The Leonadro AW09 – Asian Sky Quarterly 2021 Q2

Leonardo welcomed Kopter’s SH09 into its helicopter portfolio as the AW09 one year after completing the acquisition of the Swiss Company Kopter Group AG (Kopter).

The high performance, multirole AW09 single-engine helicopter is now a full member of Leonardo’s product range. This step synergizes the two identities of Leonardo and Kopter by the combination of elements from both the former product designation and the established Leonardo’s product naming standard.

The AW09 perfectly complements the existing Leonardo’s product range and sets a new benchmark in the light single-engine helicopter market bringing unique capabilities to operators for passenger transport, utility or EMS missions thanks to its unique cabin architecture, flexibility and comfort.

The AW09 will continue to be developed in Switzerland and the programme will progress further with the contribution of joint Leonardo – Kopter teams. Since mid-January the third prototype (P3), in its new configuration, has logged in excess of 50 flight hours in Switzerland. The AW09 next prototype, PS4, is expected to fly this year, followed by PS5. There is exceptional visibility from the cockpit and the cabin, which can be increased by several options. The low vibration levels and low noise signature guarantee a comfortable and quiet flight. The five-blade fully composite rotor system also brings superior maneuverability.

The AW09 is powered by a full FADEC Honeywell HTS900 engine and features a state-of-the-art glass cockpit with Garmin G3000H integrated flight deck for enhanced situational awareness and safety. The AW09 offers the largest cabin in its category. Quick conversion among multiple seat layouts with up to 8 passengers is made possible, according to mission needs, thanks to the flat floor and independent crashworthy seats.

Kopter is set to become a Centre of Competence for new light helicopters and an incubator of new technologies for vertical flight within Leonardo Helicopters. The addition of the AW09 to the existing Leonardo’s helicopter product portfolio further grows the range of modern multirole solutions to meet the evolving market requirements.