Cologne, 18 November 2025 - Leading UK air charter service provider Thunder Aviation announced at European Rotors 2025 (Cologne, 17-20 November) today that it will renew its fleet with Leonardo AW109 Trekker light twin engine helicopters. These three new aircraft will replace one AW109 GrandNew light twin and three AW119Kx single engine aircraft. The new helicopters will be supplied through Leonardo’s long established regional helicopter distributor for UK and Ireland Sloane Helicopters (Sloane), with two arriving in the UK during 2026 and one in 2027.
The introduction of the AW109 Trekker will ensure Thunder Aviation continues to deliver service excellence to its Clients, benefitting from the best-in-class level of performance and comfort typically delivered by the AW109 series while introducing new avionics and greater versatility to operate on unprepared terrains thanks to its skid undercarriage, all under the exclusive Agusta VIP/corporate brand benefits and experience.
Tom Partrick, CEO Thunder Aviation, said: “We are immensely proud to have developed the unique brand and identity of Thunder Aviation and within just 5 years, using Leonardo products have become one of the most highly regarded Operators in the UK. This fleet renewal is part of our future strategy and following a detailed market evaluation we are confident that an all-AW109 Trekker fleet is the perfect solution, allowing us to continue to deliver the highest standard of luxury and reliability to our Clients. We are particularity excited by the next evolution in our fleet customisation, designed in close collaboration with the Agusta team.”
The AW109 Trekker maintains the AW109’s large cabin and exceptional performance while offering greater payload at a competitive cost, thus proving perfectly suited to meet the stringent requirements of operators in terms of capabilities, efficiency and econimics. The AW109 Trekker is the latest addition to Leonardo’s light twin helicopter portfolio and the company’s first light twin to offer skid landing gear.
The latest Genesys Aerosystems “glass” cockpit provides pilots only with the necessary information to help reduce their workload while flying in challenging environments and in demanding weather conditions. The AW109 Trekker retains the same characteristics of high productivity, excellent performance and flying qualities, high manoeuvrability, robustness, advanced navigation capabilities and high inherent safety of the other light twin helicopters produced by Leonardo.
The spacious cabin, the same size as the Grand/GrandNew, can accommodate up to six passengers. Capable of single pilot operations, an additional passenger can be seated in the cockpit if required. The AW109 Trekker incorporates many safety features including a cocoon-type airframe; crash resistant fuel system, crew and passengers seats, full Cat. A / Class 1 performance in hot environments and a 30 minute ‘run-dry’ main gear box. Orders for over xx AW109 Trekkers have been logged so far by customers worldwide to perform roles like passenger transport, emergency medical service, law enforcement, utility.
Leonardo is an international industrial group, among the main global companies in Aerospace, Defence, and Security (AD&S). With 60,000 employees worldwide, the company approaches global security through the Helicopters, Electronics, Aeronautics, Cyber & Security and Space sectors, and is a partner on the most important international programmes such as Eurofighter, JSF, NH-90, FREMM, GCAP, and Eurodrone. Leonardo has significant production capabilities in Italy, the UK, Poland, and the USA. Leonardo utilises its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and shareholdings, which include Leonardo DRS (71.4%), MBDA (25%), ATR (50% ), Hensoldt (22.8%), Telespazio (67%), Thales Alenia Space (33%), and Avio (19.3%). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2024 Leonardo recorded new orders for €20.9 billion, with an order book of €44.2 billion and consolidated revenues of €17.8 billion. Included in the MIB ESG index, the company has also been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) since 2010.
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