AgustaWestland unveils grand helo

At the Farnborough Air Show last month, helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland unveiled its new Agusta A109S Grand, a medium twin-engine rotorcraft designed to fill the gap between the Agusta A109 Power and the Bell/Agusta AB139, now entering service. The helicopter is expected to receive certification early next year, with deliveries to begin in the second half of the year. The mockup on display at the show was configured for an aeromedical role, but the Grand is expected to appeal primarily to the corporate/VIP market. The company claims the Grand will provide operating costs 18 to 36 percent lower than those of other helicopters in its size category.