AgustaWestland AW109 vs Bell 206: Specs Compared

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AgustaWestland AW109 — licensed reference photograph

AHelicopters

AgustaWestland AW109

Search and rescue / utility helicopter

Credit

Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Resized · CC BY 2.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

Bell 206 — licensed reference photograph

BHelicopters

Bell 206

Multipurpose utility helicopter

Credit

Mfield - Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com · CC BY 2.5 · Resized · CC BY 2.5 · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

AgustaWestland AW109AW109 Power with PW206C · fuselage

11.448 m

Length source ↗

Bell 206206B Jetranger II · including rotors

11.824 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

20 of 35 rows sourced on both sides

11.45mAW109 Power with PW206C · fuselage

11.82m206B Jetranger II · including rotors

LengthScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

11.448 m

AW109 Power with PW206C · fuselage

Single source

11.448 m (37 ft 7 in) fuselage^[source]

Configuration

Details

AgustaWestland AW109 and Bell 206 configuration
Specification	AgustaWestland AW109	Bell 206
Type	Search and rescue / utility helicopter^[source]	Multipurpose utility helicopter^[source]
Manufacturer	Agusta AgustaWestland Leonardo^[source]	Bell Helicopter^[source]
Status	In production^[source]	In service^[source]
Primary users	Italian Army Rega (Swiss Air Rescue) South African Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force^[source]

Manufactured	1971–present^[source]	1962–2017^[source]

Introduction date	1976^[source]	1967^[source]

First flight	4 August 1971 ( 1971-08-04 )^[source]	December 8, 1962 (206) January 10, 1966 (206A)^[source]

Variant	AgustaWestland AW109S Grand^[source]	—

Developed into	AgustaWestland AW119 Koala^[source]	Bell 400 TwinRanger^[source]

Capacity	6 or 7 passengers^[source]	4 passengers^[source]

Never exceed speed	311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)^[source]	—

Role	lightweight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter^[source]	family of two-bladed, single- and twin-engined helicopters ,^[source]

