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Thread: Agusta AW139
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Old 25th Oct 2006, 08:58
  #157 (permalink)  
MamaPut
 
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The big problem for the 139 seems to be that outside Europe, with its need for full Class 1 performance offshore, it has a pathetic baggage capacity for its size and the huge fuel burn means that an S76C+ will probably take more passengers, further and at a lower cost. The oil companies in general are not interested in Class 1 performance offshore, no matter how much we pilots may like it, and unless something is done to improve the payload/range and baggage capacity of the 139 I can't see it succeeding commercially against helicopters like the S76. It may be an old design and the Arriel 2 series engines may give lots of problems, but at the moment, and probably for the next few years, it's almost unbeatable on range/payload/performance/cost.
Don't misunderstand me, I'd love to fly the 139, it looks great and has some interesting new features, but it doesn't seem to be a serious competitor in the long range offshore market as yet. Just my own opinion.
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