Most of the questions were asked by the press pack and most were guardedly answered.
The day before the announcement there was a warning that something was in the offing. Based on what appeared 'obvious' I reckon most were inclined to believe that the tail design suggested that this was an Airbus out of factory project and that the announcement was that some funding was coming in from that direction ..... WRONG. And we should have paid due regard to the very evident new face on the dias.... the engineer from Italy.
So it came to pass that Leonardo have clearly got their hands on the next AS350 replacement. A plus point is that it will also provide a replacement for the A119. A real coup and the top story at the Heli-Expo. Now what they have to do is refrain from interfering. Kopter and Leonardo both claim there is clear water between the two and that will preserve independence at Kopter.
Unfortunately it will only take a change in management at Leonardo to wreck that. The 100% take-over is just that and can result in a reversal of 'clear water' very quickly.
Time will prove whether this all works out.