Source measurement	Optional mission equipment for the AW109 has included dual controls, a rotor brake, windshield wipers, a fixed cargo hook, snow skis, external loudspeakers , wire-strike protection system, engine particle separator, engine compartment fire extinguishers, datalink , and rappelling fittings. A range of armaments can be installed upon the AW109, including pintle -mounted machine guns , machine gun pods , 20mm cannons , rocket pods, anti-tank missiles and air-to-air missiles. Those AW109s operated by the U.S. Coast Guard , later designated as MH-68A , had the following equipment installed: a rescue hoist, emergency floats, FLIR , Spectrolab NightSun search light, a 7.62 mm M240D machine gun and a Barrett M107 semi-automatic 12.7 mm (.50 caliber) anti-material rifle with laser sight.^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage During 1982, the Argentine Army Aviation deployed three A109As to the Falkland Islands during the Falklands War . They operated with the helicopter fleet (9 UH-1H, 2 CH-47C and 2 Pumas) in reconnaissance and liaison roles. One of the helicopters was destroyed on the ground by a British Harrier attack; the others were captured and sent to Europe aboard HMS Fearless . The British Army Air Corps decided to use those helicopters in domestic operations (being flown by 8 Flight AAC to support SAS regiment deployments in the UK), alongside two additional A109 which were purchased later following favorable use of the first two; all were retired in 2009. The improved AW109E and SP – GrandNew versions were operated by No. 32 Squadron of the Royal Air Force to transport Government ministers, senior military personnel, and members of the British royal family .^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage During August 2008, Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik broke the round-the-world speed record using a factory-standard AgustaWestland AW109S Grand , with a time of 11 days, 7 hours and 2 minutes. The AW109S Grand is also recorded as being the fastest helicopter from New York to Los Angeles .^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 17 June 2000 accident involving an Agusta A109E Power air ambulance (registration G-TVAA). At about 300 feet, a bang from the gearbox occurred, followed by an immediate near-loss of control. The pilot performed a forced autorotation into a field near Arborfield Cross, Berkshire, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft but only minor injuries. The bang and loss of control resulted from the fracture of the lower swash plate scissors link. Investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch determined that the link had been incorrectly reassembled by maintenance personnel just 3 hours and 10 minutes (or one day) before the flight. This failure severed the link between the rotating controls and the main rotor blades.^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Accidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 24 December 2018 ( 2018-12-24 ) : in the 2018 Puebla helicopter crash , an AW109 taking off from an airport on the outskirts of Puebla on a flight to Mexico City crashed about 3.5 miles north of the airport. Governor Martha Érika Alonso and former Governor Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas died in this incident.^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Accidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Capacity: 6 or 7 passengers^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 11.448 m (37 ft 7 in) fuselage^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Height: 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Empty weight: 1,590 kg (3,505 lb)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Max takeoff weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C Turboshaft engine, 418 kW (560 hp) each^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Main rotor diameter: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Maximum speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Never exceed speed : 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Ferry range: 932 km (579 mi, 503 nmi)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Rate of climb: 9.8 m/s (1,930 ft/min)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	When the YOH-4A was eliminated by the Army, Bell went about marketing the aircraft. In addition to the image problem, the helicopter lacked cargo space and only provided cramped seating for three passengers. The solution was a redesigned fuselage, sleeker and aesthetically appealing, adding 16 ft 3 (0.45 m 3 ) of cargo space in the process. A Bell executive contributed to the redesign by drawing two lines on a sketch extending the fuselage to where it meets the tail. The redesign was designated Bell 206A, and Bell President Edwin J. Ducayet named it the JetRanger , denoting an evolution from the popular Model 47J Ranger .^[source]Bell 206 · Development / JetRanger; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The 206L LongRanger is a stretched variant with seating for seven. The fuselage, stretched a total of 30 inches (760 mm), adds two rear-facing seats between the front and rear seats. Since 1975, Bell has produced more than 1,700 LongRangers across all variants. In 1981, a military version, the 206L TexasRanger was released. The original 206L used an Allison 250 -C20R engine, and a series of model upgrades replaced this engine with more powerful versions; the 206L-1 used a 250-C28, and the 206L-3 and 206L-4 used the 250-C30P.^[source]Bell 206 · Development / LongRanger; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In both applications, the 250-C30P is derated from 650 hp for takeoff and 501 hp continuous. The 206L-3 is transmission-limited to 435 hp for take-off, and the 206L-4 is transmission-limited to 495 hp. The derating of the C30P produces an advantage in hot-day and high-altitude operations, as it can produce the rated horsepower at higher altitudes and temperatures where applications that use the maximum rating of the engine at sea level suffer accelerated performance deterioration with increases in temperature and altitude. The 206L-3 and L-4 have not been offered in a twin configuration under those model designations.^[source]Bell 206 · Development / LongRanger; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In 2007, Bell announced an upgrade program for the 206L-1 and 206L-3 designed to modify the aircraft to the 206L-4 configuration; modified aircraft are designated 206L-1+ and 206L-3+. Modifications include strengthened structural components (including a new tailboom), improved transmission, upgraded engine for the L-1, all of which result in a maximum gross weight increase of 300 pounds and increased performance.

Source measurement

Optional mission equipment for the AW109 has included dual controls, a rotor brake, windshield wipers, a fixed cargo hook, snow skis, external loudspeakers , wire-strike protection system, engine particle separator, engine compartment fire extinguishers, datalink , and rappelling fittings. A range of armaments can be installed upon the AW109, including pintle -mounted machine guns , machine gun pods , 20mm cannons , rocket pods, anti-tank missiles and air-to-air missiles. Those AW109s operated by the U.S. Coast Guard , later designated as MH-68A , had the following equipment installed: a rescue hoist, emergency floats, FLIR , Spectrolab NightSun search light, a 7.62 mm M240D machine gun and a Barrett M107 semi-automatic 12.7 mm (.50 caliber) anti-material rifle with laser sight.^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

