Bell Agusta threw the wraps off the AB139, its new medium-twin helicopter at the show yesterday, with a bullish assessment that the aircraft could generate 900 sales over the next 20 years.
The 12 to 15-seater is to be developed as both a civil and military aircraft with the baseline model set to cost in the region of $6 million.
Bell Agusta says it has been talking to potential customers for some time and will now be seeking to win firm commitments for the helicopter. The two partners also revealed that the AB139 venture is a 75:25 split in favour of Agusta.
The rest of 1999 and 2000 will be used for engineering development, with three pre-production aircraft being manufactured for flight testing. First flight is scheduled for the end of 2000, with certification by late 2002.
The AB139 will be powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67Cs, the same engines destined for the BA609 tiltrotor - the other programme which makes up the joint venture between Bell and Agusta. Production will take place on both sides of the Atlantic.
The aircraft will be pitched in direct competition to Sikorsky's S-76 and the Eurocopter EC155 for the corporate/VIP sector, with other markets including off-shore oil support, law enforcement, med-evac and government agency operations.
Source: Flight Daily News
