Agusta A109
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 1
From: 1 Dunghill Mansions, Putney
Re: New Koala Tail Rotor Blades
Looks like they're identical to the new composite blades offered for the Power (see A109 noise footprint).
The main advantages of the new blades are extended life (5X), reduced maintenance and reduced noise signature.
I/C
The main advantages of the new blades are extended life (5X), reduced maintenance and reduced noise signature.
I/C
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 0
From: All The Places I Shouldnt Be
Re: New Koala Tail Rotor Blades
IC - Thats what the guys at ERA said, they were the same as the Power blades.
On a side note they were saying that the Power has the best reliability rate of any of their helos, around 98 - 99% and they are very impressed with it.
Cheers
Ned
On a side note they were saying that the Power has the best reliability rate of any of their helos, around 98 - 99% and they are very impressed with it.
Cheers
Ned
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 0
From: N20,W99
Re: New Koala Tail Rotor Blades
If they are identical to the Power blades they have a huge drawback!
The new composite blades on the Power have a open pencil sized hole from the the blade tip all the way to the blade root, if you get water in there and then that water get frozen, you are in for a hell of a ride!
I cannot believe they didn't think of that before they made the blades.
The new composite blades on the Power have a open pencil sized hole from the the blade tip all the way to the blade root, if you get water in there and then that water get frozen, you are in for a hell of a ride!
I cannot believe they didn't think of that before they made the blades.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 5
From: Abu Dhabi
Re: New Koala Tail Rotor Blades
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 0
From: N20,W99
Re: New Koala Tail Rotor Blades
kissmysquirrel,
Yes, the lower blade would of course drain out, but the other one has nowhere where to drain out. It a big mistake, and even the Agusta guys in Philadelphia are talking about it, imagine having 2 grams of frozen water in one blade and the other one empty!
Agusta's solution is to park the blades horizontal.
wouldnt the lower blade water just run out? upper blade may also have a drain so no water stays in there? I have trouble believing that they would make such a stupid mistake. (or maybe on start up, as the blades spin up, a shaft of ice could shoot out, injuring anyone in the flight path? ) But they look very substantial blades all the same!
Agusta's solution is to park the blades horizontal.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,835
Likes: 3
From: Philadelphia PA
Re: New Koala Tail Rotor Blades
There is evidently a kit of tail rotor covers that are supposed to be put on in rain, etc., but the availability of it appears to be unknown.
One more thing to remember to take off during the pre-flight prior to start.
One more thing to remember to take off during the pre-flight prior to start.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
From: uk
Re: New Koala Tail Rotor Blades
For those who land and walk away from their helicopters then water ingress to any vunerable item will cause problems. Knowing, now as you do, surely the pilot will ensure that his/her helicopter is properly prepared for parking to ensure that no ice/birds/dirt and dust/passing vehicles and a host of other things wont damage the helicopter.
Surely that's why when ever possible we park inside hangars. Or am I wrong?
Surely that's why when ever possible we park inside hangars. Or am I wrong?
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: North of Somewhere
Agusta Data
Does anyone know how I might obtain technical data on the Agusta products without signing a purchase agreement? 
EC, Bell, and Sikorsky provide some amount of tech data on their websites.
I would like to dig a little into the performance data of the A139, Power, Grand, and Koala.
Any advice appreciated!
Tompkins
EC, Bell, and Sikorsky provide some amount of tech data on their websites.I would like to dig a little into the performance data of the A139, Power, Grand, and Koala.
Any advice appreciated!
Tompkins
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 642
Likes: 2
From: daworld
Try this link. Not sure what info you're after, or how good the info here is. But worth a look anyway. If the link doesn't work properly, go to www.agustawestland.com and navigate to the products page
http://www.agustawestland.com/communication03.asp
http://www.agustawestland.com/communication03.asp
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: North of Somewhere
Thanks Noooby. I'm looking for HOGE and HIGE charts as well as any configuration data that might be available. We all know that "standard configuration weight" usually doesn't include the radios, GPS, etc. 
Tompkins
Tompkins
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: ScrewyRabbitHole
Carried out an evaluation on some types last year, the only way to pull the truth out of Agusta is to force the sales people to give you copies of actual flight manuals and maintenance manuals. Their marketing data is as much of a flight of fancy as any other manufacturers and is usually accompanied by lots of * and # and ~~ icons qualifying the wild statements that marketers are so prone to uttering. It took 8 weeks to get the data from Agusta as they had to secure government approval to release confidential data. Pull the other one Mate.
You'll be better served by approaching someone operating the type and asking them if they'd let you copy their Flight Manuals. The website gives you jacksh!t.
Good Luck.
You'll be better served by approaching someone operating the type and asking them if they'd let you copy their Flight Manuals. The website gives you jacksh!t.
Good Luck.
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 16
From: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
Agusta certainly used to have that sort of printed material as I have a number of copies relating to the A109 produced by the Sales and engineering division. Hard copy, in colour but not glossy. Unfortunately those I have are dated 1996 and 1998 so some things will have changed.
The references on these documents are A109 Power PC-TD58 dated March 1998 'Customer's Technical Information' that boils down to about 40 pages A4 and the Appendix A Performance Diagrams PC-TD58A seven pages of graphs.
Sloane did an extract + comparisons with the competitors that I also have but again that was 1990s.
The references on these documents are A109 Power PC-TD58 dated March 1998 'Customer's Technical Information' that boils down to about 40 pages A4 and the Appendix A Performance Diagrams PC-TD58A seven pages of graphs.
Sloane did an extract + comparisons with the competitors that I also have but again that was 1990s.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 1
From: USA
Say what you will about manufacturer's data, two glaringly bad examples stand out, and tend to support those who thing the real story of poor performance is being hidden:
1) the AB-130 Agusta web stuff is especially poor - no empty weights, and not even fuel volume, no payload range, no hover charts.
2) Similar stuff for the BA-609. No way to come close to a payload range chart, no hover data beyond the simple "HOGE altitude"
1) the AB-130 Agusta web stuff is especially poor - no empty weights, and not even fuel volume, no payload range, no hover charts.
2) Similar stuff for the BA-609. No way to come close to a payload range chart, no hover data beyond the simple "HOGE altitude"
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 542
Likes: 5
From: Europe
Agusta 109E Performance & Operations
Interested to know what operator experience is of real life performance of the 109 Power in corporate configuration/operations, in particular the following areas:
(a) Realistic fast cruise speed at max and mid weights
(b) Typical payload - how many POB with full fuel
(c) Endurance at fast cruise with say 20% VFR reserve
(d) Pros/cons of Elite version
(e) Any options considered essential
(f) Maintenance man hours/flying hour
(g) Comments on reliability ref unscheduled maintenance/defects
(h) Agusta parts supply
Any comments appreciated!
(a) Realistic fast cruise speed at max and mid weights
(b) Typical payload - how many POB with full fuel
(c) Endurance at fast cruise with say 20% VFR reserve
(d) Pros/cons of Elite version
(e) Any options considered essential
(f) Maintenance man hours/flying hour
(g) Comments on reliability ref unscheduled maintenance/defects
(h) Agusta parts supply
Any comments appreciated!