Leonardo is progressing with a skid kit for its AW169 medium twin helicopter. The aircraft is currently available with fixed or retractable wheeled gear.
A company spokesman told AIN that the skid kit “is intended to meet market needs in both the military and public service domains. This will be a certification kit available for both military and commercial markets. Skid-configured AW169s have already been ordered in Italy for military and homeland security duties.” He added that the “Italian Army’s AW169 LUH multirole helicopter will have skids.”
This is not a replay of the Trekker, a skidded variant of the company’s AW109 light twin. While the Trekker also substituted skids for retractable wheeled gear, it included a less expensive avionics package and an overall lower aircraft price. Avionics on wheeled and skidded AW169s will be identical. Leonardo could not provide data on the performance differences between the wheeled and skidded AW169, but the company indicated that the skids will not affect the aircraft’s overall performance.
Leonardo unveiled an enhanced performance package for the AW169 earlier this year that increased engine shaft horsepower, transmission rating, and available payload. The helicopter received EASA certification in 2015 and FAA validation in 2017. To date, more than 100 have been delivered.