Agusta A109M
U.S. Coast Guard MH-68A Stingray
Description
Role	lightweight multipurpose helicopter
Crew + passengers	1/2 + 7/6
Dimensions
Length	13.04 m (main rotor to tail rotor)
Fuselage length	11.45 m
Height	3.50 m
Rotor diameter	11.00 m
Weights
Empty	1,576 kg
Maximum internal fuel
Maximum take-off (int./ext. load)	2,850/3,000 kg
Powerplant
Engines	2 x Pratt & Whitney 206C or 2 x Turbomeca Arrius 2K1
Power	2 x 423 kW or 2 x 426 kW
Performance
Maximum speed	285 km/h
Combat range (internal fuel)	965 km
Ferry range (external fuel)
Service ceiling	5,974 m
Maximum rate of climb	9.8 m/s
Armament
Gun	possibilities include 12.7 mm machine gun (250 rounds) in pod, pintle mounted 7.62 mm machine gun, door gunner post 12.7 mm machine gun
Missiles	possibilities include 2 x TOW missile launchers (2 or 4 missiles each), unguided rockets in pods (2.75" or 81 mm rockets with 7 or 12 tubes per pod), rocket/machine gun pod (70 mm x 3 rockets and 12.7 mm machine gun (200 rounds))

The Agusta A109 is a helicopter manufactured by Agusta (now AgustaWestland) of Italy. It is a light-weight, twin engine, eight seat multipurpose helicopter. USCG MH-68 (Agusta A109) Quote from the United States Coast Guard Website from which this image is taken: File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Bell 206 of Canadian Helicopters Robinson Helicopter Company (USA) R44, a four seat development of the R22 A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors (propellers). ... Agusta (now part of AgustaWestland) is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. ... AgustaWestland is a helicopter design and manufacturing company based in Italy and the United Kingdom. ...

Variants

• A109A: The first production model, powered by two Allison 250-C20 turboshaft engines. It made its first flight on 4 August 1971.
  • A109A EOA "Hirundo": Military Version for the Italian Army.

• A109A Mk II: Upgraded civilian version of the A109A.
• A109B: Unbuilt military version.
• A109C Hirundo (Swallow): Eight-seat civil version, powered by two Allison 250-C20R-1 turboshaft engines.
• A109K: Military version.
• A109K2: Civilian police, search and rescue version, for high altitude and high temperature operations.
• A109M: Military version.
• A109MAX: Aeromedical evacuation version.
  • A109KM: Military version for high altitude and high temperature operations.
  • A109KN: Naval version.
  • A109CM: Standard military version.
  • A109GdiF: Coast guard version.
  • A109LUH: Version created for the South African Air Force
  • A109HA : Version created for the Belgian Army.
• A109E Power: Upgraded civilian version.
• A109S Grand: Lengthened upgraded civilian version with P&W 207 engines.
• A119 Koala: Wide-body single-engine civilian version.

The Agusta A109 is also used by the United States Coast Guard HITRON as a short range armed interdiction helicopter under the designation MH-68A Stingray. Ariete Tanks of the Italian Ariete Tank Brigade on exercise Three Bersaglieri ride in a Dardo The Italian Army has recently become a professional all-volunteer force of 112,000 active duty personnel. ... SAAF flag The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the Air Force of South Africa. ... Coast Guard shield The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a military branch of the United States involved in maritime law, mariner assistance and search and rescue, among other duties of any coast guard. ...

Scandal

The sale of the Agusta A109 to the Belgian armed forces gave rise to a bribing scandal when it was revealed the company had given the Belgian Socialists over 50 million francs to get the sale. This scandal led to the resignation and conviction of NATO Secretary General Willy Claes. Willy Claes (born November 24, 1938) was Secretary General of NATO and a Belgian politician and diplomat. ...

Military Operators

• Argentina, Belgium, Ghana, Italy, Malaysia, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, United Kingdom.

South African Air Force A109LUH

Photo taken by myself at Aero Africa 2004 (Pretoria) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Photo taken by myself at Aero Africa 2004 (Pretoria) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...