff with a sling load 2850kg (6283lb).
Dimensions
Main rotor diameter 11.00m (36ft 1in), length overall rotors turning 13.10m (43ft 0in), fuselage length
11.07m (36ft 4in). Main rotor disc area 95.0m2 (1022.9sq ft).
Capacity
One pilot and passenger on flightdeck. Main cabin seats six in standard configuration. In an EMS
configuration can accommodate two stretcher patients.
Production
Entered production in 1999. Planned annual production rate of 20 to 25 aircraft per year. 60 sold at
time of writing. Basic aircraft unit cost approx $US1.7m. Second assemly line to be established at
Denel in South Africa.
Cabin
Length: 2.10 m
Width: 1.67 m
Height: 1.28 m
Passengers: up to 7
Baggage capacity: 0.95 cubic m
--
Regards,
Nidhi Jain [ MBA eComm]
Asst Project Manager [ eComm]
On Line Assistence :
Gtalk : NidhiJ.AeroSoft@gmail.com
Y! Messenger : NidhiJ.AeroSoft@yahoo.com
Rediff Bol : NidhiJ.AeroSoft@rediffmail.
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