Article Posted on : - Oct 19, 2010

Second AW159 multi-role military helicopter of AgustaWestland.

YEOVIL (BNS): The second AW159 multi-role military helicopter of AgustaWestland has successfully completed its maiden flight at its Yeovil facility center.

According to AgustaWestland, the aircraft, designated TI2, is the second of three test aircraft that will complete a 600 hour integrated flight test programme.

In October 2010, the third aircraft, TI3, is scheduled to join the flight test programme.

Aircraft TI1 continues to perform air vehicle and flight envelope testing. TI2 aircraft will undertake the flight testing of the aircraft’s core and mission avionics systems, the systems and software have already been developed and tested on AgustaWestland’s Full Systems Integration Rig (FSIR).

Aircraft TI3 will undertake load survey trials and naval development, including ship helicopter operating limit trials.

UK Ministry of Defence has already ordered 62 TI2 Lynx Wildcat from Augusta Westland for its military service.

AgustaWestland has scheduled the delivery of first aircraft by the end of 2011. The aircraft will become fully operational with the Army in 2014 and with the Royal Navy in 2015.