Well here you go folks, the official roll-out of the C.F. CH-149 off the Italian assembly line, 30 May 2000.The aircraft is the fully SAR painted CH-14902. (901 was 1st, but is being used as the flying test bed)Just goes to show that the new kid on the block is JUST around the corner.

Check these pictures out of PP9 (Pre-production model) on the ramp at 8 Wing Trenton this Sept. PP9 flew over from Aberdeen Scotland to do a small tour of Eastern Canada. So far Canada's models are doing well on the assembly line as the hull of 003 has now been laid and 1&2 are in various stages of assembly.(The pics on the Canadian SAR AW320 Cormorant are actual photos of 14901 on the assembly line, hopefully ready for initial flight testing Feb/March of 2000)

• ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT SYSTEM
  • six high definition, full colour displays
  • flexible display formats for improved operational capability
  • built in redundancy for greater safety
  • NVG (night vision goggles) compatible
  
  
• ACTIVE VIBRATION CONTROL
  • increases reliability
  • active control of structural response, reduces helicopter vibrations to near fixed wing turbo-prop standards, (that would be nice)
  • fail safe design which does not compromise the integrity of the flight control system
  
  
• STATE-OF-THE-ART AVIONICS
  • integrated architecture
  
  
• THREE ENGINE CONFIGERATION
  • improves safety/survivability
  • gives superior one engine inoperative (OEI) performance
  • provides option of 2-engine long range cruise
  
  
• ADVANCED ROTOR SYSTEM
  • high performance
  • rotor head incorporates multiple load paths for greater safety and damage tolerance
  • elastomeric bearings improve maintainability
  • advanced aerodynamic rotor blades of composite construction give over 30% greater efficiency than conventional blades of similar design
  
  
• TRANSMISSION
  • dual lubrication circuits, plus run dry capability,enhances safety and survivability
  • damage tolerant mounting system
  • incorporates advanced health and usage monitoring system (HUMS)
  
  
  

  Below is the proposed interior setup for the SAR version AW320 Cormorant.Notice that the flight engineer has 2 stations, a jump seat in the cockpit and a fully crashworthy seat by the hoist station.

  

  The Cormorant has space for 5 crew, all sar tech role equipment and survivors, which provides a pretty flexible sar platform for all the various sar missions that seem to come our way

  
  
  
  
  
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