Helicopter

PUNCHES ABOVE ITS WEIGHT

Powerful and more spacious than its competitors, the AW119Kx is a single-engine helicopter by Leonardo, a flying tender for medium to large yachts, with an impressive range of up to 990 kilometres

by Sergio Barlocchetti - ph. Courtesy by Leonardo

The AW119Kx reaches a top speed of 265 kmh. Interior materials and layout can be personalised, here in the Club configuration with two facing rows of three seats. The helicopter features the Garmin G1000H avionics suite

The AW119 Koala, introduced in 2000 and now in the Kx version with Garmin G1000H avionics, is the Italian manufacturer’s single-engine design, the latest model to be derived from the original A109. But describing it as “small” would be an over-simplification. The undercarriage comprises robust skids and passengers sit on seats in rows of three, making full use of interior space and offering almost a third more space than new and old rivals like the Eurocopter AS350, Bell 407 and MD600. The Koala adapts well to the flying tender role, provided an open helipad with a space of at least 13 metres is available, enough room for the 13-metre fuselage and the 92.2 square metre footprint of the main rotor. It can also be used on medium-size vessels if its maximum take-off weight is less than 2,720 kg, so even when loaded it does not force yacht designers to resort to excessive measures to strengthen the deck structures. The engine is the now ubiquitous Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37A generating 747 KW of power, around 1,000hp. Its lines are designed for speed, and in fact this helicopter can reach just over 265 kmh, and under ideal conditions - low weight, standard temperature and optimum altitude – its range is 990 km, which means it can take off from a mooring in Sardinia and land at all of southern Europe’s main airports and the private helipads in Tuscany, returning without having to refuel. Performance with a power output of 1000 hp and unloaded weight of 1,430 kg is outstanding, and the AW119Kx can reach landing points at a height of almost 6,000 metres, with onboard oxygen for the occupants. The interiors are available in a number of configurations and materials, typically with two rows of three seats in the club configuration, with the rows facing one another. The price reflects the performance, but while when new this aircraft comes in at more than 3 million dollars (or even almost 4 million when equipped with special systems) a used 2009 model with many flight hours still ahead of it can be had for under 2 million. Of course, the new owner will probably want to update the onboard avionics or redo the interiors and livery, but the cost will be amply offset by the Koala’s ability to retain its value. www.leonardocompany.com