During 1982, the Argentine Army Aviation deployed three A109As to the Falkland Islands during the Falklands War . They operated with the helicopter fleet (9 UH-1H, 2 CH-47C and 2 Pumas) in reconnaissance and liaison roles. One of the helicopters was destroyed on the ground by a British Harrier attack; the others were captured and sent to Europe aboard HMS Fearless . The British Army Air Corps decided to use those helicopters in domestic operations (being flown by 8 Flight AAC to support SAS regiment deployments in the UK), alongside two additional A109 which were purchased later following favorable use of the first two; all were retired in 2009. The improved AW109E and SP – GrandNew versions were operated by No. 32 Squadron of the Royal Air Force to transport Government ministers, senior military personnel, and members of the British royal family .^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

During August 2008, Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik broke the round-the-world speed record using a factory-standard AgustaWestland AW109S Grand , with a time of 11 days, 7 hours and 2 minutes. The AW109S Grand is also recorded as being the fastest helicopter from New York to Los Angeles .^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 17 June 2000 accident involving an Agusta A109E Power air ambulance (registration G-TVAA). At about 300 feet, a bang from the gearbox occurred, followed by an immediate near-loss of control. The pilot performed a forced autorotation into a field near Arborfield Cross, Berkshire, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft but only minor injuries. The bang and loss of control resulted from the fracture of the lower swash plate scissors link. Investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch determined that the link had been incorrectly reassembled by maintenance personnel just 3 hours and 10 minutes (or one day) before the flight. This failure severed the link between the rotating controls and the main rotor blades.^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Accidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 24 December 2018 ( 2018-12-24 ) : in the 2018 Puebla helicopter crash , an AW109 taking off from an airport on the outskirts of Puebla on a flight to Mexico City crashed about 3.5 miles north of the airport. Governor Martha Érika Alonso and former Governor Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas died in this incident.^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Accidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Capacity: 6 or 7 passengers^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Length: 11.448 m (37 ft 7 in) fuselage^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Height: 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Empty weight: 1,590 kg (3,505 lb)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Max takeoff weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C Turboshaft engine, 418 kW (560 hp) each^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Main rotor diameter: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Maximum speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Never exceed speed : 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Ferry range: 932 km (579 mi, 503 nmi)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Rate of climb: 9.8 m/s (1,930 ft/min)^[source]AgustaWestland AW109 · Specifications (AW109 Power with PW206C) 2850 Kilo version; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

When the YOH-4A was eliminated by the Army, Bell went about marketing the aircraft. In addition to the image problem, the helicopter lacked cargo space and only provided cramped seating for three passengers. The solution was a redesigned fuselage, sleeker and aesthetically appealing, adding 16 ft 3 (0.45 m 3 ) of cargo space in the process. A Bell executive contributed to the redesign by drawing two lines on a sketch extending the fuselage to where it meets the tail. The redesign was designated Bell 206A, and Bell President Edwin J. Ducayet named it the JetRanger , denoting an evolution from the popular Model 47J Ranger .^[source]Bell 206 · Development / JetRanger; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The 206L LongRanger is a stretched variant with seating for seven. The fuselage, stretched a total of 30 inches (760 mm), adds two rear-facing seats between the front and rear seats. Since 1975, Bell has produced more than 1,700 LongRangers across all variants. In 1981, a military version, the 206L TexasRanger was released. The original 206L used an Allison 250 -C20R engine, and a series of model upgrades replaced this engine with more powerful versions; the 206L-1 used a 250-C28, and the 206L-3 and 206L-4 used the 250-C30P.^[source]Bell 206 · Development / LongRanger; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In both applications, the 250-C30P is derated from 650 hp for takeoff and 501 hp continuous. The 206L-3 is transmission-limited to 435 hp for take-off, and the 206L-4 is transmission-limited to 495 hp. The derating of the C30P produces an advantage in hot-day and high-altitude operations, as it can produce the rated horsepower at higher altitudes and temperatures where applications that use the maximum rating of the engine at sea level suffer accelerated performance deterioration with increases in temperature and altitude. The 206L-3 and L-4 have not been offered in a twin configuration under those model designations.^[source]Bell 206 · Development / LongRanger; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In 2007, Bell announced an upgrade program for the 206L-1 and 206L-3 designed to modify the aircraft to the 206L-4 configuration; modified aircraft are designated 206L-1+ and 206L-3+. Modifications include strengthened structural components (including a new tailboom), improved transmission, upgraded engine for the L-1, all of which result in a maximum gross weight increase of 300 pounds and increased performance.