Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003, 2024). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Leonardo AW09 composite single-engine helicopter

Kerry Lynch

Leonardo took the wraps off of a full-scale cabin mockup of its AW09 single-engine helicopter at the opening of EBACE 2024. Showcasing a VIP-corporate transport cabin layout and paint scheme that will be offered as an option, the unveiling marks the “official entrance” of the AW09 as part of the Agusta family of corporate helicopters, said Cecile Vion-Lanctuit, head of communications and marketing for Leonardo’s Kopter Group.
The interior was designed to provide a customized yet modular approach to the cabin space with the latest technology and sustainability advancements. Carving a niche in the long-light single-engine segment, the AW09 will have the largest cabin and most legroom in its class.
According to Leonardo, the cabin can accommodate interiors ranging from a four-plus-one up to a three-plus-three-plus-two seating layout. The interior will be offered in a set of dedicated themes that the company is inspired by “harmony and perfection found in nature” yet present a modern feel. Themes include Desert Dawn, Cedar Woods, Ocean Twilight, and Dark Cosmos.

Also to appeal to the corporate crowd, the company is touting the large front and side windows that enhance visibility for the passengers, alongside the safety benefits for the pilot.
Kopter chief test pilot Richard Grant, along with Leonardo chief test pilot Giuseppe Afruni, unshrouded the mockup before a crowd gathered at the booth on the show floor, marking the kickoff of a demonstration tour that will include showings across Europe this summer, as well as at various events.
As Leonardo looks to expand its foothold in the corporate market with the helicopter—the first all-new model to be developed in decades in its class—it has built a backlog of orders for more than 100 units globally.
As the mockup embarks on its tour, flight testing continues on the AW09 with hopes of certification in 2025. Leonardo has two preproduction models—PS4 and PS5—flying and checking off a series of flight tests. PS6, the first production model, is expected at the end of the year.&nbsp;An earlier prototype, PS3, retired in September 2022 after 387 flights.
PS4, which incorporates all developments implemented on PS3, joined the program in March 2023 with the 1,000-shp-class Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 2K, a switch from the Honeywell HTS900 on the predecessor prototypes.
PS5 joined the program this past February. Grant estimated that the two flight-test aircraft have now accrued about 130 flights, exploring a limited altitude envelope, up to about 16,000 feet with plans to go higher, and tested maximum speed in dive, he said.
In addition, Leonardo has completed a lot of airfield work simulating wind conditions. “At the moment, we're able to hover in winds up to about 35 knots or around that with quite a low workload.”
Component systems tests have long been under way. “Now we've got to that stage where we've just got to gather the data,” he said.
In addition to the cabin, Grant touted the aircraft’s ease of flying and safety systems. “It's designed to be easy and simple in every aspect, flying it, operating it, maintaining it,” he said. “I think it's really achieving that. We're starting to see that now.”
He added that other test pilots from Leonardo have flown it and “they're all reporting very similar things.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Leonardo AW09 Gets Updated Corporate Look

Helicopter to embark on demonstration tour

Progressing on flight testing, Leonardo unveiled a VIP-corporate layout for the AW09 in a full-scale mockup. It will head out on a tour in Europe this summer.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

AmyWilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

EBACE Convention News 2024

In this article

Leonardo AW09

Leonardo

More In Rotorcraft

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

Rotortrade Partners with Safran, Joins Mentor Program

Preowned helicopter specialist is expanding its capabilities

Bell Logs Sales for 505 and 407GXi Helicopters

Includes the sale of the 100th Bell 505 in Europe

FAA Releases 2023 Helo Air Ambulance Ops Data Summary

Six accidents, two with fatalities, took place during calendar year 2023

Helicopter Operators Sign Orders with Airbus and Leonardo

Both manufacturers announced new business during the European Rotors trade show

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN