First Guardia di Finanza MH-169A in full livery
Early January 2021, Scramble Magazine reported on the sighting of the first Leonardo MH-169A (AW169 LUH) of a batch for Italy’s Guardia di Finanza (GdiF). Although then still in primer, this AW169 LUH serial CSX82014 (construction number 72001) made a test flight on 29 December 2020 from the Leonardo factory airfield Venegono near Varese in northern Italy.
This new version is equipped with skids and a clearly visible adaptation to its horizontal stabilizer. At either end, the vertical fins curve inwards. On 12 November 2018, Leonardo announced the signing of a contract with the Guardia di Finanza for 22 new generation AW169M twin engine helicopters.
The contract, valued at €280 million, includes a comprehensive support and training package which could be further extended with optional services valued at an additional €100 million.
In May 2022, the first MH-169A was noted in the Guardia di Finanza full livery. Oscar Bernardi managed to photograph MH-169A CSX82053 (construction number 72004) during a test flight from Venegono.
Photo by Oscar Bernardi