The Agusta A.101 (originally designated AZ.101) was a large prototype transport helicopter developed and produced by the Italian rotorcraft manufacturer Agusta.
Work on the A.101 started during the early 1960s. The prototype performed its maiden flight on 19 October 1964. Despite prospective orders from the Italian armed forces, no buyers emerged for the type after the Italian government opted for the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King licensed to Agusta instead. Accordingly, the project was abandoned in 1971. The prototype is currently in storage at the Museo Agusta.
Design and development The A.101 was of conventional, single-rotor configuration with a tricycle undercarriage and powered by triple turboshaft engines. The fuselage was provided with a rear loading ramp and two large sliding troop doors. On 19 October 1964, the prototype A.101 performed its maiden flight.
The final stage in the A.101's development was to stretch the fuselage by 3 m (10 ft) and upgrade the engines to the more powerful General Electric T58. This resulted in a marked improvement in performance, but in the end, the Italian government opted for licence-built variants of the American Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, which would be produced by Agusta in place of their indigenous design. Having not secured any orders for the A.101, the company decided against proceeding with quantity production of the type.Leishman 2002, p. 25.
The single prototype is stored for preservation at the Museo Agusta at Cascina Costa.
Variants A.101DThe original concept by Filippo Zappata exhibited in model form at the Milan Trade Fair in April 1958, also designated AZ.101, acknowledging Zappata's role in the design process. Power was to have been supplied by three Turbomeca Turmo engines. A.101GThe sole prototype powered by three Rolls-Royce Gnome H.1400 turboshaft engines A.101HA projected up-rated version, stretched by , with tricycle undercarriage and powered by three General Electric T58 turboshaft engines.
Specifications (A.101G configuration)
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