Following AgustaWestland’s announcement in July 2014, HeliHub.com can confirm that the two AW139s due to be delivered to the Bangladesh Air Force are now being test flown at the factory prior to delivery.  The two are serialled 613 and 616, and are currently flying on Italian permit registrations I-EASS and I-PTFR respectively.  As is the practice with this country, the military registrations carried are based on their MSN, in this case 31613 and 31616.

The pair are due to be delivered by the end of 2015, will be operated by the Bangladesh Air Force to perform maritime search and rescue (SAR) and other utility missions.  The pair of AW139s feature an advanced mission configuration including a search/weather radar, FLIR, Trakkabeam search light (mounted to port), rescue hoist (starboard), emergency floats and a state-of-the-art 4-axis dual digital AFCS with hover and SAR modes.

Photos are strictly  © Marco Bianchi and reproduced here with his express permission

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com