AW109E

All posts tagged AW109E

26 settembre 2021: festeggiamenti per il 50° anniversario del primo volo dell’A109.

Il 26 settembre 2021 al Museo Agusta una giornata dedicata all’A109 per celebrare i 50 anni dal primo volo e le Giornate Europee del Patrimonio.

Fondazione Museo Agusta in collaborazione con Leonardo attraverso la sua divisione Elicotteri organizza per domenica 26 settembre, in occasione delle “Giornate europee del Patrimonio”, un evento al Museo Agusta in ricordo dei cinquant’anni del primo volo dell’elicottero A109 (4 agosto 1971).

L’apertura del Museo è prevista come di consueto alle 9.30. Il programma prevede un primo appuntamento ufficiale alle ore 10.30 con l’apertura di un distaccamento dell’Ufficio di Poste Italiane di Busto Arsizio per un annullo filatelico sul francobollo della cartolina commemorativa.

L’annullo postale è realizzato nel formato ovale orizzontale e riproduce un bozzetto a mano libera. Dopo l’utilizzo nella giornata del 26 settembre, il timbro sarà disponibile allo sportello filatelico di via Mazzini 9, a Busto Arsizio per 4 mesi prima di essere poi depositato al Museo Storico della Comunicazione di Roma entrando a far parte della collezione storico postale.

Al gift shop saranno disponibili per l’acquisto alcuni gadget celebrativi a tiratura limitata, come la polo, la maglietta, la patch e il cappellino del 50° anniversario del primo volo oltre alla cartolina stampata per l’occasione.

Durante la giornata, in cui al Museo si celebra anche la “Giornata Europea per il Patrimonio”, saranno presenti alcuni ex lavoratori che, come speciali guide, si metteranno a disposizione dei visitatori per raccontare aneddoti e curiosità sul progetto A 109, un vero patrimonio per la cultura industriale di Agusta, oggi Leonardo divisione Elicotteri.

Un progetto dal forte valore storico poiché fu il primo interamente concepito e realizzato a Cascina Costa e che portò sul mercato un elicottero leggero multiruolo diventato in breve tempo un punto di riferimento per il settore.

Fino a quel momento Agusta, infatti, aveva realizzato numerosi elicotteri su licenza estera e aveva provato a sviluppare progetti propri che, però, non erano andati oltre la fase di prototipo.

Tempo permettendo, alle ore 15.30 un AW109 sorvolerà il Museo per un emozionante saluto.

Alle ore 16.30 chiusura dell’Ufficio Postale mentre il Museo resterà aperto con i consueti orari fino alle 18.

CSX81963 [NAF-…] – WORLD ROTORS update

Thanks to Andrea PINTO and Tiziano CAPENTI for these images of the Leonardo AW109E Power CSX81963 … wearing large sticker “A109E 11847 LAST ONE” in Vergiate (VA), June 2019 … and wearing the full Nigeria Air Force colors in Venegono, October 2019.

WORLD ROTORS

Thanks to Pete BROWN for this picture of the AgustaWestland AW109E Power Elite ( c/n 11725 ) now operated by Surge Air Ltd as G-SRGE, Blackbushe, Hampshire, January 2019. This helicopter was flown on behalf of IRIS Ceramica as I-SIRI from more than 10 years.

LifeFlight of Maine … 24/7 operations and improving.

BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — LifeFlight of Maine is known for providing critical care transport to all who need its resources. The expansion of LifeFlight will not only add jobs, but will also allow pilots and the medical staff to respond to more calls and help more people.

In just minutes LifeFlight pilots and medical staff can be up in the air flying patients to get the help that they need. Along with their new fixed wing aircraft LifeFlight has moved into a larger hangar at Bangor International Airport.
Having a larger hangar to call home means many changes including moving their communications center to the hangar.

“…Makes all the difference in the world, it allows, us to be 24/7 ops, and quarters that provide us both comfort and facilities that can keep the aircraft clean, out of the weather and ready to be you know launched on a mission in very short order…” said Tad Woodilla, the Aviation Site Manager for Flight Operations for LifeFlight of Maine.

It also allows LifeFlight to store multiple aircraft along with their new one. Currently LifeFlight has 2 helicopters, and one fixed wing airplane. Their new fixed wing aircraft is being outfitted so they have a substitute in the meantime. And expanding, means adding more jobs.

“…We’ve had hired and we continuing to hire, so to add the fixed wing that was an additional 8 pilots, and an additional mechanic, were overtime gonna add some new communications staff, and over time add more clinical staff as well” said Thomas Judge the Executive Director of LifeFlight and the LifeFlight Foundation.

They do about 1650 transports a year most being hospital to hospital through primarily aviation, but the numbers are rising.
Over time, LifeFlight hopes to add 35 jobs. But most importantly they will continue responding to the people of Maine at a moments notice.

“Cause we’re serving the people of Maine, and we’re making better outcomes for people so to know we’re helping people at the end of everyday, is part of the joy of working here, and just helping folks out” said Woodilla.

LifeFlight’s 2 helicopters are on call 24 hours a day.

The substitute fixed wing aircraft are currently only operated 12 hours a day but they are moving towards 24 hour coverage in the near future. The new airplane should arrive later this week. LifeFlight also has a 3rd back up helicopter and they are working on adding a full-time one in the future through fundraising.

Thanks to Oscar BERNARDI for these images of the LifeFlight of Maine helicopters.

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