Without any announcement, AgustaWestland (or it is Finmeccanica or Leonardo-Finmeccanica, we’re not too sure!) took an AW169 on a demo tour in Europe, with visits to both UK and Swiss potential customers.

The aircraft – serial 69008 – is expected to be delivered to Italian operator Hoverfly Executive Helicopter Service in due course, but is still flying on a test registration as I-RAIT.

The helicopter arrived in the UK on Tuesday 3rd May and visited at least four airfields – Fairoaks, Elstree, Sywell, Gloucestershire – and the Greenway Hotel close to the last of those known airport destinations.

The same aircraft also visited Karen SA in Switzerland very recently, operating some flights from Locarno.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com

© 2016 Marco Bianchi for HeliHub.com