Leonardo A109 helicopter in the air for 50 years

The maiden flight of the Agusta A109 took place on 4 August 1971. The project request originated from the designer Bruno Lovera and a A109 prototype was taken to the skies for the first time by pilot Ottorino Lancia. The new model featured a four-blade articulated main rotor, a semi-rigid two-blade tail rotor and retractable landing gear.

The 2.4 tonne eight-seat type was certified both in Italy and the US four years later and entered the market in 1976. The new model also allowed the company to enter the highly competitive US market, where it leveraged the establishment of a logistics centre in Philadelphia later becoming home to Leonardo’s helicopter industrial presence in the US.

Versions for civil, public service and military applications

Starting in the mid-1970s, early success led to a continued and increased presence of the company in the challenging light twin segment market on a global scale with several versions and newly certified types for the widest array of civil, public service and military applications. New three-tonne class models include the Power and Grand as well as the more recent GrandNew and Trekker aircraft, not to mention more customised military and government variants such as the LUH and Nexus.