FARN10: AgustaWestland AW169 uncovered

AgustaWestland today made good a promise made in 2008, when talk of the XX9 medium light twin helicopter made the rounds at air shows.

Here at the Farnborough Airshow today, the company lifted the veil on the design.

The 4.5-tonne class twin helicopter is meant to challenge Eurocopter's Dauphin and EC145 lines. While the company has not yet put a price tag on the 10-passenger multi-role design, AgustaWestland chief executive Giuseppe Orsi during the unveiling ceremony said the company expects "at least" 1,000 sales over the next 20 years. 

Placed between the AW109 and the AW139 twins when it enters service in 2015, the AW169 will be powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210 turboshaft engines, but little else has been revealed about suppliers. Officials did say however that AgustaWestland will develop the avionics system using three Rockwell Collins display in the cockpit. The aircraft, certified to Part 29 commercial aircraft standards, will also have dual flight management systems and be certified for single-pilot instrument flight rules flight in day or night conditions.