At 1143 on 12 February 2010 (Italian time), the first of New Zealand’s A109 Training Helicopters flew from the Agusta final assembly and flight test facility at Vergiate, Milan. Test Pilot, Pietro Vanenza, reported a very successful and smooth first flight.
The aircraft will now spend approximately one week in ‘set up’ prior to commencing its ‘shakedown’ activities, which precede formal Developmental Test and Evaluation activities, due to commence in late March.
The event is the direct result of a great deal of effort from members of the New Zealand Defence Force, the AgustaWestland Project Team, and the Ministry of Defence.
The ‘first flight’ milestone is an important step on the journey towards the introduction of this exciting, new NZDF capability.